Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-11-01


Not to Do It," and Will, Il is Feared. Have
Some Respect for the Law-The Navy De-
partment Should Be Investigated and
Roosevelt Cement Bonds of Friendship Be.
tween America and Japan-Chicago Postal
Matters.
(From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, Oct. "a, 1901.
When President Roosevelt left
Washington on Monday afternoon for
New Haven he left behind him a sad
ly disgruntled politician in the person
OF Senator Plat of New York, who
was nursing his wrath in his apart
ments at the Arlington Hotel. When
the Senator was in Washington some
weeks ago he discussed New York pol
itics with the President and, while
Mr.. Roosevelt did not actually COM
nit himself, he went home with the
impression that he was to have things
pretty much his own way. His most
important request had been for the
removal OF Appraiser Wakeman who
is said to have shown too keen an ap-
probation of his duty to the govern
ment and far too small an apprecia.
ton of the allegiance due to the Re-
publican dictator OF New York. For
the good of the machine discipline it
was essential that Wakeman's scalp
should dangle from the dictator's belt.
Mr.. Roosevelt had automatically
promised "to look into the matter"
and Mr.. Platt supposed his object was
accomplished.
On investigation, it is said, Mr..
Roosevelt found nothing to warrant
Mr.. Wakeman's removal and conse-
quently no change was made. Final.
ly Senator Plat, Notwithstanding the
fact that he had previously intimated
that Secretary Gage was not minding
his own business in recommending
Mr.. George Whitehead for the ap.
prasership, joined forces with the
Secretary of the Treasury and wrote
to the President endorsing Mr.. White
head and still he heard nothing from
the President. Finally on last Sum-
day he came to Washington and
again he got no satisfaction. That
evening he wired to Governor Odell
and early next morning Odell ap-
peared in Washington ard breakfasted
with the President, but the President
left for New Haven without giving the
slightest satisfaction TO either of the
gentlemen, and it is understood that
they held o consolation meeting at
the Fifth Avenue Hotel, in New York,
on Tuesday evening.
Senator Plat has also found Secre.
tary Gage weak reed on which to
lean, for the Secretary OF the Treas
ury, whose attitude is, "I'll endorse
anything if you won't ask for my res-
ignation," has reconsidered his posi-
ton and expressed himself to the
President to the effect that he guess
es Wakeman is not so bad, after ALL"
The belief that Seth Low stands little
likelihood OF election does not add 10
Platt's influence and the calm dignity
with which Croker smiles and sleeps
sayin' nothin'" is an additional az
gravation to the New York boss.
While the Republicans are trying
TO make the best Of the appointment
of William Dudley Foulke to the Civil
Service Commission rship, they are by
no means pleased with the appoint.
ment. It is understood that Mr..
Foulke exacted from the President,
before accepting the appointment, q
promise that he should have full SWAY
under the law in the administration
Of the affairs OF the com mission. and
that means that q good many OF the
prerogatives OF Republican Congress.
men will be cut of. The Commission
has, in the past, been obliged to wink
at many things in order to secure as
much freedom as they have had, but
in the future, with Mr.. Foulke "a
president of the Commission, for il is
stated that Mr.. Proctor will resign the
presidency in Mr.. Foulke's favor, the
Commission promises to stand serious
ly in the way of many of the petty
little patronage schemes concocted BY
Republican Congressman.
It seems as il the Fifty-seyeuth
Congress would be compelled to inves.
tigate the Navy Department. On top
OF the Schley-Sampson affair comes
the report from the captsin of the AL.
ALBANIA that large percentage of the
shells, which of course had been in.
spected and marked 40. K" by repre-
sentatiyes OF the Department, was
found to be defective and that the pre-
mature bursting Of one OF them com.
pletely disabled the port, thirteen.inch
gun. Moreover, the story OF the De.
partments permitting the cruiser Co
lumbia to go to rack and ruin in the
League Island navy yard will not stay
as completely buried rs Secretary
Long thought it would, a. is evidenced
by inquiries into the subject that are
being made by some of the Congress-
men who are coming to Washington.
Altogether there is ample warrant for
an investigation and il some unruly
Congressman, with more regard for
his own standing with his constitu-
ents than for the good of the party,
does not persist in dragging Secretary
Longs skeletons out OF the closet, it
will be surprising.
The Marquis Ito, who was for
number OF years Prime Minister of
Japan, lunched with the President on
Monday. Mr.. Roosevelt urged him to
return 10 Washington after receiving
his degree at New Haven, as he
wished to give dinner in his honor,
but the Marquis declined the invita-
ton. alleging the condition of his
health and the political situation in
japan as his excuse. Tho MARQUIS
told the President that the commerce
OF his country now amounted to more
than $250.OOO,O0O per annum, that
Japan had 846 steamers with an ac-
gregate tonnage exceeding $4,000
tons and that she had built up all this
within the last thirty years, that the
time would come and that it was not
far off when, next to the United
States. Japan would be the greatest
commercial power ON the Pacific
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