The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-04-05
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April list.
Mr.. EDIToR:-Mr Mckinley has had al
over supply Of white elephants on his
hands for some time. Consequently he is
not disposed to feel extra thankful to
Gen. Fred. Funston for adding two more
by capturing Aguinaldo. The Funston
white elephant had to be provided for at
once in order to avoid trouble in the polit
ical menagerie. There being nothing in
sight lower than a Brigadier Generals
commission in the regular army, the men,
ton who happened to be in Washington
made break for the White House and
demanded that for Funston. Mr.. Mckin
ley jollied them up and sent them away
without making any promises other than
that he would do something for Funston.
At a Cabinet meeting Mr.. Mckinley men
toned what had been demanded for Fun
ston, and Secretary Root made sneerirg
remarks about yellow soldering and cir
Gus business in the army and ended by
saying he was opposed to making Funston
a Brigader General of regulars. Ad,u
tant General Corbin marshaled the pull
of the officers of the regular army that
will be jumped by Funston's promotion
to try to head off the appointment, and,
failing in that, to try to have it Knocked
out in the Senate Meanwhile Mr.. Nc
Kinley had his ear to the ground. He
heard the public demand that Funston be
made Brigadier for capturing Aguinaldo
and he proceeded to do it, considering it
wiser to brave the onslaught of the army
"push" than to refuse to bend to public
opinion, even though that public opinion
might be of the hysterical sort, which
would shortly become Indifferent to its
present idol. That disposed of the FIN
ston white elephant. Aguinaldo will be
more difficult to dispose Of His case is
talked over at every Cabinet meeting, but
no sort of an agreement has yet been
reached as to what will be done with him.
Those having fat army contracts as well
as those who are after commissions in the
army are becoming alarmed. They fear
that the capture of Aguinaldo and the re-
ported surrender of many of his officers
and men will arouse public opinion in this
country to such an extent that the admin
istration will have to stop recruiting for
the army before the 1905 men author
lied by Congress have been enlisted,
which would lessen the profits of the con-
| tractors and lessen the number of com
| missions to be issued. That it would also
lessen the enormous expenses of this gov
eminent they care nothing about They
| nothing for the burdens of the people SO
long as they are being personally bene-
| fitted. 1t is said that friends of these
| sharks who are in the Philippines have
been warned by cable to do everything in
their power to prevent the reports sent to
Washington being too peaceab,e until the
army has been recruited up to the limit.
Then they wont care, as there will be no
way of reducing the army, except through
natural causes, until the expiration of the
enlistments. 1t has been given out at the
White House that the army will not be re-
| cruited to the full authorized strength, if
the reports from the Philippines Justify a
curtailment.
After much wrangling Mr. Mckinley
has announced the appointments for the
St. Louis Exposition Commission. They
| fol
Mcbride and Lindsay-three republicans
and one Mckinley democrat; Ex-Repre-
sentatives Allen of Mississippi, and Giynn,
of New York, and P. D. Scott, of Arkan-
F. Miller, of Indiana.
Mr.. Frederick l. Allen, of New York
Boss Platt's new Commissioner of Patents
took charge of that Office to day.
1t is charged that the reason the invest
cation and prosecution of the Maryland
Census frauds were turned over TO the L
s. District Attorney at Baltimore was be
cause Director Merriam of the Census
Bureau was too Indifferent toward repub
lican suggestions not to probe too deer
into the scandal. Five men have SO fal
been arrested in connection with these
frauds, but if half that is being told is true
several hundred ought to be arrested ant
convicted.
Mr.. Eugene Earl, whose position rs i
popular hotel proprietor of the metropoli:
enables him to get very fair idea of the
drift of po1it;c,l n,rro,t. /. -,
ton. Speaking of home politics he said
"Tammany will, | think, do the wise thins
and nominate for Mayor some strong mar
who will be acceptable to the entire
democracy and to the bulk of the voter.
in New York. The present reform wave
that is sweeping over the town will have
spent its force before election day, and
as an issue, will be practically extinct
The trouble with the rcformers is th;
they cherish the de.usion that they car
suppress vice in the metropolis, while
sensible people recognize the fact that
vice in great city cannot be eradicated
and are content to have it resulated.'
Some idea of the way this governmel
was robbed in the purchase of vessels at
the outbreak of the war with Spain may
be gathered from the fact that the trans
port Terry, for which $4,000 was paid
has just been advertised for sale at an I'D
set price of $4,000 and not a single bic
was received. When bought by the GOV
eminent, this steamer was an old eXcur
sion boat on Long Island Sound undp,
the name of Hartford
White Man Turned Yellow.
Great consideration u.,S faft liz ~,