Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-04-19
WASHINGTON LETTER
(From our Regular Correspondent.

| WASHINGTON LETTER
| (From our Regular Correspondent
Washington, April 15.-Senators ar,
much amused at a Semi-Otficial state
ment that has come from the Stat,
| Department., denying that negotiations
had been opened with England for 9
new 1sthmian Canal treaty. and pur
porting to tell why no snch negotia
lions were under way. The reason
given In this statement is that Secre
tary Hay has not yet ascertained what
sort of treaty two thirds of the Sell.
ate would be willing to vote for. 1t il
perfectly true that no negotiations
have been started with England for 9
new treaty, but the reason given is
only half true. Ii Secretary Hay has
| not been able to ascertain what solt
of a treaty two-thirds of the Senate
will vote for, he has been very plainly
given to understand what sort of d
treaty twO-thirds of the Senate will
vote against or amend. and the infor-
nation Us strikingly near to what
Senator Morgan said on the floor OF
the Senate, just before Congress ad;
| journed-that 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
American rights than the amended
Hay PauncefOte treaty, which Eng
land would not have. That is the real
reason why there have been no negO
LtiatiOns.
Governor Gambler, of q eolgia, is in
Washington for the purpose of set
thing accounts between Georgia and
the Federal Government for the equip
ment of troops for the war with Spain.
OF those accounts he said: 1.-The law
p. divided that vouchers in certain forms
should be made out for every expendi.
ture. In some cases the Military au-
thOrities did not issue any vouchers
in the final payments, but the state
will lose but little.
AAccording to evidence given before
the q. s. Industrial Commission, the
paper trust has added more than 81
$780, 600 a year to the cost of news print
paper in this country. One witness
said that be knew of two newspapers
which were each paying an increase of
$780, coo year in the price of paper
used by item. The same witness SAID
that all the promises made by the
trust had been violated anG that instead
of reducing the cost of manufacture,
it had been increased, and was now
greater than under individual owner
ship of the paper mills.
Although the War Department has
tried to poohpooh the reports of extern.
sive frauds in the COmmissary Depart
ment at Manila, the official action of
Secretary Root in largely increasing
the force of officers in the Inspector
Generals department In the Philip
pines, 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
numb Der of officers had not been detail
ed for that purpose, and that In conse-
quence there has been number of
cases of petty frauds in both the Com
and QuartermaSter's depart |
ments. 1t is known that that these
frauds have been so numerous for some |
time, that it has been found necessary |
to establish sort of secret service to |
watch for them. There has been only |
one off1cer-Col. Jarlington,-on strict |
ly inspection duty in the Philippines
and he has only recently returned to
duty from two months sick leave.
n othing shows palmer that the gov
srnment has been robbed extensively
n the Philippines than the fact that
ng soldier over there has increased
n the year more that 800. Asthere are
a round numbers 5000 soldiers over
here, this is no small matter.
Adjutant, General Corbin, who is
bout the slickest politician that ever
leld commission in the army, and
Who by means of his political manip-
llati0n, was practically in command
# the army during the war with Spain,
las again slugged Gen. Miles below the
'elt. and the latter's fighting blood is,
pretty near boiling. AS
sual, it was done through Corbin's
'olitical pull. He not only succeeded
q getting the recommendations of
fen. Miles, either Col. Rodgers of the
fifth, or Col. Guenther, of the Fourth
appointment as Chief of /,
position created by the :
ew army law, turned down, and Col. {
V. +. Randolph appointed, although 6
q was ranked by both the other men, {
ut in getting the Chief of Artillery t
lade subordinate of the Adjutant.
General, although the law creating the )
osition says the holder shall be on the :
,aff of the aforementioned COM +
Gen. Miles has made Wig &
rous protest to the Secretary of War i
gainst this violation of law, but no
office has yet been taken of it.
Republican gossip says there will
ION be a new public printer. MIR. Pal
Ter. who now holds the position, held
under Harrison, and was appointed
7 Mr. Mckinley at the personal re-
1est of EX-President Harrison. It'll
said that Representative Heatwole, Y
Minnesota, can have the place If be b
ants it, and that If be doesn It Boss u
latt will get it for one of his consti- i,
tents, man named Bass. But it is 1
garded as very juicy plum, and un- d
IS it is filled before the news gets Il
ound there is sure to be big fight s,
r it among the republican bosses. D
Zera Semon Dead. ';