The Press., 1903-04-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
!. washington. April %. 1903.

WASHING lON LIZ i Elk. .l5
washington, April 20, 1908.
The extent to which President Roose-
velt has called upon the newspaper pro-
fession for officers Of the government and
the wholesome influence which the news
papermen he has selected have had upon
federal sffairs constitute one Of the strik-
ing features of Mr.. Roosevslt's admins
tration. One Of the most prominent posi-
tions awarded to young journalist Is
that of assistant secretary of the treasury
now filed by Robert Armstrong. An
other is that Of first assistant postmaster
Robert Wynne, for many years promi-
nent Washington correspondent Henry
Mcfarland, for many years correspondent
of a leading New England paper has been
appointed one of the commissioners of the
district Of Columbia and Harry West,
political writer for magazines and for a
local newspaper, has been selected to fill
another vacancy In the district commis-
sion. The present commissioner Of PEN
sions, Eugene F. Ware, was newspaper
man, as were the also the chief of the
secret service, Mr.. Wilkie and several
other government officials. In every
instance the newspapermen appointed by
President Roosevelt have rendered excel
lent accounts of themselves and it is gen.
orally conceded that they have proved Of
value In the positions to which they have
been assigned.
While never newspaperman himself,
the president seems to have keen appre-
citation of the value and the difficulties Of
"the craft" and always shows the utmost
consideration. In the plans for his new
Office building he insisted that comfort
able room for the accommodation of the
press be provided, the first spress room"
ever established In the white house, and
on his trips about the country he always
takes along the representatives of the
press associations and frequently those Of
several of the more prominent newspapers.
When he Is In Washington, Mr.. Roose-
oOOO06AOAC
spondents of reputable newspapers and
when intelligent questions are propounded
to him he invariably takes great pains to
make himself understood and to impart,
If possible the necessary information. 1t
Is part of the unwritten code of Washing
ton correspondents that the president Is
never to be quoted, that is, his remarks
made In private conversation, and for that
reason the public is seldom aware Of the
source, even when 1t reads statements and
news that has come direct from the presi-
dent himself. Mr.. Roosevelt always dis.
plays the utmost confidence In the corre-
spondents and talks to them with entire
freedom, although he not infrequently
spoils good ''story" by sealing his inter-
viewers lips with an injunction of secrecy.
This confidence has never been violated,
even though it has more than once result
ed In the recipients being ''scooped' by
some enterprislng competitor who has
dug out the facts without going to the
president.
1t is said at the post Office department
that the investigation still continues but
no facts are made public and 1t Is stated
officially that none will be given out until
the inquiry Is completed. The entire
affair, according to the postmaster gener
al, is In the hands Of Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Bristow and MIR
Payne is not even acquainted with the
charges as they come la. The utmost
confidence Is felt In the with
which MIR. Bristow will perform his
duties, none the less because Of the fact
that every attempt has been male by
politicians in the past to secure his dis
missal. 1t Is asserted of MIR. Bristow
that he has no friends among the polltici-
ans OF any party that he has held his po-
sition by sheer merit and that he rs not,
therefore, under obligations to anyone, a
fact which par ticularly fits him for his
present work. That very grave charges
are under consideration is Known and the
only question as to the effectiveness of
the present Investigation is whether the
recommendation of Mr.. Brlstow and his
inspectors will be carried out to the
letter, when made.
Quietly, but none the less effectually,
the president has been strengthening the
civil service regulations of the government
until to-day there are almost no places
which are controlled by political influence.
The only notable exceptions are what are
known as presidential postmasters and
members of the consular service. One OF
the strongest features of the. new law
which went into effect last week Is pro-
vision which forbids the payment of en-
ployees appointed or retained contrary to
rulings of the civil service commission
AS the auditors of the treasury depart
ment are personally responsible for every
payment they approve, this order makes
each OF them an agent for the enforcement
OF the civil service regulations. The new
rules make impossible the employment Of
persons as laborers and assigning them to
clerical work. Only persons employed at
manual labor shall be classed as laborers.
A serious abuse which the new rules are
designed to remedy is the appointment OF
political favorites as rangers and Id other