Middletown transcript., 1903-07-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, July Sd, 1903.

CECRETARY Hay has left Washing
- ton and is visiting his daughter a
Newport. Just before he left Washing
ton he said to visitor that he had Oh
thing more to do before leaving the cit,
and that was to make up his war calen
dar. Noting his visitors surprise h
explained. 81 am driven to this extrem
ity by the newspapers, which are bount
to plunge our country into war will
somebody at every turn. The othel
morning it was with Germany becaus,
the report had gotten out that tie ordel
for the naval visit to Kiel had been coun
fernandez. To-day, believe, it is will
Russia because of an unexpected smut
for the Jewish note, tomorrow it is liza
BILE to be with England because of HEAVIER
knows what the fall of American stock OIL
the London Exchange may be. Now
the trouble with reports, especially dur
ing the warm weather when ordinary
news is dull, is that they don't always
agree as they should, end then they gel
us into so many fights at once that il
would severely tax our resources to carry
them all through to victory. "It struck
me not long ago that it would simplify
matters if We arranged uniform pro
gram in this line for some little time in
advance. l have noticed that story or
an explanation by authority is always
cordially welcomed by the press; so, why
should not get up summer schedule
of foreign wars before / leave town,
print it in attractive style with by au-
thority' in large letters in the corner and
hand it out to the newspaper representa-
tives in Washington. 1t would be ar
ranged in the form of calendar, with a
separate page for each month, and l
could string representations along the
outer margin of the page, as they used
to in the old farmers almanacs. For
example, between the last and the 18th
of July could have marginal legend
like this: About this time look out for
hostilities with Turkey. Between the
10th and the 31st could forecast: Stock
up with Partisan goods before ports close.
War with France is imminent, and be-
tween the first and fifteenth of August:
United States will land more marines in
Venice; Italian Ambassador at Washing
ton will demand passports Great idea,
isn't it? have taken out no patent on
it, but l may apply for one. l could call
it an apparatus for regulating foreign
wars and procuring intermittent comfort
for American Cabinet officers?""
~
1t is not likely, however, that the Sec
retary, when making these facetious re-
marks, anticipated the delicate situation
which has arisen in regard to presenting
the Jewish petition to the Gear. Russia
has announced through the Associated
Press, that it will not receive any ''peti- |
ton, representation regarding its inter
nal affairs" The United States has met |
This statement with another to the effect
hat it can recognize no unofficial or |
'emi-official statement regarding the ac-
ion of Russia and that the petition, re-
yarding the Jewish massacre at Kishney,
will be forwarded to Saint Petersburg as
'oor as received. incidentally the un-
riendly position of Russia regarding the /
opening of the Manchurian ports to the
United States is mentioned in an Gun
'fficiaP' statement appended to the fore
,oing. 1t is regarded as more than pro-
'able that if Russia were to recede from
is position regarding the Manchurian sit
lation, the United States might be in
luced to reconsider its determination to
onward the petition which Russia ap-
,ears to regard as obnoxious.
~ 1
Postmaster General Payne, acting on
he advice of Fourth Assistant Postmas-
er General Bristow, has taken the first
tep towards the reorganization of the
ostal service on a business basis. 1t has
cen definitely announced that hereafter
he existence of congressional districts
'ill be ignored in the establishment of
ural free delivery routes and that such
outes will be established only where
hey will serve at least 100 persons and
over an approximate distance of 25
lilies. 1t is stated that the establish
lent of routes, irrespective of whether
he conditions justified it or not, has
rown into grave abuse, threatening
he entire business administration of the
ost Office Department and this state
lent is more than borne out by the de-
cit of the previous year has been nearly |
oubled, the total for this year being ST.. ts
II, ,203 In this connection the remark 6
an official well posted on the purchase |
government supplies is significant.
lie says that serious abuse is the pur- q
hase of supplies made by companies in 1
hicll members of Congress are inter- i
;ted. They lead to extravagant appropria Il
ons and this official estimates that the b
tal loss to the government from this ore /
urce amounts to not less than $50, p
10 per annum. a
~ t
The Postmaster General has left Wash !:
gton for a brief rest, as has indeed ;.
cry cabinet member except Secretary !;
cody, all taking advantage of the 4th
July to get away from their desks.
First Assistant Postmaster
sneral. Before leaving Washington
r. Payne and Mr.. Wynne had long Il
TX and it is now believed that the p