The National tribune., 1903-10-22

One of the most welcome visitors to the
great Reunions of the last week was Gen
Green b. Raum, eX-Commissoner OF
Pensions. Gen. Raum was particularly
welcome to his old comrades of the Army
of the Tennessee, with whom he was as
socated from the very first and in whose
operations he took most credtable part,
first as Il Colonel of n regiment and then
as Brlgadier- General, commanding Il brig
nde. and always having a prominent and
successful share in the history of the
Army. His conduct at Resaca WAS par
tituarly praiscworthy. and won hatterins
comment from Gen. Sherman.
Remembering his executive ability and
solderly character President Grant Sc
lected him for the hercuean duty of re-
organizing the Internal Revenue Bureau
and bringing it to Il satisfactory business
basis. This he accomplished, showing that
the Presidents confidence in his ability
was well founded, and when he retired
from the Bureau it was in the effective
condition that it has since remained. The
work he did there was among the most
difficult and among the best in results of
any ever performed by a Bureau Chief.
President Harrison was the next 20
seek him out and gave him, without any
solicitation on the part of his friends, the
office Of Commissioner of Pensions. and
in that Bureau he also did a great work.
More than 100000 pension certificates in
the country bear his signature, and the
Interpretation which he placed upon the
Act of June 81, 1890. was in full accord
ance with the law, and intended to carry
out its spirit and purpOrt. 1t was based
upon the soundest principle of law and
withstood the assaults made upon it by
the combined legal talent of Cleve!and's
Admnistrat ton, in their desire to eviscer-
ate the act and deprive the veterans and
their widows of its benefits. He is held
everywhere in grateful esteem by the vet
Grams of the country and their widows,
for the good work lie did for them.
Gen. Raum appeared to be in the best
of health. and his mind, as those know
who have been reading his articles. is as
vigorous and clear as it ever was in his
youth. He found an abundance of friends
wherever he went in Washington.
And now what viii the croakers say?
They were dead sure that the United
States was going to sell her birthright
when she consented to arbitrate the Alas
kan Boundary question, and in their
minds eye saw Justice hanging from a
tall pine tree in Canadian territory,
United States compelled to vacate a large
slice of her back yard, including the gold
fields. As usual. the United States be-
ing right eternally right, if you please,
has got all that she contended for.
Every foot of land to which the United
States made claim has been awarded her.
right along the line which she has marked
on her maps for the last hundred years,
first as belonging to Russia, and then as
belonging to US when we bought Alaska.
The Portland Canal Canada gets. and she
is welcome to it. The United States
never claimed it very hard. On the plan
to git a plenty while yer gittin'." the
United States set up claim for it, but
did not make very stiff contention. We
get Mt st. Elias, and we get the gold
fields. and we get Skagway. The authori-
ties in Washington are eminently delighted
with the decision, and so is everybody else
but the pessimists.
lined last week, have voted 100000 for
Sanatorium, which they, will build at
Taksma Park, Il suburb Of Washington.
1t is thought by many that Judge Thew
Wright, of Cincinnati, will be the choice
OF the President for the vacant Judgeship
of the Supreme Court of the District of
Columbia.
Gen Wayne McVeagh, who has been
accused of writing very caustic letters to
the members of the Venezuelan Commits
sion, and as having left the Hague in a
huff, denies the whole business in toto.
He says he had a perfectly lovely time"
and was most courteously treated by ev-
erybody. ;
Gen. Frederick Funston, in reviewing
the conditions in the Department Of the
Columbia, of which lie has charge, grows
somewhat "sarkastic'' in his comments
For instance, he is supposed to inform the
Administration how many forts are really
needed in Alaska. and where they shall
be most advantageously located. In reply
he says: "The question of maintaining all
the military posts in Alaska is one requir-
ing more knowledge of the policy and in
tentiOns of the Government than is
vouchsafed a Department Commander be-
fore it can be inteilgently dealt with"
Now that is just awful, don't you know,
for simple Department Commander to
sass" back that way. Gen. Funston will
hear something drop. presently.
He recommends that Fort Davis. near
Nome, be abandoned, as he says that it
Is not needed, the residents of the district
being peaceable, quiet, law-abiding people.
At Fort Egbert, near the Arctic Circle,
he found the officers had a nicely cult
waited garden, where they raised all the
vegetables they use. He recommended
that Fort Valdez be relocated, as it lies at
the foot Of mountain just south of it,
which is over 1000 feet high, and cuts
the sun off for most of the day. In many
ways, Gen. FunstOns report differs from
the usual cut-and-dried ones.
That Roosevelt will head the ticket no.
body in the Republican party who knows
Who will be his running mate? All, there.
that is another question. New York and
Ohio put it up after this fashion-Hanna,
Herrick, Taft.
New York and Indiana make Fairbanks
first choice, followed by Beveridge, and
then Durbin. Others in New York favor
Cummings, of Iowa, while some others 20
scouting around for running mate in the
South, and mention Bowndes and Yerkes.
Minnesota presents Judge Ell Torrance.
The Hanna idea still percolates. despite
his protests and denials Of any such am
bition. Senator Hanna is not well man,
and he says that he loves life better than
Office, which is doubtless true, but it will
be remembered that Mr.. Roosevelt posi-
lively declined to run for the Vice Presi-
dency, and there was a Lively old scene
when he was told that he must run, and
they made him go on tho ticket. Will
they force Hanna TO do the same thing7