The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-07
cHAaRINED AT ROOT.
Republicans vexed Over Filipino sSs Finances. nss%ae

From Washington tb chicago Chronicle.
 . Republican Senators and Representa-
 lives are much chagrined at the explana- lion recently made by Secretary Root that the War Department cannot furnish Congress with detailed informa ton about the finances of the Philippines because Of It's complicated system of bookkeeping
 As an explanation they regard the Sec retary's statement as infinitely more un- fortunate than If. he had not said any thing They fear the public will construe It aS confession that the head of one kof. the government's greatest depart
 nents does not know anything about the business he is supposed to direct and su- perintend. -. Etit 7H 7tHG1 e
 Democrats do not believe that Secre- tary Root offered he correct explanation of his dilatoriness in responding to the Culberson resolution and many Rcpub- licans entertain the same suspicion. They believe that the Secretary is simply play ing for time; that he proposes to delay preparation of the information asked for until Congress adjourns and to withhold 1t until the short session next wanter
 By that time the Congressional elections will have been held and If there are mat ters in the report which can be subjected to criticism they cannot be used as Demo- cratic campaign documents
 There is Q widespread suspicion in Con gress Nthat there has been a riot of ex- travagance in conducting the Philippine administration. Wherever the probe has been inserted into collateral matters il naS round extrayagance. For example, it was shown conclusively that the army transport service, which IS maintained as an adjunct of our Phil- 1ppfne administration was operated in manner to bring discredit on many per sons. Absolutely nothing Is known about the operations of the local civil govern ment of the archipelago, the amount or money collected by local taxation. how 1t is expended or whether it is more or less than the expenditures.
 % Sn far c if ha learned Secretary Root has withheld this information even from the White House. It is conceded that he receives frequent reports from Governor Taft conveying the information which Congress desires and that he has these reports in his possession the present time.
 The Secretary. however for some rea- son that is not clear, declines to turn the reports over to Congress. He has entered on d policy of suppression. He conceived the idea of ordering Major Gardener be- fore an army court of inquiry at Manila to prevent him from being brought be- fore the Senate Committee on Philippines as a witness to testify about the outrages committed by the army in the province of Tayabas. Democratic leaders know they have been tricked in this matter, but are powerless to help themselves.
 It was the Secretary also who caused the first order for the converting of court martial to try General Jacob II. Smith to be recalled so that the Presi- dent personally could convene the court. By that step Secretary Root probably has delayed publication of the verdict in the Smith case for two, and perhaps three, months. The officers comprising the court are Under oath not to make their verdict public until it is in the pos session Of the convenng authorty. The President could order the verdict sent by cable, but that would not be official. and he probably will wait for the original copy to arrive by mail before knowing what the verdict is.
 There is so much dissatisfaction with Mir Root among the leaders of his own party that it seems to be a foregone con- clusion that he will have to surrender his portfolio before next November. The President will be urged to sacrifice him as Mckinley sacrificed Ager in the in- terest of Republican success at the polls.