The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-07-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.

August 10. When his promotion takes
place Captain Sigsbee expects to be re-
lieved of his duties at League Island and
assigned to another post.
~
The Treasury Department has confirm
ed the report that gross irregularities had
been charged in connection with the
assay of imported lead ores at FL Paso,
Tex. The Department directed Special
Agents Evans, at Ell Paso, and Johnson,
at New Orleans, to make an investigation,
and instructed Government Storekeeper
Fulkerson to turn over to these special
agents any facts in his possession bearing
upon the subject. Mr.. Fulkerson refused
to do this, or the ground that the agents
would not treat his evidence as conf
dental; thereupon the Department or
dered that charges be preferred against
Fulkerson for insubordination.
x*x
Politics languishes under the summer
heat. There have been several gather
ings of Administration leaders at Oyster
Bay, but little of political significance has
developed. Senators Hanna and Fair
banks and Ex-Governor Crane were
among those in consultation with the
President. The former, it is thought, has
been assured his continued Craftsmanship
to the Republican National Committee
will be agreeable to the President
~
The term of Governor Dole, of the Ter
ritory of Hawaii, does not expire until
next year, but numerous candidates for
his succession are already in the field.
Gov. Dole's enemies have made numer-
Gus attempts to have him removed or
compel his resignation, but without sue
cess. 1t is not thought he will be cam
didate for reelection, and George R..
Carter is believed to be the candidate
slated to succeed Dole. Mr.. Carter was
college mate of President Roosevelt,
and recently resigned position paying
$1,000 year to accept the secretaryship,
which pays only $1,000.
~
President Roosevelt has decided to ap-
| Albany, N. Y, as assistant secretary of
war, to succeed Col. William Carey San
ger, resigned. The appointment was
agreed upon finally Monday at a confer.
ence between the President and Secretary
Root. 1t has been in contemplation for
some time, as it has been known that
Secretary Sanger desired to retire from
the War Department OIL account of the ill
health of Mrs. Sanger. His resignation
was placed in the hands of the President,
to be accepted as soon as convenient.
~
| The postoffice inspectors are investi-
eating charges made against John M.
Masten, now assistant superintendent OF
the railway mail service and formerly
chief clerk of the first assistant postmaster
generals Office. A clerk named Terry,
now i'll the government service, has made
an affidavit before the inspectors alleging
that Masten, while chief clerk to the first
assistant, proposed that Terry pay hin,
$50 down and IS or $40 month to secure
reinstatement in former position in
Mastens bureau. The affidavit alleges
that Masten gave Terry assurances that if
he paid the amount mentioned he could
get back.
~
Major General Geo. w. Davis, U. S.
A., commanding the military division of
the Philippines, will be compulsorily re-
tired for age on July 26. Lieutenant
General Nelson A. Miles, commanding
the army, retires the same way, only IL
days later, August 8. Behind this little
difference of less than fortnight in dates
is an interesting story fraught with i'm
portant consequences to General Davis.
While there are six major generals and
IS brigadiers in the United States army,
excluding the staff, unfortunately for the
ambitious ones there is only one lieuten-
ant general There can be no promotion
to that or any other grade unless there is
vacancy and it has now become a we'll
understood fact that General Miles will
voluntarily make no vacancy. He will
hold on until the age limit forces him
upon the retired list.
General Davis is a favorite with the
Secretary of War and greater one with
Adjutant General Corbin, whose influence
has heretofore been very potent in the
matter of promotions to the highest
grades. Although Davis is considered to
be an officer of merit he undoubtedly
owes his rapid rise largely to General
Corb;n's friendly offices.
Heretofore the President has had small
difficulty in arranging vacancies in behalf
of favorite field officers he desired to re-
tire with increased rank and pay. 1t has
apparently been only necessary to suggest
or request that of the IS brigadiers some
one eligible for retirement under the SER
vice clauses make way on his "own per-
sonal application" and the desired vac
ancy speedily resulted. An old personal
antagonism exists between Miles and
Davis, however, and it is predicted that
General Miles will never yield day of
his active service to benefit George w.
Davis. Their fend began in the last
Cleveland Administration, when Miles
was an anxious promoter of bill 10 re-
vive the grade of lieutenant general in
his own behalf, which Davis, then Secre-
tary Lamont's military adviser, opposed
and defeated.
Meanwhile General Miles went his way
to the Philippines and thence home
around the world Then came his re-
markable report of what he had CLEANED
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