Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-04-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.


dent desires thorough Investigation
Of the Postof1ce scandals and the ex-
posture of the rascals rather than a
whitewashing, be had better manage
to infuse little of his strenuousness
into his Postmaster General" said a
prominent official of the Government
to your correspondent today and that
is the general impression among all
who have closely watched the course
Of events since Postmaster General
Payne returned from his southern
cruise. 1t is evident that the Postmas
ter General has no heart in the investi-
cations which are being conducted by
Fourth assistant Postmaster General
Brlstow and that, as result of politi
cal influence, or for other reasons he
would like to prolong the affair until
the public is weary of it and then drop
it with as little publicity as possible.
With an evident desire to curtail the
publicity which the affair has been re-
celving in the newspapers, the Post.
master General has twice taken occa-
sion to say to the newspaper CORE
spondents whom he receives each day
at p. M, that he would expect them
to prove the allegations which they
send to their papers and that it was
more than possible that General Bris-
tow would attempt to drag them into
the investigation and make them testi
fy as to the sources of their informa
tion. Charges OF the gravest import
are being filed almost daily but no
word regarding them is given to the
public and it is doubtful if they will
ever be made public unless on an un-
equivocal order from the President OF
on the imperative request of Congress.
A news item has reached Washing
ton from Ohio which has excited the
keenest interest. 1t is to the effect
that Senator Hanna is to no longer
enjoy the position of supreme dictator
OF republican affairs in his state but
must, as result of his defeat In Cleve-
land by Mayor johnson, share bis die
tatorship with Senator Foraker and
George B. Cox, of Cincinnati. This
information is of especial interest be
cause of the fact that the Ohio repub-
licans hold their state convention in
June to select candidate for Cover
nor and Mr.. Hanna has already select.
ed his candidate, Mr.. Myron I. Her
rick. In selecting Mr.. Herrick, Sena-
tor Hanna turned down General Dick,
of Akron, now a member of Congress.
General Dick has long had guberna-
torial aspirations and there are those
who believe he will land the plum this
year despite Mr.. Hanna. Meanwhile
the mere suggestion of a fractional
fight in republican ranks strikes ter
ror to the republican politicians be-
cause of the recognized strength of
Tom johnson.
Rumors of the necessity of an inves.
tigation in the Navy Department, es-
pecially one that would go very thor
oughly into the question of ammuni-
ton and the contracts let for naval ves-
sells. continue to circulate despite the
efforts of the Secretary to discredit
them. The accident on the Iowa, the
damage to the Maine, the prompt dis
avowal of any responsibility on the
part OF the contractors, by officers of
the Navy almost before there had been
time to ascertain the full extent of the
damages to the latter vessel are all
cited as indicating the necessity for a
full and thorough investigation, and
It is said that some very torcibJe truths
will be presented TO the President on
his return to Washington.
A scheme put into operation, by
which Secretary Shaw has just afford
ed the National City Bank of New
York an opportunity to make some
very handsome profits in connection
with his bond refunding scheme has
just come to light and has occasioned
the greatest indignation on the part of
other New York bankers. The Sec
rotary caused to be addressed. from the
list of registered b0ndhOlders in the
possession of the Treasury Depart
ment, circulars of the bank named, Of
fering to purchase the per cent bonds
and exchange them for the new issue
of 2 per cent. AS there il, a very hand
some profit In the transaction for the
bank making this exchange and the
Secretary was party to the scheme
numerous protests are being received.