The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-06-29
WASHINGTON NEWS AND VIEWS

Wash 2o.--fSfdU
hardly likely that j. Petpon Morgan who is general
conceded to be something of hnanoie would spend $ao
100000 for the privilege Of spending six or seven time
that sum Yet appears that the United States of America
the pee OF which supposed to have rather an unusua
amount Of business sagacity have done this thing
connection with the Philippine islands. Those islands cos
ne twenty millions and according the admittedly partisan
statement OF Secretary OF War Root have. up to tn
first of April OF the present expended the enormou
sn Of st5o,376,s 96.l in attempting to pacity the ma
yes Of islands Leaving entirely out OF the equation
the matter number OF lives lost the cruees practce
m our soldiers against the natives and all of the thing
Of that sort which have made the in the Philippine
exactly fit the definition OF General Shermaneaving al
these things of the question do not the figures SHOW
that the investment has been bad from purely bust
ness standpoint?
The public is already familiar with the charges to tn
effect that Secretary Roots figures lacked considerable
showing the real expenditures made necessary by the wa
in the Philippines. Representative Maddox OF Georgia
recent speech the subject alleged that the cost o
maintaining army in the Philippine islands, including
the cost OF transportation etc. exceeded $oooooooo
nuay and with the reductions in the number OF soldiers
the islands would fall far below $s5,ooo,ooo. Ih
total appropriated account of the war witt
Spain and the subsequent operations in the Philippines
Judge Maddox said about one billion dollars or abou
hall the cost OF civil If the army in the island
only 4ooooooo for the past fiscal year. as state
by Secretary Root, Judge Maddox wanted to know wha
had become Of the remainder OF the SIsoooooo apprc
pratcd the army Dill tor tnat year Inese
inquiries have been answered, and until they arr
answered the public will doubt under the impression
that Mr. Roots figures not altogether correct anc
that whatever errors have been made the side o
the ledger which will make them valuable the admpisra
tion
But admitting for the sake of argument that Mr. Root
statement OF he of the up date is correct wha
opinion OF the be gained except that from
purely business standpoint the investment has been
bod ei,o
indicate anything but that pointed in the mrs
paragraph of this article have spent $aooooooo TO
The privilege OF spending the additional OF $t7o526
sS6It? he admnistrationists have all along attempted
TO make the point that the appalling loss of human life il
the islands would be made up for the commercial ad
vanages which would accrue to this country after thu
ipiuos pacifed' This argument has been dsprove
by Secretary Roots statement for anyone who is
oil acquainted with the situation knows that the
benefits derived from the acquisition Of the islands b.
no means commensurate with the immense Of none
the occupation OF the archipelago has the United States
AS matter OF fact the adninsrationists now whou
real support in their contention that the islands SHOULD
be retained and that the which is being waged there
just one They can only pirate about the honor OF th
army and reterate the silly charge that the democrats
calling attention specific OF atrocities committed b
United States soldiers SANDER OF the whole militar,
establishment The passage OF the Philippine government
bill will mark the only progress in the has
been made by the republicans during the entire session am
bill is than eounteraccd by the disclosures made b.
the democrats during the investigation OF Philippine
affairs
considerable amount OF comment has been caused 5
the tzct that General Leonard Wood has been the guest
The president at the White House Tor some time past q
course no questions Mr.. Roosevets right 10 nv,
whomsoe'er he peases partake Of his hospitality Yet
when he 6t to have Booker T. Washington dine with
HIM the people OF the South and those of the North vic
were not blinded by prejudice and intense partisanhp t
o'sed him severely He being criticised for his actor
toward Wood but for the reason of course thai
existed in the Washington case
The presidents friendship for Wood was not who'll,
FeSponsbe Tor the latter being invited occupy apar
ments at the White House There is considerable amount
Oh politics behind it all The president appreciates the fact
mat the public has been highly interested in the disclosure,
regarding the manner in which Wood handled the Cuban
iuuos during the American occupation OF the island and
nc KNOWS mat these disclosures would naturally and pde,
ordinary circumstances have the effect of hurting his ~
ana himself But by showing the world that he has sue,
warm feeling Tor the former military governor of Cuba
tue president hopes to create the impression that he n
Sashea everything is all right and that since he s
the public should not allow itself to he worried 49, y,
matter Secretary Root has already assumed
ior all OF Woods questionable proceedings in CHI b
e president seems TO entertain the opinion that the SIN
o' o. someone higher than the secretary of war shord
nc gwen the former colonel Of rough riders He thcraf
invited Mood to the White House as his nerson,I -
ana II the people do accept his implied version 81 h
matter he will no doubt feel that the people are yery yn
grateful indeed, WY I'M
4
"ooa 1t appears is not quite lucky as Roosevelt and
ye ne Is more fortunate than great many others Th
not only approved his conduct of affairs in Cuba
,IeNu,s ms reckless expenditures, from first to last h,
WNen the military occupation came to an end and the Go
men' OF the island was turned over to the Cubsns ~
paced three steamers at the disposal of the former
VA one OF these Wood and his staff made the bome,ri
b1 r. personal and household effects were brought to
W o''eu STATES on the other two and these vessels o
now lying in the Potomac near Washington sbas are
Woods orders. subject to
nG the presidents generosity does not ston b.r. '.
GAINED mat General Wood has considerable amo,, !.
in order thai he a way o. preparing his final reports and
ees the president has ordered that large hons. t