Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-05-15

Naval Department StahuS III VIZ" '"uS
qIsrs- The Postoffice Ulcer Cleveland
Attitude - Fortifyins Manila HarbOr - The
immigration Bill Contains Loophole tor
Contract Labor.
(From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, May Z, 1903.
To the CONSERVATION and disgust OF
the Administration, the Porto Rlcan
smuggling scandals will not down.
Mail advices of the situation and sem
timent in the island are now beginning
to arrive and reveal an ugly feeling
which has not been equaled since 1t
was decided that the Porto Ricans
we're not American citizens? 1t seems
that Mr.. John S. Hord, Chief of the
Internal Revenue Bureau, ordered the
prosecution of Captain Dunlop, Rob-
ert Giles and Captain Metz in the alb
sence of Treasurer Willoughby but, he
alleges. by Mr.. Willoughby's orders
When Mr.. Willoughby returned to
San Juan he made public an emphatl &c
denial of Mr.. Hord's allegation and the
latter Immediately resigned. His res
ignation was promptly accepted and
the people are indignant beyond ex.
preston at what they ragard as the
forcing out OF an official who per-
formed his duty without fear or favor
because he refused to be party to the
favoritism of the American Admins
tration and nuliiy the prosecution oil
officers because of their rank and in
fluence.
Another feature of the incident
which has excited the bitterest com.
ment is a communication from Secre-
tary Moody in which he intimated
that San Juan was likely to lose the
naval station it is proposed to estab-
lish there if the prosecution OF the
smugglers was persisted in. The
strongest objection is made to the
minimizing, by the members of the
Cabinet, of the extent of the smuggling
which, it is claimed, amounted to not
"a few cigars and few bottles of
wine" but to hundreds of boxes and
cases of these luxuries. Hobart S.
Bird, editor of the San Juan News, has
been fined $40 and sentenced to five
days in Jail for contempt of court be-
cause he alleged Partially in the deci-
sion of the court and the whole OF the
San Juan section is in fever of in
dignation at the high-handed proceed
ings.
Representative Loud has come TO
Washington, evidently to protect his
friend Mr.. Machen, Superintendent of
the Division OF Free Delivery, from
the results OF the current Postoffice In
vestigation. Mr.. LIQUIDS method of
accomplishing this end is unique. He
is not attempting to minimize the ex.
travagance OF Mr.. Machen's adminis-
tration, but is endeavoring to create
the impression that this has arisen
purely out Of the opportunities OF Con.
gressmen and defects in the system
which a reorganization OF methods
will rectify, implying that Mr.. Machen
will be all right in his present position
if the system is corrected. Senator
Lodge has urged upon the Postmaster
General the expediency of suspending
Mr.. Machen because he fears the effect
OF the scandals upon the political flu
ture of the party, but Mr.. Payne, who
describes himself az no spring chick
on" is determined to make 10 more
enemies than he is obliged to and is a.
loath to suspend or discharge Mr..
Machen as he was to call for Judge
Tyner's or Mr.. Christiancy's resigna-
ton. Like all men of his stamp, how
ever, Mr.. Payne will be unable to find
words with which to express his con-
tempt for Mr.. Machen, if, as . result OF
the discoveries of Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Bristow, the Pres
ident demands Machen's dismissal.
This was the course which Payne pur.
sued with Judge Tyner, and express
ing himself with regard to Mr.. Chris
tiancp, whom few days before he had
favored as a successor TO Mr.. Tyner, he
used terms that would look very ugly
in print. Mr.. Payne's assumed indig-
nation is, of course, intended to i'm.
press the President with his sincerity
and is aimed only at men whose friend
ship the Postmaster General regards
as no longer of value.
The greatest interest has been Great
ed in Washington by the reports re.
ceived from St. Louis regarding the
prominence and apparent popularity
OF ex.President Cleveland, who re.
ceived quite an ovation. At the ban.
quet given by the Louisiana Exposition
officials to the Washington correspond.
ents. At which your correspondent was
present, Mr.. Cleveland made a speech
in a strain entirely new to him and
which was variously interpreted. Many
present believed it was bid for news.
paper popularity and commented upon
the fact that Mr.. Cleveland failed to
take advantage of what was an auspi-
cious opportunity to deny his desire
for the Democratic nomination. 9th
ers, however. regarded Mr.. Clevelsnd's
remarks as merely an appeal for friend
ship without any political significance
whatever and pointed TO the ex.Presi.
dents remarks on dedication day,
which were of more religious charsc-
ter than any he had ever made before.
This contingent argued that Mr.. Cleve-
land was getting old, that he desired
to be at peace with all men and to OBJ.
literate q certain antagonism which
had long existed between himself and
the members of the press. The older
Democratic correspondents we're all
pleased, however. with the enthusiasm
with which Mr.. Cleveland was greeted,
maintaining that it should be viewed
from its broad side as an indication of
growing Democratic enthusiasm and
was far more partisan than personal.
1t appears that in his recently pub
lished report General Miles presented
one subject with which the large ma.
jority of army and naval officers agree,
viz, the necessity of fortifying Manila
harbor. 1t is agreed that if the Span.
iards had taken the precaution to prop
! arlx, fortif,, tb;a ovco1loDk Lam, ,ooL al