The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1903-05-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WA9E1AINO ON LIE i ENe
washington, May A, 1903.
Postmaster General Payne will spare no
steps to bring the abstraction of official
papers from Tyner safe before the courts,
and as preliminary step has made Presi-
dent Roosevelt acquainted with all the
details of the case to date, In order to
have the chief executive cognizance and
cooperation In all the steps taken. Mr..
Payne feels that his kindness to Judge
Tyner was seriously abused, and had he
not tempered justice with mercy thelatter
official would have been dismissed In dis
grace some time since instead OF being al
lowed to resign, in order to save his name
and fame from stigma. Now Mr.. Payne
Is thoroughly aroused, the more so since
his clemency has been made the basis of
insinuations that he has not been in earn
est In regard to the current investigations.
He has recommended that the Tyner case
be taken to the courts and has advised
that the matter go to the United States
attorney having jurisdiction In the District
of Columbia, with instruction to submit
the case to the grand jury. President
Roosevelt's reputation as a reformer
points to a vigorous campaign against
| official offenders as soon as he can return
to the field of action.
In addition to the Tyner matter there
has been disclosed the fact that number
| of clerks performing services which should
come under the classified lists of the civil
service commission, are on the rolls as
''laborers," being appointed tot those rolls
In order to escape examination. This is
direct violation of the law. It prevents
the appointment of eligibles who have
passed examinations, as the positions are
filled by the so-called laborers, and in
some cases promotions are made from
these same laborers to positions under
civil service rules. The result Of the dis
closures has been that a number of per-
sons have been dismissed, others have
| been given the choice of getting out OF
actually performing manual labor, and
there has been wholesale holding up oil
promotions which were to have gone into
effect July 1.
General Miles report on conditions In
the Philippines as he found them did not
provoke as much interest as such a docu.
ment from the commander of the army
might have done under other circum-
stances. In the first place, 1t really dis.
closed nothing new and contained nothing
sensational. The only information 1t gave
In addition to matters threshed out many
times before, was that some irregularities
existed in dealing out supplies, but these
charges have yet to be proved. In the
second place, the war department, in
issuing the report saw fit to incorporate
with 1t the reports of the chief officers ol
all departments which came under General
Miles observation, and these documents
were practical refutations of the latter's
findings. Whatever political use partisans
may make of the document, 1t can be said
that the hunters for sensational Philip
pines atrocities will not find this store
house of abuses and misconduct.
The decision Of the supreme court
made early In the week on the disfran
chisement Of the negro voters, leaves the
question still in abeyances, and In much
the same status as before. The way
pointed out is that the redress for poll.
tical wrong lies wholly In the political
field and that the voters of the country
themselves, either directly or through
their congressman can make any redress
which may be necessary. Since there ie
constitutional guarantee that each house
''shall be the judge Of the elections, re-.
turns, and qualifications of its own mem
bers the case is legally or rather political.
ly provided for.
Colonel Bingham, long superintendent
Of puolic buildings and grounds in the city
of Washington. left this week for his new
pest at Buffalo, New York, being succeed
ed by Col. Thomas w. Symons, who
comes from the post Col. Bingham is to
occupy. Although Col. Symons Is well
and favorably known in Washington, II
will be long time before he can gain
the place In the esteem of Washington
ians, long held by his popular predecessor.
Col. Bingham's last official act telle
rather pretty little story. 1t seems that
fond bridal couple from Virginia, on
their wedding tour to the national capital
visited the Washington monument as the
first point Of interest, and while there the
doting groom scratched on itsmarble walls
the name Of his fair lady. An argus-eyed
watchman Of the big shaft caught him In
this act and hailed him before the nearest
peace officer, where jail was threatened
unless the unlucky grrom should deposit
$25 for his appearance for trial. The
pretty little bride, now thoroughly grief
stricken with the clear sky Of their happi
ness clouded over, told the officer that
their modest tour had not provided for
any such financial outlay as that, and that
they really did not have that much
money. AS last resort they were carried
before Col. Bingham, who moved to pity
by the tears of the bride and the absence
of any vandalistic intent on the part Of
! her husband, dismissed them with warn.