The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-08-23
tfrom oar Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON LETTER.

higr, anu VIII l'lob'bil Iculdlil Until
the close Of the court Of Inquiry,
looks like a man who knows he is
right and is absolutely certain of
winning. He spends much time
with his counsel, giving them point
ers in the preparation Of the pro-
gram that will he followed by them
during the inquiry. To-day all
three Of his counsel Judge Jere-
miah NJ. Wilson, Hen. Isidor Ray
ner, Attorney General OF Maryland,
and Capt Parker,-made formal
call on Acting Secretary Hacket
ior the purpose Of presenting
Schley's supplementary list of w.t.
nesses to be ordered before the
court, and to ask for a list of the
Navy departments witnesses. Act
ing Secretary Hackett has promised
that Admiral Schley will be furnish.
ed a complete list of the depart
ment Witnesses as soon as it Is com
pleted. Admiral Schley regrets
having to abandon his purpose OF
accompanying the Washington
knight Templars to the Louisville
|conclave, but lac feels that it would
not be good taste for him TO do 50
under the circumstances that il
might b. thought that he was seek
ing to be lionized by his fellow
Templars for effect. When he
promised to go with the Washing
ton Commandery, Of which he is a
member, he had no idea that he
would, at this time, be preparing to
appear before a court OF inquiry.
There are reasons other than the
outrageous treatment OF Rear Adj
miral Schley, why a courageous
and fair minded Congressional com
mittee could do the country real
service by thoroughly investigating
all branches of the navy depart
ment. One Of them may be found
closely connected with the cruiser
Columbia, which cost rs, 600, 600
less than ten years ago, and which
was allowed to rust at the League
Island Navy Yard until in danger
Of sinking, with no caretaker other
than a single Waterman, and which
was lately sent to the Brooklyn
Navy laid to be used as receiv-
ing ship. Although built for speed
and regarded by outsiders as one OF
the finest ships Of its class, the Blu
reau Of Navigation has from the day
it was first put in commission, as
signed the Columbia to obscure
tasks. The reason ascribed for this
would appeal ridiculous, if it were
not So obviously true. The Column
bia was designed by Rear Admiral
Hichborn, who has always been an
outspoken friend OF Admiral Schley
and has in consequence been con
stantly opposed by the Bureau OF
Navigation. The country certainly
has right to know whether there
was any other reason than spite Oh
envy for the deliberate plans Of the
Bureau Of Navigation to lay up a
S., 600, 900 cruiser in order that
negl, ct might make it useless, and
a Congressional committee could
tinu out, if it went about il the right
way.
The low grade clerk in the Post
Office department who was discov
cred working on the night force oil
the Census Bureau, was compelled
to resign the latter place because
Director Merriam could not counte.
nance thc drawing of two govern
ment salaries by one man-after i,
had been made public. The head.
of other govelnme mt bureaus do,
however, countenance the drawing
Of two salaries by one man. Here
are some prominent cases that are
we'll known: Maj. Vim. p. Hux
ford, draws $500 a year as re-
tired captain in the army, and about
the same amount as Clerk Of the
} 1CllutC SOilltIllttCC vi INITIAL al
fairs. Charles T.. Morse draws
$500 a year as retired army cap
tain, and $1,000 year as Disburs-
ling Clerk Of the t.. 5. Bureau OF
Labor; Herman Schreiner draws
S21O) as a retired captain, and
$4,000 as a clerk in the Office OF
Commissioner Of Railroads. There
are others, but these examples are
sufficient to show that the law
against the drawing Of two govern
ment salaries is a dead letter, when
ever the man who wishes to do the
drawing has pull enough. In addi-
ton to two salaries, the officials
mentioned above enjoy as retired
army officers the privilege Of pur-
chasing all their family supplies
from the U. s. Quartcrmaster's de.
partment, at the wholesale price
which the government pays for