Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-04-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WAsHINaToN. April 23, l90I


Another ugly scandal has cropped up under
the rule Of the War Department. which cannot
fail to add to the wave of public sentiment
daily becoming higher and stronger that vii
sweep the Republican party, with Its record o.
scandals. out of power. This particular scandal
was uncovered quite by accident and its exist
ence was not denied by Secretary Root, who l.
responsible for its continuance, although It was
originated BY Alger. II is to speak plainly
the robbery of the Cubans, for the benefit o.
officers Of the United States army. Hints Of
extravagant living by American officers in Cuba
and of large sums paid for their expenses, have
been frequent, but 1t was not until within the
last forty-eight hours that it became positively
known that officers in the United States army
were in direct violation of law. drawing tive
salaries. one from the United States, and ont
from the Cuban revenues. The ground upon
which Secretary Root justifes this robbery II
worthy Of a shyster lawyer, but not of mem
Der of the United States Cabinet. That the
money drawn from the Cuban revenues by
these officers, is not salary from the United
States, and consequently their receiving it il
not a violation of the law prohibiting two
salaries Mr. Root goes even further than that
He says this robbery was carefully considered
and endorsed by Mr.. Mckinley and his entire
Cabinet before it was started, and that he In
tends to increase the number OF officers who are
allowed to participate therein. But he won
unless prominent Republican Senators who have
expressed surprise and regret at the scandal
change their minds. The Senate has adopted Q
resolution, calling for all the facts
Experience Doesn't always teach. Notwith
standing the awful experience Of our soldiers In
the war with Spain, thousands OF whom wert
made sick and unfit for duty, by eating the SO
called canned roast beef, the War Department
has ordered big lot of the stuff sent to the
Philippines for the use of our soldiers over there
Gen. Miles is as much opposed to this meat as he
was during the war with Spain, and the War De
partment acted without consulting him.
Representative Livingston, one of the mosl
level-headed Democrats In the House, says the
Republican leaders have determined TO jam the
ship-subsidy job through at this session of Con
gress Speaking of this deal, Mr.. Livingston
said: 81 know that conference OF Republican
leaders was held, at which it was determined to
push the ship bounty scheme at all hazards. ]
also know that the next day, Pacific Mail, which
may be fairly be considered the barometer Of
the scheme. shot up ynearly four points on the
New York stock exchange. The man who can't
plainly discern chain of cause and effect in
this is indeed blind. Obviously, somebody who
attended that Conference. communicated to the
men who control the market for Pacific Mail
securities, the news that the Ship Subsidy bill
would be brought forward and rushed through
at this session, under the party lash 1t would
not surprise me if special rule for its consider
alton and passage should be prescribed by the
Speakers Committee. Such a rule, it may be
confidently expected, viii limit debate almost
to the vanishing point. Indeed, it may be that
all debate will be cut off on the bill in the
House. believe they are waiting for a time
when an usual number of Democrats are absent
from the House, to force the bill forward for q
needed consideration. The Republicans are
bound TO get this bill through. I am informed
that a large part of their campaign fund depends
upon Its passage. Therefor, it behooves us
Democrats to keep our eyes peeled for the ship
subsidy scheme Every mothers son of us ought
to stay right here in Washington until the SEES
sion closes and keep sharp look out for the
Hanna-Payne bill''
It was an Ohio man-John Sherman-w 10
originated the phrase which has since become SO
wide used: I'm going home TO look after my
fences" Mr.. Mckinley. who is in Ohio, this
week, said before leaving Washington, that he
was going TO 'look after repairs to my house. .
which is a slight deviation from Sherman S
words, but means the same thing to the initiated.
1t was not mere coincidence that the repairs
upon Mr.. McKinley's house, at Canton, should
require his personal attention during the same
week in which the Republican State Convention
viii be held at Columbus.
Senator Wellington has formally left the
Hanna-McKinley party, and made this an
nouncement: Twas opposed to the permanent
acquisition of the Philippines. and to the Is
per cent. duty on Porto Ricsn imports to the
United States. This being my position, do not
intend to support platform that is against my
convictions in such important particulars. I dc
not intend to remain member OF the Repubn
can National Committee, nor to attend the
National Convention" There are numerous
prominent Republicans in both branches Of
Congress who believe just as Senator Wellington
does, but whether any of them win show thai
they have the courage of their convictions by
following his example, remains to be seen.