Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-08-29
NOW IT is LIGHTERS
THAT HAVE IN THEIR GRAFT"
ON THE GOVERNMENT.

Miles to Head the Grand Army Procession
Despite Teddy's Wishes-A Billion and Sixty
Three Million Dollars Appropriated B,
the First Session Of the 57th Congress -
The Next Session Will Make the Total Ex
coed Two Billions - Democratic Prospect!
Good in Utah-Teddy and His Cabinet vii
BOX the Compass" on Prevailing Issues.
tFrom our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, Aug. 81, 1902.
The echoes of the unsavory Phil.
lipine transport scandal have hardly
died away, but another is ready to
take its place. This time it concerns
the lighter system at Manila. As may
be known, it is necessary to transfer
goods for Manila to lighters, which, in
turn, land them at the wharves and
warehouses. These lighters are EN-.
ployed by the quartermaster in charge
and are paid at given rate per trip.
the rate being based on their tonnage
capacity. When the situation first
became known, the officials OF the
Treasury Department demanded that
u register be furnished them showing
the names, speed and capacity OF the
lighters. Since then, the Treasury
officials have apparently paid no atten-
ton to the disbursements made for
Tightening purposes by the army quar-.
termasters and no more than was ne.
cessary was revealed by the War De.
partment. Recently, however, the
Treasury Department., availing itself
of the figures already furnished it and
the reports of the quartermasters as
filed monthly with the Auditor for the
War Department, has been making
some comparisons which have proved
the old adage that comparisons are
odious." The amounts paid out for
freight far exceed the capacity of the
lighters, tonnage and speed taken into
consideration, and the Auditor has de-
manded an explanation of the discrep.
ancy. Secretary Root is in Europe in
blissful ignorance Of the discoveries of
the Auditor and until he returns it is
not probable that any of his subordi-
mates will dare to make a statement
but, in the meantime, a secret investi-
CATION will be made and possibly a
scapegoat will be selected.
The determination OF the Grand
Army OF the Republic to invite Gen.
eral Miles TO head their grand parade
at the encampment TO be held in
Washington next October, is q source
OF serious annoyance to the friends of
the President. OF course, General
Miles is the most distinguished mem.
Der OF the G. A. r. He is the most
noted survivor of the Civil war. since
Grant, Sherman, Sheridan and mum.
Der of others have passed away. Com
ing from the people, without the aid
Of q West Point education, General
Miles has attained the highest rank in
the army and that, together with the
fact that he served shoulder to shout.
der with the men OF '60-'65, makes
him dear to the g. A. R., but he is in
disgrace with the administration. Col.
onel. President Roosevelt has had occa-
sion to scold him and would have re-.
tired him had not an influential dele.
CATION of Senators aud Representatives
gone to the White House and threat
ened TO blockade all legislation recon-.
meuded by the President il he did;
and, being in the black books of Col
onel-Pfesident Roosevelt, he has no
right 10 occupy q position of honor or
importance in the g. A. r. parade, and
especially in Washington. II 10 even
limited that If the General accepts the
invitation the Colonel Commander-in
Chief will prolong his stay in the West
90 that he will not be in Washington
on the day Of the great procession. but
the time 10 still distant and il is proba.
BILE that his better advised friends will
not ALLOW him to so seriously affront
the veterans during the time they are
guests in the nations capital.
The official figures OF the last session
OF Congress have at last been Issued
by the clerks OF the Appropriation
committees OF the Senate and the
House. They show that the recent
session appropriated the stupendous
sum of 81 ,063. 1886, 96l.55. Equal Law.
ishness at the next session will make
the total appropriations OF the Fifty
seventh Congress aggregate more than
two billion dollars. Representative
Livingston, the ranking Democratic
member of the Appropriations COM
mittee Of the House, who furnished
the estimste made in these letters
when Congress adjourned, placed the
total at 81 ,059, SIT ,052, but it will be
eeen that even he uuderestimated the
extravaganza Of the session. 1t will
be remembered that at the same time
MIR. Livingston gave the figures for the
last Congress under Democratic con.
troll and that they aggregated but $3.50.
OOO,OOO. Better evidence of Republi.
can liberality, with the funds OF the
people, could not be asked for. The
appropriations Of the first session OF
the Fifty-seventh Congress exceed
those of the first session of the Fifty.
sixth Congress by SO. 2S5, 92O.56. I'm.
der these circumstances it is not sur
prising that the Treasury surplus is
fast disappearing.
The reports received in Washington
from the State of Utah are much more
encouraging than they were some time
ago and it 10 apparent that Senator
Rawlins has been doing some excel
lent work for the party and for his seat
in the Senate. The absolute conf
dence expressed in the Utah situation
by the Republicans early this summer,
Is thing of the past and they now
conceed that there are excellent
chances for return Of Mr.. Rawlins 10
the Senate and are begging the Con.
gressionsl Campaign Committee to
come to their assistance. The reports
received here indicate that Perry S.
Heath, who, AZ editor OF one OF the
most influential papers in the State,
was expected to accomplish Senator
Rawlin's defeat and carry the State
for his party has sacrificed his influence
IL