Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-04-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondents
WASHINGTON Anril X 1901

From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, April Is, 1901.
Senators are much amused at semi
official statement that has come from the
State Department, denying that negotia-
tions had been opened with England for a
new Isthmian Canal treaty, and purporting
to tell why no such negotiations were under
way. The reason given in this statement
is that Secretary Hay has not yet ascertain
ed what sort of treaty two-thirds of the
Senate would be willing to vote for. 1t is
perfectly true that no negotiations have
been started with England for new treaty,
but the reason given is only half true. If
Secretary Hay has not been able to ascer-
tain what sort of a treaty two-thirds of the
Senate will vote for, he has been very
plainly given to understand what sort of a
treaty two-thirds of the Senate will vote
against or amend, and the information is
strikingly near to what Senator Morgan
said on the floor of the Senate, Just before
Congress adjourned Mr.. Mckinley
would find out that he could not get two
thirds of the Senate to agree to any treaty
less strongly pronounced in favor of Ameri-
can rights than the amended Hay-Paunee-
fote treaty, which England would not
nave. ltltO Is UuG real ItttSOu WHY Il6Te
have been no negotiations.
Gov. Gambler, of Georgia, is in Washing
ton for the purpose of settling accounts
between Georgia and the Federal Govern
ment for the equipment OF troops for the
war with Spain. OF those accounts he
said 1.-THE law provided that vouchers in
certain forms should be made out for every
expenditure. In some cases the military
authorities did not issue any vouchers at
all and that has caused some delay in the
final payments but the State will lose but
little. The Governor denied that his trip
East was to borrow money to pay the
school teachers of the State, but admitted
that if the Treasurer of the State refused,
on account of his construction of the law,
to pay warrants issued for that purpose
out OF funds, which are being held to pay
bonds that will not mature for fifteen
years, he would eventually have to borrow
money to pay the teachers.
According to evidence given before the
United States Industrial Commission, the
paper trust has added more than 81, 800, 600
a year to the cost of news print paper in
this country. One witness said that he
knew of two newspapers which were each
paying an increase of $3.50, 600 year in the
price of paper used by them. The same
witness said that all the promises made by
the trust had been violated and that instead
of reducing the cost of manufacture, it had
been increased, and was now greater than
under individual ownership of the paper
mills.
Although the War Department has tried
to poohpooh the reports of extensive frauds
in the Commisary Department at Manila,
the official action of Secretary Root is
largely increasing the force of officers in the
Inspector Generals department in the
Philippines, is an acknowledgment of the
truth Of the published stories. 1t is stated
at the War Department that the system of
inspection in the Philippines has been very
lax because a sufficient number of officers
had not been detailed for this purpose, and
that in consequence there has been num-
Der of cases of petty frauds in both the
Commissary and Quartermaster's depart
ments. 1t is known that that these frauds
have been so numerous for some time, that
il has been found necessary to establish
sort Of secret service to watch for them.
There has been only one officer-Colonel
Jarlington-on strictly inspection duty in
the Philippines and he has recently re-
turned to duty from two months sick
leave. Nothing shows palmer that the
government has been robbed extensively in
the Philippines than the fact that the
average annual cost of maintaining a SOL
dier over there has increased in the year
more than 800. AS there in round num-
bers rs, 900 soldiers over there, this is no
small matter.
Adjutant General Corbin, who is about
the slickest politician that ever held
commission in the army, and who by means
Of his political manipulation, was practi-
cally in command of the army during the
war with Spain, has again slugged General
Miles below the belt, and the latter's
fighting blood is, consequently, pretty near
boiling. As usual, it was done through
Corbin's political pull. He not only sue
ceeded in getting the recommendation of
General Miles, either Col. Rodgers of the
Fifth, or Col Guenther, of the Fourth
Artillery-for appointment as chief of
Artillery, position created by the new
army law, turned down, and Col. w. F.
Randolph appointed, although he was
ranked by both the other men, but in
getting the Chief Of Artillery made
subordinate of the Adiutant General,
although the law creating the position says
the holder shall he on the staff of the
Lieutenat General commanding. General
Miles has made vigorous protest to the
Secretary of War against this violation of
law, but no notice has yet been taken of it.
Republican gossip says there will soon be
a new public printer. Mr. Palmer, who
now holds the position, held it under Har-
rison, and was appointed by Mr.. McKin-
ley at the personal request of ex-President
Harrison. 1t is said that Representative
Heatwole, of Mimi, can have the place if
he wants it, and that il he doesn't Boss
Platt will get it for one of his constituents,
a man named Bass. But it is regarded as a
very juicy plum, and unless it is filled
before the news gets around, there is sure
70 be big fight for it among the Repub-
lican bosses.