Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-06-01
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
From Our Regular Correspondent
w HINcrnN Mnu OSth 1NNA

Republican Senators consen-
ted to Congressional inves-
tigation of all Cuban accounts,
as proposed by Senator Bacon's res
olutiOn, not because they wanted an
Investigation but because they feared
to defy a practically universal pub
lie demand for one. They are now
trying to devise schemes that
will enable >them to keep the
investigation in their own hands,
but Democratic Senators are
wide-awake and intend to participate
in that investigation, and if possible,
they are going to have another for
Porto Rico, where there has been
great extravaganza in the payment of
double and in soE.e S~ses triple sala-
rles to postal employee if no actual
stealing. 1t is also generally be-
lieved that affairs are quite as bad,
if not worse, in the civil branch of
our government in the Philippines,
and there are scandals even in the
Washington City Post Office.
The anxiety of the Republican
leaders to hurry adjournment is
amusing. Although they have a
good big majority in both branches,
they act as though they were afraid
that Congress would do something
they didn't want it to do, if adjourn
ment wasn't rushed. 1t is hardly
likely that adjournment will take
place June 6, the date set by the
House resolution, but it will as soon
thereafter as the Republican leaders
In the Senate can get the appropria-
ton bills out of the way.
To appeal from Caesar Mckinley
to the American people is now the
programme of the Boer ENJOYS. They
have not abandoned their idea of
making tour of the country, and
arousing public sentiment. They will
begin this week in Baltimore, aud
from there will go to other cities
where they have accepted invitations
to attend public meetings.
Represen tative Talbert, OF S. c.,
has been making another warm speech
on the Pension question, his text be-
ing the case of the Michigan man
who draws $500 a year as clerk in
the Interior Department, and $1,000
a year as private Secretary TO Repre-.
sentative 5. w. Smith, OF Michigan,
and who has been voted by Congress
"a pension of $72 month for total
disability. Representative Ii. c..
Smith cited the case of Justice Long
of the Supreme Court of Michigan,
who draws a pension of $40 a month
as an excuse for this case, and Mr..
Talbert said in reply: 1.-Two wrongs
do not make one right. The gen
tieman asks now because one man is
robbing and plunderiug the govern
ment unjustly aud unmeritoriously
that another man may be placed on
the pension roll and receive high
pension. That is the tronble about
this indiscriminate grabbing of pen
slons. One man gets in and another
man wants to get in. Members have
their friends and they will not vote
against each other. They will not
have the reports read because they
SIT here like dummies saying, 'Oh,
they will reach my case next That
is what is the matter. You want to
doa dozen wrongs to make one right
and you want to continue to do wrong
in order that your own cases NAV be
favorably acted upon. / want to see
Justice done by the old soldiers and |
will help do it every time if i can,
but l do rot want to give any soldier
what he does not deserve"
The Spooner bill, making Mr.. Nc
kinley Gar of the Philippines, is
dead for this session and probably
for all time, as in addition to
some Republican opposition to it, the
Democrats in the Senate have served
notice that the bill would not be al
lowed tor pass at this session and they
have the power to make that notice
good by simply refusing to allow the
bill to reach vote.
Mr.. Mckinley. who witnessed the
eclipse to-day from Fort Monroe,
where it was total, ought TO have got
therefrom good advance idea of his
own total eclipse next November. Of
course he used government vessel
to make the trip to and from Fort
Monroe; Republican officials seldom
pay for anything they can get for
nothing by making use of their OIL
cial authority.