The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-04-27
FROM THE CAPITAL.
Our Correspondent Talks in
General About Wash
ington.
(ConIinunicated).
WASHINGTON,
April %. 1900.

Another ugly scandal has crop
ped mp under the rule of the War
Department, which cannot fail to
add to the wave of public senti-
ment, daily becoming higher and
stronger that will sweep the Re-
publican party with IT'S record of
scandals out of power. This par
ticular scandal was uncovered
quite by accident and it's exis.
tence was not denied by Secre-
tary Root, who is responsible for
its continuance, although it was
originated by Secretary. Alger.
1t is, to speak plainly, the rob
berry of the Cubans, for the ben.
eft of the officers of the United
States Army. Hints of extrava.
giant living by American officers
in Cuba, and of large sums paid
for their expenses, have been fire.
quent, but it was not until the
last forty eight hours that it
became positively known that Of
ficers in the United States
Army were in direct violation of
law, drawing two salaries, one
from the United States and one
from the Cuban revenues. The
ground upon which Secretary
Root justifies the robbery is
worthy of a shyster lawyer, but
not as member of the United
States Cabinet. That the money
drawn from the Cuban revenues
by these officers, is not a salary
from the United States and con-
sequently their receiving it is not
a violation of the law prohibiting
two salaries. Mr.. Root goes
even further than that. He says
this robbery was carefully consid-
cred and endorsed by Mr.. Nc
Kinley and his entire cabinet
before it was started, and that
he intends to increase the num-
Der of officers who are allowed to
participate therein. But he
won't unless prominent Republic
can Senators who have expressed
surprise and regret at the scan
dial, change their minds. The
Senate has adopted a resolution,
calling for all the facts.
Experience does not always
teach. Notwithstanding, the
awful experience of our soldiers
i'll the war with Spain, thousands
of whom were made sick and un-
fit for duty, by eating the So
called canned roast beef, the War
Department has ordered a big
lot of the stuff sent to the Phil
ippines for the use Of our soldiers
over there. General Miles is as
much opposed to this meat as he
was during the war with Spain,
but the War Department acted
without consulting him.
Representative Livingstone,
one of the most level headed
Democrats in the House, says the
Republican leaders have deter
mined to jam the ship subsidy
job through at this SEES.
sion of Congress. Speaking of
this deal, Mr.. Livingstone said:
81 know that a conference of Re.
publican leaders was held, at
which it was determined to push
the ship bounty scheme at all
hazards. l also know that the
next day, Pacific Mail, which
may be fairly considered the ba-
rometer of the scheme, shot up
nearly four points on the New
York Stock exchange. The man
who can't clearly discern chain
of cause and effect in this, is in
deed blind. Obviously, some
body who attended that confer.
ence communicated to the man
who control the market for the
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 a special rule for its consid.
Grafton and passage should be
prescribed by the Speakers Com
mittee. Such a rule, it may con
tidently expected, will limit de.
bate almost to the vanishing
point. Indeed, it may be that
all debate will be cut off on the
bill in the House. | believe they
they are waiting for time when
an unusual number of Democrats
are absent from the House. to
force the bill forward for need
ed consideration. The Republi-
cans are bound to get this bill
through. | am informed that a
large part of their campaign fund
depends upon its passage. There
fore, 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 session closes and keep
sharp lookout for the Hanna
Payne BILL"