The National tribune., 1903-11-19
WAyIFINGTON-@ l
k& g. y NEWGa)

| sympathy from the Regular Army. be.
cause of Gen. Woods rapid rise from
Captain at the beginning OF the Spamsn
/ War to Major-General Of volunteers
at its close. The effort is to prevent his
confirmation by the Senate as Major
General in the Regular Army.
We are now assured that gentle peace
reigns all over the big building on the hill
that the balm of consideration and regard
has been poured over the eoniiictlng Jeai,
ousy as to the dignity and rights of the
| two Houses: that the Senate recognizes
| the rights of the House to initiate all
revenue legislation, and the House there
upon comedies the right of the Senate to
amend such legislation. and so on, and
so on. Consequently there will be no
jar over Cuban reciprocity. and the bill
which is already drawn will have har-
moniOus passage from one end of the mar
BILE edi6ce to the other. The situation
was very disquieting at first. because both
bodies were very insistent upon the last
letter of their prerogatives.
Representative Littauer, of New York.
is quite determined not to rest under the
implication upon his character cohVeiea
i'm the Attorney Generals decision that
the charges against him can not be con
sidered on account of the statute of lmi-
tation. An extensive correspondence has
been exchanged between Mr.. Littauers
counsel and the Attorney General, IN
which the latter reiterated his refusal to
reopen the case, saying that such an act
would "embark the Department upon
vain, extraordinary proceeding, without
reason or precedent to support it. There
upon Mr.. Littauer with his counsel went
directly to the President, and an earnest
conference was held. at which the Attor'
ney-General was present. No decision was
reached, but the outlook is unfayorabie.
and it is understood that 1t is Mr.. Lit.
tauer's intention, if the President and
Attorney General remain firm, to appeal
to Congress for an investigation of the
glove contract. he may even discuss the
matter himself upon the floor of the
House. The firm of Littauer & Bros.
has been in the glove business for many
years. selling its wares to individuals and
firms having contracts with the Govern
ment. The specific charge is that in 1903
the firm was interested in the contract
of e r.. Lyon for 10000 pairs of muskrat
gauntIets, which was in violation of the
statute prohibiting under severe penalties
any member of Congress from directly or
indirectly contracting with the Govern
ment. There is no allegation that there
was any graft in this. or that the Gov
eIuHeut WIS utIIduucN VA O SSAs' A'>
contrary is affirmed.
The report of the Adjutant- General OF
the United States Army shows that the
actual strength of the Army on Oct 10.
1903, was 1851 officers and 55.5OO en-
listed men. There were lost to the Army
during the year ended June 30. 1903. 13S
officers. of whom 25 were killed in action
or died of wounds or disease: 2S.141 en-
listed men, of whom S37 were killed in ac-
ton or died of wounds or disease; AZ Off
GERS resigned and Il retired: 5.034 enlisted
men deserted, and 2O3 retired.
Over one-half of the report is devoted
to the militia, and this is not so satisfac-
passed by the last session to increase the
efficiency of the militia give grounds for
hope. The total number of the organized
militia, including the officers of every rank
and grade. is 1862. The membership
and discipline of these forces leave very
much to be desired. Only about 30 men
in each of the present companies are MT
to go to the front in an emergency, and
in every call that has been made upon
them only small proportion Of the paper
strength responded-the deficiency being
made good by raw recruits hastily drawn
in for the occasion. There are many ad
verse influences to the militia which should
be overcome. Business men dislike to
have their EMPLOYEES in the National
time for drill and encampment. In the
South there Is fear, constantly expressed.
that the National Guards responding to
the Presidents call may be placed under
the command Of colored officers.
Congress is recommended to appropriate
money for the forage of horses Of mounted
militiamen, and for the hiring of horses
for troops and batteries when they go
into camp; for furnishing, fuel for cooking
and heating straw and hay for bedding.
1t Is also recommended that the Cover
nors of the various States be permitted
to utilize their allotments to give a per
diem allowance, not to exceed 43 cents
per drill, of one and one-half hours of
drill, which would secure a much better
attendance at each of the "a drills an
nually required by the statute. 1t is also
recommended that States be permitted to
retain the rifles and carbines for use by
military schools and colleges. instead of
turning them in on receipt of new arms.
Champ Clark announces that he is pre-
pared to introduce his annual bill to make
the District Of Columbia Territory. How
much preparation he needs for this is not
perspicuously obvious. There may have
Decn III tne past slUSItutiou VI Seut-
colon for comma or some similar change
in the bill, which has been introduced
from year to year, but the change has
never been startling to the casual observ-
er. We shall welcome the temperance
Of our old friend.
On his way back from the wicked and
irreclaimable Sodom on the Hudson River.
John Alexander Dowie, otherwise Elijah
IL, came to Washington and visited the
President, with whom he had q half-hour's
interview, much to his own satisfaction.
for when he came out he said that he
highly approved of the President, indorsed
ris Administration. and would give him
the support Of Zion on Lake Michigan.
Probably Mr.. Dowie can deliver the goods
In this case much more successfully than
most political managers, because he holds
the politics as well as the business and
cash Of Zion firmly in his rather fat but
great good humor, and readily complied
with requests for his autograph.
1t begins to look as II George Washing
toms idea of great National University
at Washington might be realized 1t will
be remembered that President Washing
ton reserved a site for National Univer-
sity which was long known as University
Square, but which has been for years
occupied by the United States Naval OBJ
servatory, and Naval Museum of Hygiene,
and the Psychological Laboratory. WASH
ington left $4,000 in his win to carry ont
this purpose, and from time to time In the
past century there have been spasmodic ef-
forts to give II life. Senator William p.
Frye is an earnest advocate of National
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