The Washington times., 1903-06-07
lhe Executive to Have Per-
SOnal Supervision of Fight
Against Graf" ---0ySter
Bay Departure Delayed.
Postmaster General Payne's
Retirement Is Predicted.
Responsibilities and Hard
Work 0vertaxed Him.


President Roosevelt and his Cabinet
at their first meeting yesterday since
March surveyed the whole field OF
national affairs and international
events since the President started on his
| Pacific Coast trip ten weeks ago. and
reached important conclusions in several
matters Of pressing public interest On
competent authority It can be said:
The Postohice investigation is to 20
en with even more yigor than Fourth
Assistant Postmaster General Bristow
himself has shown heretofore. The
Cabinet recognizes the need of satisfy
ing the public On the thoroughness of
the official probing and in Kidding the
Republican party as quickly as posi-
BILE of all responsibility for a continu-
ance of long-standing scandals.
The interesting development of the
consideration by the Cabinet of the POST
office matter is the determination OF
President Roosevelt TO take into his
own hands the personal supervision OF
the investigation. Not the least doubt
is felt IN well-informed quarters that IT
is his fixed intention to assume fun
command of the Invading army" AS
the long list of inspectors now at work
has come to be esignated
Postmaster General Payne will con-
tinue technically in command. with First
Assistant Wynne and Fourth Assistant
Bristow as the fighting aides de- camp,
but Mr. Payne's authority, 1t is now
predicted. will be so secondary to the
Presidents actual direction of affairs
that sudden end to his participation
in the onslaught On graft" is not an
looked for. In fact, those in a posi-
ton 10 know say that Mr. Payne's resig-
nation within a short time is highly
probable. IL on no other ground than
the mere physical inability on his part
TO stand the strain of a long campaign
against the Pcstofice ring
Under a Heavy Strain.
The President and the Postmaster
Generals collea CUES in the Cabinet have
been aware. since the early part of last
winter, that Mr. Payne has been In i'm
mincnt danger of physical breakdown.
The routine OF official duties, together
with the social demands upon Cabinet
members. caused him a severe spell OF
illness last February and his trip TO the
Caribbean with Secretary Moody, while
rejuvenating MIN fer the time being. did
not restore him to complete health. The
burden CT the present investigation, with
its increasing seriousness, in spite OF
Mr.. Payne's joeular comments of a
month ago, is regarded as too severe
for sick man to handle.
This fact is believed TO be one OF
those which have Influenced the Prest-
dent TO take hold aggressively at once.
From what he has already learned of the
present state OF affairs. il is thought he
tully appreciates how much strenuous
work is in sight, and that all the cir
cumstaaces Eow call for his claiming
the right to take upon himself the re-
sponsiblity for thoroughness of the In
vestigation.
Cabinet Members Reticent.
While members OF the Cabinet were
most reticent yesterday in making any
comment upon their deliberations, there
is sufficient basis for believing that tbs
plan here indicated has met with their
approval, and Will be proved by events
Of the near future
An interesting feature of the days
developments in Cabinet session is the
robabiiity that the President will re-
Gare his own presence in the White
House. while the investigation continues
even il IL takes all summer"-as the
best guarantee he can give the American
people that he means business" in rid
dinS the Postofice Department OF scan
cals- In the usual course OF events,
barring unusual developments, it would
De possible for the President TO leave
v Washington IN few weeks. and after
he was established for the summer at
Oyster Bay. attend to routine business,
and any odds and ends remaining in
tie way of appointments
June 25 is the date upon which the
Presidents departure for Oyster Bay
has been expected. with a feeling 81