Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-04-24

President Again Accused of Deception
Political Sunbcams.
From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, April l6, 1908.
The appearance OF Senator Hoar and
William Jenning Bryan, Charles Emo
ry Smith and Governor Montague of
Virginia at the same banquet table in
Washington and the unanimous eulo-
gies of Thomas Jefferson pronounced
by these men of widely differing polit-
ical views, constituted one of those re-
markable tributes which few statesmen
are accorded. Senator Hoar in his re-
marks emphasized this fact when he
said: off we want sure proof of
Thomas Jefferson's greatness it will be
found in the fact that men OF every
variety of political opinion, however
far asunder, find confirmation Of their
doctrine in him." Mr.. Bryan dwelt
on Jefferson's recognition of the ne
cessity of free speech and free opinions.
He said in part, "To Jefferson the
right of free speech and free opinions
applied to everything. because he
rightly understood that no censorship
Of opinion could be permitted that
would not be more dangerous to truth
than to error, for those who are con.
scious of the righteousness of their
cause are not so apt to invoke force in
defense Of their opinions as those who
are conscious OF error, and who, recog-
nizing their inability by reason, fall
back upon coercion" Contrary to
the expectations of many, the Jefferson
dinner was not productive OF any i'm
important party utterances.
Strong pressure is being brought to
bear on Secretary OF the Navy Moody
to cause a general investigation into
the bursting of the big gun on the
Iowa and also into the disablement OF
the Maine as result of the firing of
her turret guns. An examination OF
the Maine proves that she had been
seriously injured and the cost of rem
edying the damage is variously esti-
mated up to 100000. Not only have
the supports of her turrets been injured
but the enplacements of her six-inch
guns have been found TO be weak and
her boilers have suffered serious injury.
The contractors of the Maine have
FASTENED to secure immunity from all
damage claims by getting from the
Secretary OF the Navy a statement,
fathered by Chief Naval Constructor
Bowles, to the effect that they are
not to blame for the injury, but, in
the opinion OF some we'll posted naval
officers this statement was made pre-
maturely and even should it, on fur.
Their examination, prove TO be entirely
correct the question arises who is to
blame and what remedies should be
taken to prevent a recurrence OF such
damages and consequent heavy ex-
pense?
The Postofice investigation still
continues and there is every reason to
believe that ample ground has been
discovered to warrant the removal of
several officials, but, for some unknown
reason, presumably political pressure,
the Postmaster General has refrained
from taking the necessary steps. He
says that the investigation will con-
time until all the facts are probed to
the bottom. but he falters when it
comes to taking the step which would
most facilitate the work of the inspec-
tors, the suspension OF suspected off,
Gals pending the result of the inquiry.
1t now transpires that Mr.. Machen,
superintendent OF the Free De.
livery division, was requested to re.
sign in 1897, but that an inspector de-
tailed on the case failed to find suffi-
cient evidence and the request was
withdrawn before it had been acted
upon.
The latest charge presented for in.
vestigation comes from the Comptrol.
Ter of the Treasury who has caused
inquiry to be made regarding the
status OF twelve machinists, examiners
and repairers Of the complicated can
ceiling machines used in the larger
postoffices of the country. These ma
chimes are rented by the Government
at rentals varying from $3.50 to $500 .
year and the question naturally arises,
Are not the owners bound to keep the
machines in repair? Additional force
is given TO the question by the fact
that these men have been carried on
the rolls as bookkeepers," evidently
with the purpose of deceiving Congress
and possibly the Civil Service Commits
sion. Like all other charges the mat.
ter has "been taken under investiga-
ton"
Senator Morgan OF Alabama has
made public an interview in which he
accuses the President OF deception re-.
garding the Panama canal treaty. He
alleges that the President wilfully
withheld information called for by the
Senate on February Is until March 19,
the day of adjournment, which infor.
nation would have accomplished the
defeat of the treaty. The information
referred to is the arrangement made
by Secretary Hay with the Panama
Canal Company binding the United
States to assume the expense incurred
by that company in prosecuting the
construction of the canal pending the
transfer of the property to the United
States and which, as has been pre-.
viously stated. is estimated as amount
ing to about 5000 per day. The Sem
ator further states that in the Presi.
dents communication to the Senate it
is shown that Admiral Casey was sent
to the isthmus with q United States
warship and landed marines, not be.
cause there was danger of interference
with the Panama railway, but with
the object of defeating the revolution
lists and sustaining the Marroquin ad-
ministration until it had had time to
ratify the treaty.
Representative Slayden OF Texas is
in Washington and reports that in bis
section of the country sentiment is
very evenly divided between Judge
Parker of New York, Senator German
and Richard Olney of Massach usetts
for tho nop, Dros;Jors:.v