Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-12-25


open the books. We want the investi-
cation thorough and complete, and
then we will see whether the Presi-
dent, with his great power, will turn
out the inefficient and prosecute all
the rascals, and l have no doubt he
will. Let us aid him to purify the
Department and to prevent these
wholesale frauds in the future"
Senator Lodge replied by saying
that congressional investigation was
the most clumsy one possible, and cited
as proof OF this assertion, that the De-
partment had been investigated by
two congressional committees which
had been unable to find any thing
wrong. Senator Nelson added that
the facts, which would be made public
through such An investigation, would
help those who are now accused. The
Democrats will no doubt point out to
Mr.. Nelson that it is far more impor-
tant that the public know the true
condition OF affairs in the Department,
than that few individuals be con-
victed.
Assistant Postmaster General Bris-
tow's report on the postal scandals has
been sent to the Government Printing
Office and will be given to the public
in few days. The publication OF the
report was decided upon by the House
Committee on Postoffices and Post
Roads. Each member OF Congress
will be supplied with several copies
which he may dispose of as he sees fit.
Mr.. Bristow strongly advised the pub
LEGATION Of the entire report, and it is
said that he minated TO the commit
tee that his report had been too much
edited at the White House, and that
certain parts OF it were toned down be-
fore the synopsis was published.
Senator German and other Demo-
cratic leaders are determined that the
public shall get at the bottom of the
postal frauds and they will continue
their agitation for congressional in.
vestigation.
Democrats of the Senate have de.
cided 10 accomplish an effective organ.
ization by requiring submission to
caucus rule. Senator German, the
duly chosen leader, has thus been sue.
cessful in his efforts to get his Demo-
cratic colleagues to act as unit on
the public questions which will be dis
cussed this coming winter and form
the issues OF the next campaign. In
this way the minority will be better
able to oppose the Republicans, who
however they may differ individually
in the primary stages of a controversy,
always unite on the policy determined
upon by the majority OF the party.
Leader Williams, in the House, is
confident of Democratic success next
year. He says. "The Democratic out.
look is more hopeful than for years.
The Democratic party is more nearly
united than il has been for a long
time. 1t comes nearer meaning some-
thing. Conservative business inter-
ests distrust Roosevelt. His strenu-
ousity is so near recklessness that it
would require an especially paid at
torney to mark the difference.
The National Negro Suffrage League
has just held meeting here which
was broken up over the question of
indorsing President Roosevelt. Such
resolution was voted down and those
who favored its adoption bolted the
meeting and organized another. The
fight between the factions will be car
ried on, and may result in sending
two colored delegations from the Dis.
trict of Columbia to the Republican
National Convention.
A ship subsidy bill, calling for dis
elimination in tonnage taxes and in
duties on goods carried by American
and foreign vessels, was introduced in
the Senate by Senator Lodge, but the
bill was labeled "by request" which
usually means that the Senator who
introduces the bill is not especially in
terested in it. Senator Frye also in
troduced bill providing that after
July ], 1904, all merchandise and pas.
sengers carried between the Philip.
pines and the United States should be
transported in ships bearing the Amer
lean flag. In his annual message, the
President recommended that a COM
mission be appointed, consisting of the
Secretary of the Navy, the Postmaster
General, the Secretary OF Commerce
and Labor, and members of the House
and Senate, to investigate and report
what legislation is desirable for the
development of our merchant marine.
A bill corresponding to this recon-.
mendation has already been introduced
in the House.
There has been much discussion
here OF the many instances in which
President Roosevelt has betrayed his
idea of the powers and
duties of the Executive branch of the
national government. Criticism of
such actions of the President are by
no means confined to the Democratic
party.
At the final session of the last Con-
gress, 100000 was appropriated for
the prosecution by the Attorney Gen.
ersl of violators of the antitrust laws.
A large portion OF this money remains
Referring to this, the
President says in his annual message:
now recommend as q matter OF the
utmost Importance and urgency, the
of the purpose Of this appro.
priation, so that it may be available.
under the direction of the Attorney