The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-04-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Atanila giving names ana details.
War DepartmentoEiicial now con-
fess that there have been extensive
frauds In the commissary branch
of the army in the Philippines,
and announce with flourish of
honesty and virtue that an official
investigation Is now being made
with a view to the exposure and
punishment of all those who have
been guilty of wrong-doing. This
announcement would have carried
more weight with the disinterest-
ed public had it not been accom-
panied by another saying that the
conduct of the investigation had
been placed in the hands Of Adiu-
tant General Corbin. Gen. Miles
is commander of the army, and #
the truth and the whole truth, re-
CARELESS Of whose toes might be
trod on, had been sought, it rould
have been allowed to remain in
his hands where it properly be-
longed--he had proven his fear
lessness in uncovering fraud in the
embalmed beef cases. But if the
object of the ivestlgatlon be to
whitewash the guilty officers who
have Republican political pull, and
to make scapegoats of those who
have not, the choice of Gen. Cor
bin to direct it was wise. He has
a record of political partisanship
never equaled by any holder of
Major Generals commission in the
United States Army, and there
have been some radical partisans
in the army, too, while Gen.
Miles has never been partisan
and is suspected of believing in
Democratic principles. Major G.
B. Davis, one of the officers said
to be implicated in the frauds, is
now in Washington on sick leave.
He has been connected with the
commissary branch of the army
for several years, and was regard
ed as Gen. Eagan's right-hand
man when he was commissary
general. Major Davis was at the
War Departmentthis week and was
questioned by Commissary General
Weston. He denied the charged
cabled from Manila that the books
of Evans & Co., government con-
tractors, showed that sums of
money had been paid to him and
other officers; and also that he had
any knowledge of wrong doing
either on the part of the officers or
the contractors, and announced his
Willingness to return to Manila
at once and assist in the investlga-
ton. He might be able to render
valuable assistance in the white
Washing.
Mayor Carter Harrison, Of Chi
cago, whose third election to that
Office has caused his name to be
more or less talked of in connec-
ton with national politics, has
been spending the week in Wash
ington quietly resting. Asked the
blunt question, whether he had
any intention Of entering the ma
tional political arena, Mr.. Harri-
son, replied: ''I'm not fooling
with national politics. IL is enough
for me now to attend to
my duties in Chicago" When
asked what the Illinois Legislature
was likely to do, Mr.. Harrison
said: 1.-THE Republicans in thot
body have done almost nothing
outside Of a discussion of appor-
tionment bills. They have quar-
rel among themselves over the
subject, and | should not be sur
prised il the Legislature adjourn
cd without passing any measure
for apportionment."
That Philip pines ustnecessari-
" be a large and continuous source
IF expense to the United States
has been evident from the day
Spain gold bricked US into becorn-
ng their owners. A board Of naval
officers, under orders from Secre-
tary Long, are now engaged in
preparing plans for a 5000, 900
naval station, which is to have a
81, 900, 900 dry dock, at Olongapo,
Subig Bay, Luzon. Those plans
will have to receive the APP
oroval Congress before they can
% carried out.
Senator Cockrell, who was met
coming out Of the White House.
where be had talk with Mr.. Nc
zinley on the subject said, of the
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