Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1901-06-06
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
United States Legation Guard In Pekin-Psn.
sion Sharpers Catch Returning Soldiers.

United States Legation Guard In Pskin-Psn
sion Sharpers Catch Returning Soldiers.
Instruction sent to our represents
tive at Pckin, governing the conduct
of American troops which remain al
the United States legation as guarc
in that city, have been acknowledged
by General Chaffee. The force OF 16(
men will be quartered in the Temple
of Agriculture and at the south gate
OF the forbidden city. The force,
which comprises company b of the
Ninth infantry, will be under the
command of Major Edgar B. Roberts,
Ninth infantry, and the force will be
stocked with supplies to last until
December 81, by which time requisi-
tions will be made on Manila for sup
plies for the following six months.
The reserve ammunition furnished
the force includes 100000 rounds OF
rifle cartridges and 100 rounds of re-.
volver shot for each authorized
weapon. The instruction sent to
Roberts cautioned him against any re-
taxation of military discipline and ad-
vised him that he should consult fire.
quently with our diplomatic represent
tatiyee and act when necessary in con.
junction with the other foreign COM
mand. He was also informed that he
might use force, if necessary, against
the Chinese in the protection Of
American interests.
There is considerable speculation
about the effect of Mrs. McKinley's
Hines on society in Washington after
her recovery and return. 1t is report
ed that two years ago Mr.. Mckinley
was advised to let it be known that his
wife was an invalid and could not dis
charge the duties OF the first lady of
the land" 1t is said that the presi-
dent favored the idea and suggested it
to Mrs. Mckinley, but that she re-
fused to entertain it for moment,
and that she has since rigidly per-
formed the duties of mistress of the
White Houe, at considerable personal
sacrifice and injury to her health.
An investigation OF the practices Of
pension sharpers in San Francisco and
their methods of annoying soldiers
returning from the Far East, has been
started by the pension bureau, and
prosecutions may be expected in the
near future, according to the officials
of the law division of the bureau.
The sharpers are not all representa-
tives of the large Washington pension
law firms, but many of them are, and
their methods are characterized a.
illegal and outrageous. They meet
returning soldiers at the docks and
often persuade them to file applica-
tions for pensions, even before they
have been discharged. Fees have
been, in many cases, collected with
out any service rendered, and the
sharper often threatens to take up his
case in Washington and make trouble
for the soldier unless he paid the fee.
According to present plans the 10,-
GOO regulars who are to be brought
back from the Philippines in the plan
of diminishing the military force
under General Macarthur will not
begin their homeward trips until after
july /. The first OF the regulars to
return will be the Fourteenth, Eigh-
teenth and Twenty third regiments OF
infantry, and the Fourth regiment OF
cavalry.
There is no law or constitutional
provision to prevent President Nc
Kinley visiting Mexico or Canada dur
ing his term OF office if he SO desires,
although the precedents are against
it. Never has the president OF the
United States gone over the boun-
diaries of the country except on two
occasions. Andrew johnson and Sec.
rotary Seward once crossed the suspen-
sion bridge to view the Niagara falls
from the Canadian side. General
Grant did the same several years later.
Gov. Charles H. Allen, OF Porto
Rico, has presented to the president
through the state department his
first annual report. The governor ex-
presses the opinion that scheme OF
colonial administration such as is
found in the Danish, French and
English West Indies might be safely
instituted with variations dependent
upon the future policy OF the home
government.
Surgeon General Sternberg of the
army reports with qualification a de-
cided improvement in the health OF
the soldiers in the Philippines. The
death rate has been rapidly decreas-
ing. The death rate from disease is
much lower than in any other army.