The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-04-17
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.
Washington. April II, 1,

Events in Congress during the past
week have operated to seriously dis
credit the War Department and Secre-
tary Root, and the Senate Committee
on Military Affairs has expressed its
disapproval by vote which is almost
an affront to the President and his
favorite Secretary. refer to the re.
fusal Of the Committee to report favor
ably the nomination of Captain Croz-
Ter as Chief of the Ordnance Bureau.
Through the publication, at the de-
mand of Congress, of the correspond
ence between General Miles and the
President, the Senate Philippines
Committee became aware that, while
the Secretary of War had professed
to submit to the Committee all the
reports touching on military affairs in
the Philippines, he had withheld that
OF the civil governor of Tabayas, which
reflected seriously on the military
conduct in the islands. A resolution
of the Philippines Committee brought
the report with very feeble excuse
from Secretary Root.
The Senate Committee on Military
Affairs is indignant because the Secre-
tary withheld from it the report on
the transport service which afterwards
was sent to the House on the demand
OF that chamber. The report con-
tains unquestionable evidence Of
gross extravaganza of administration,
political favorltism, etc. That these
facts should have been made known
only by the intervention of the de-
mocrats, who introduced the resolu-
ton calling upon the Secretary for
the reports, is a source of mortifica-
ton and chagrin to the republicans
who appreciate that the onus OF sup
pressing information to which the
public is entitled, rests upon them.
While space will not permit recta-
tion of the many dsgraceful facts
which the reports reveal, it may be
said that they bear evidence, among
other things, that the expenditure OF
large sums of money was entrusted
to political favorites without the
slightest qualifications for their dis
bursement; that, for instance, $780,.
900 was paid for the transpor,
Meade" a vessel already twenty
seven years old and which has since
required repairs which have cost up
ward of $5So,ooo. According tc
General Young, preference was showr
to particular firms and goods pur
chased through them which they were
not in position to supply and fol
which they charged, in some instances
100 per cent more than the current
market price. Extensive purchases
were made from political favorlte:
without competition or even the super
vision OF a competent officer.
The refusal of the Senate Com
mittee on Military Affairs to appro,
the nomination of Captain Crozier tc
be Chief of the Ordnance Bureau i:
believed to have even more seriou:
significance than the reputation o
the Secretary of War and it wa.
rumored about the Capitol yesterday
that it was the beginning of an organ
lied warfare on the President by sena
tors who object to the formers auto
cratic methods and his refusal to ap
point their political henchmen to
government positions. 1t is a well
recognized fact that were Mr.. Roose
welt obliged to depend upon the repu
blican politicians for denomination hi
chances would be absolutely niL anC
it is believed by some that the sena
tors, having become exasperated
have determined to discredlt tn,
Chief Executive by opposing his
nominations in the Senate.
The Presidents energetic champion
ship of Cuban reciprocity is caus
Of serious annoyance to number O
republican senators They say, wit
good reason, that if the party make;