The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1903-04-23
WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.


From our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, April 20, 1903
The appearance of Senator Hoar
and Willism Jennings Bryan, Charles
Emory Smith and Governor Montague
of Virginia at the same banquet table
in Washington aid the unanimous
eulogies OF Thomas Jefferson pro-
nounced by these men of widely diff
fering political views constituted one
of those remarkable tributes which
few statesmen are accorded. Senator
Hoar IN his remarks emphasized this
fact when he sad "lt we want sure
proof of Thomas Jefterson's greatness
1t will be found IN the tact tnat men
OF every variety OF political opinion,
however far asunder, find confirmation
of their doctrine in him." Mr.. Btyan
on Jetferson's rec ognlllon of the neces-
sity of free speech and tree opinions.
He said IN part, ITO Jefferson the
free speech and free opinions applied
to everything, because he rightly un-
derstood that no censorship OF opinion
could be permitted that would be
more dangerous to truth than to er-
ror, Tor those who are conscious of the
Righteousness of their cause are not apt
To Invoked force in defence OF their
opinion as those who are conscious OF
enot, and who, recognizing their IN
ability by reason, fall back upon coer-
con. Contrary to the expectations
OF many, the Jefferson dinner was nc.
productive of any important political
utterances.
XXX
Strong pressure Is being brought to
bear on Secretary OF The Navy Moody
to cause general investigation into
the bursting of the big gun on The
Iowa and also into the dlsablement of
the Maine as a result of the firing Of
her turret guns. An examination OF
the Maine proves that she has been
seriously injured and the cost OF re-
medylng the damage is varlously es-
tlmated up to 100000. Not only
have the supports OF her turrets been
injured but the emplacements of her
six inch guns have been found 10 be
| weak and her boilers have suffered
ser Gus injury. The contractors of
! the Maine have FASTENED to secure
immunity from all damage claims by
getting from the Secretary of the
Navy a statement, fathered by Chief
! Naval Constructor Bowles, to the et-
, feet that they are not to blame tor the
, injury, but, IN the opinion of some
well posted naval officers, this stat
ment was made prematurely and even
should 1t, on further examination,
prove to be entirely correct the ques-
tion arises, VINO is TO blame and what
remedies should be taken TO prevent
a recurrence Of such damages and
consequent heavy expense?
XXX
The PostoffiCe investigation still
continues and there is every reason to
believe that ample ground has been
discovered to warrant the removal OF
several officials, but, fer some unknown
reason, presumably political pressure,
the Postmaster General has refralned
from taking the necessary steps. He
says that the investigation will con
tInue until all the facts are probed &c
the bottom, but he falters when 1t
comes to taking the step which would
facilitate the work OF the inspectors,
the suspension of the suspected off
clalS pending the result OF the inquiry
1t nov transpires that Mr.. MaChen
superintendent of the Free Delivery
division, was requested to resign il
1897, but that an inspector detailed
on the case failed to find sufficien
evidence and the request was with
drawn before it had been acted upon
XII.
The latest charge presented for in
vestlgation comes from the Comp
troller Of the Treasury who has causeC
inquiry to be made regarding tn,
status of twelve maChinlsts, examiner
and repalIers of the complicated can