Gilpin observer., 1901-07-04
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington, D. G., June 80, 1901.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

target, this week unlimbered his bat
terry of heavy guns and fired broadside
into his critics and opponents. He is
sued statement aimed particularly at
some statements made by Gen. Daniel
E.. Sickles, including the assertion that
the republican national committee had
promised in writing previous to the late
election that new commissioner of pen
sions should be named early in the pres
ent administration. OF the latter Mr..
| Evans said: ~ know of Major General
Sickles' alleged contract with the Nation
al committee. l never heard of it un-
til he denied it Sunday, reconsidered it
Monday, and admitted it Tuesday. He
then includes two letters from Mr.. Sick
les to him both dated in 1899, commend
ing his administration of the Pension
bureau, and said he had others. His
statement concludes: 81 have no apolo-
gies to make for my administration Of
this great bureau. | have made mis-
to be honest with my government re-
specting my oath of Office, administering
laws as laid down in the practice with
equal justice to all. In this from the
highest to the lowest. ] beg to call at
tention to the fact that the disbursements
through this bureau and the numerous
agencies since | came here have amount
ed to SG00O0OOOO or more; there have
been no deralcations, no misapplication
or appropriation OF public funds: there
have been no bounty land scandals or
charge Of squandering public funds;
there has been no selling cf appoint
ments or promotions. Can more be ask
ed? Effort has been made to do justice
to all. l have given four years Of the
best efforts OF my life toward having
this government get control Of its pen
sioning system-and am proud Of the
results"
Both the Supreme court of the Dis
trict of Columbia and the Court Of Ap-
peals have decided against the Indians
who are in Washington, trying to pre-
vent the opening to settlement of their
Oklahoma reservations.
Although Representative Loud of Cal
ifornia, was non committal when asked
the direct question, his presence in
Washington at this time and his hold
ing extended conferences with postal
officials, after office hours, indicates that
he intends to renew his fight to exclude
certain classes of publications from the
privileges of second class mail at the
coming session of congress. In two
congresses the powerful influences,
political and otherwise, behind those
classes of publications have been strong
enough to defeat Mr.. Loud's bill. There
isn't the slightest doubt that reform is
needed in the laws which govern admis
sion to the second-class mail privileges.
Many publications enjoy that publica-
tion that should not, and when it is re.
memb cred that second class mail is car
ried at an enormous loss to the govern
ment, and il money so lost could be
saved it would be possible to reduce
letter postage to one cent, it would seem
easy to get reform bill through con-
gress, but experience has taught that
it is not.
Tho cabinet has begun to scatter for
the summer, and it is not probable, un-
less something very important makes it
necessary, that another full cabinet
meeting will be held before fall. Secre-
tary Hay went direct from the funeral
of his son TO his summer residence in
New Hampshire, and nothing is known
Of his plans, but the president and his
| fellow members of the cabinet have no
! idea that the stories of his resignation
| have no foundations; Secretary Long
left this week for an indennits stay with
his family in Massachusetts, and Sec.
retary Wilson is preparing TO go TO the
| Adirondncks, where he intends 10 put
| IN portion OF lis vacation inye8tigat-
ing forest reserves, which are under tho
supervision Of the department of 0gri-
culture. Civilization has its drawbacks.
According TO an interesting talk OF
Commander lilly, naval governor Of the
Island OF Samo, which became American
territory year or 80 ago to the presi-
dent and cabinet, it has not been nm un-
mixed blessing to tho natives Of that
island. lle said that when they went
without clothing they were n hardy and
he4lthy race, but that since they ad-
opted clothing they ensily contract colds
and hat many cases of consumption,
a disease previously unknown there,
have developed upon them. Here's a
nut for the scientists to crack. Did
nature intend Va to go without clothing.
| II t,rnsert plnns ure carried out the