Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-11-08
wAsnINeToM LETTER
tFrom our Regular Curresponden,

toms, for Porto Rico, will be appoint
ed to the Appraisership of New Yor,
in the place of Mr.. Wilbur F. Wake
man, the present incumbent. AS in
dictated in these letters some week
past, Senator Platt came to Washing
ton for the express purpose of gettin
Mr.. Wakeman's official scalp. On in
vestigation, Colonel Roosevelt foup
that Mr.. Wakeman had sinned only b
failure in subserviency to the Ne,
York boss and he advised the Senate
that he found no cause for removin
him.
About this time Secretary Gage Ell
dorsed Mr.. Whitehead for the plac
and Platt joined issues with the Secrt
tary of the Treasury and wrote to tn
President, endorsing him also. Sti
the President stuck to his coIors. blu
Platt came to Washington again an
SO did Odell, and both represented tina
the discipline of the New York ma
chine was at stake, and that it was es
sentiai to the best interests of the or
ganization that Wakeman be made al
example of. The matter terminated
by the President giving in as aboy,
stated.
Another test of the President g loyal
ty to his former principles is involved
In the case of Commissioner Roden
burg, of the Civil Service Commission
1t will be recalled that Mr.. Rodenbura
was appointed to the Commission af.
ter the adjournment of the last Con-
gress, which will necessitate the pre-.
sentation of his name to the Senate,
for confirmation, at the coming ses-
sion. Mr.. Rodenburg was not a Civil
Service reformer when he was appoint
ed by the late President, and his ap-
polntment was concession to the spoils.
men of the republican party, who de-
sired friend at court. The appoint
ment was deplored by many republic
cans at the time, who believed that.
however, much the President might
see ut to restrict the authority of the
Commission, the Commission itself
ought to be Kept free from anyone not
in entire sympathy with the purpose
.or which it was created. Since his
appointment, Mr.. Rodenburg has not
demonstrated any particular hostility,
the Commission has permit.
led some wide deviations from the
spirit Of the law. and in favor of the
'poilsmen. Mr.. Rodenburg has a
powerful republican faction back of
lin and it will require the utmost
courage for the President to. signify a
lesire for his resignation.
Although the address of Secretary
Wilson, delivered at Dysart, Iowa, on
N Saturday. has been heralded as
oming pretty straight from the White
louise, it is a very weak production.
t goes back to the old fashioned Re.
ublican doctrine, that the United
tates ought to practically build a |
yall about it's shores and conduct it's |
International affairs along lines that
1e Chinese boxers would adopt il they
ould. The Secretary holds up as a
'rt of economic millennium the time
hen, economically or otherwise, the
nlted States will produce everything
uses IN its own territory and appears
forget completely that only a few
onths ago, the late President made
lie sage remark that 1--WE must not ex-
sct to sell everything and buy moth
6.
1t is thought here that Mr.. Wash.
I'm, of Minneapolis, is rather coming
the support of Representative Bah
ck. of Wisconsin, in his fight against
le steel trust. In recent interview,
r. Washburn says that steel rails can
made and sold in this country at
7.5o per ton, and that that figure
ould give a larger percentage of profit
an the millers can make on their
'ur; but they are sold at $2S per ton,
d that the trust pays a handsome
oft on capital stock that is MORE
an half water, and in order to enable
trust to do this, Congress maintains 3
e duty of $3.50 per. ton. In conclu.
IN, be says IF this is not robbery, / d
'uld like to find stronger word to :
aracteriZe it. y
There are rumors afoat that the =
nocrats will invite Admiral SchIeyJ
head their next Presidential ticket.
t they are regarded as mere rumors v
all OF the Democrats have met in Il
AS matter of fact, no 9 9,
knows what Admiral Schley's DO
cs are, nor if lie is in sympathy G
III any of the traditions of the par hl
beyond what may be inferred from VI
fact that he is Marylander. 1t is "
N intimated that the rumors have
n started to hurt Schley, as it is "
II known that the Insignificant lit r,
presidential bee that got into Ad- or
al Dewey's bonnet, injured him. &C
indications are that Admiral pc
ley has too much good sense to even LII
en- to the siren voice of political
bition. =
prominent Democratic Senator re-
thy called my attention to the fact
the old law which prohibits any,
from sailing, as an American ship. -,
: vessel which was not butt in the
tied States, is still in vogue. He
ms that we're this law repealed most
be alleged necessity for a Ship Sub II
7 bill. would disappear and that 4
erican Commerce will resume it's J
NAL proportions, proportions