Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-06-11

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The President has returned to
Washington, PHYSICALLY none the
worse for trip that would have
completely exhausted a less vigor-
Gus constitution, he says himself
that,he was benefited by it. He re-
turns to Washington with keeper
appreciation of the needs of
the great nation for whose
welfare he is largely responsible,
and greater love, if that were
possible, for the country which has
greeted him on every side with un-
bounded enthusiasm. In a word,
Mr.. Roosevelt returns to Wash
ington in closer touch with the
great American people. That he
feels this is evident from remarks
he has made to several friends.
As Mr.. Roosevelt again takes up
the reins of government he finds no
easy task before him. An appall-
ing scandal has developed in the
Postoffice Department during his
absence, a scandal which he feared,
even before he left Washington,
but which no political considera-
tions induced him to attempt to
smother. Regardless of the fact
that the country was approaching
great election, an election which
would determine his own political
future, he gave orders to probe the
irregularities in the Postoffice to the
bottom, to hew to the line with
but one end in view, the publication
of the service. Warm political
friends urged him topermit existing
conditions to remain undisturbed
until after election but he refused.
Theodore Roosevelt is alone re-
sponsible for the relentless investi-
CATION into Postoffice methods now
being pursued and it is with bad
grace that partisan papers attempt
to cast reflections on an administra-
tion which has dared to uncover
the sore that it might be healed.
August w. Machen, former Cen
eral superintendent Of free delivery,
stands to-day indicted by d grand
jury on nine separate accounts and
evidence of other criminality sulli-
cient to secure many more indict-
ment is in the hands of Fourth
Assistent Postmaster General
Bristow and his inspectors.
Thomas w. McGregor and G. Els
worth Upton, two of Machen's
subordinates and intimate friends,
have been arrested for stealing from
the Postoflice Department $1,000,
their methods having been similar
to Machen's. They purchased
mail bags in Baltimore, worth less
than 80 cents each, and paid for
them 80 cents, receiving d commits
sion from the maker OF 10 cents on
each. Postmaster General PAYNE.
who was himself reluctant TO be-
lieve that there existed what he
would consider actual dishonesty.
that is maladministratiOn for per-
sOnal gain, has been forced to ad-
NIT that the conditions which the
Inspectors are daily uncoyering are
"appallingn and it is believed that
the ramilications of Machen's dis
honesty will eventually lead the
inspectors into the homes OF men
prominent III state and federal poll
tical affairs. The grand jury is
now considering the case Of Croft
brothers, the men who paid
Machen "a commission on the letter
box fasteners, and their conviction
is confidently expected. Smith,
the man who sold the mail bags to
McGregor and Upton, will be prose-
cuted and in every instance as
earnest an effort Will be made to
meet out justice to the bribe givers
as to the bribe takers.
An effort has been made recent
ly to attach undue significance to
the movement of the Asiatic squad
ron from Japan to China, near Chez
Flu. The movement is explained
by the Navy Department rs being
nothing out OF the ordinary, the
most plausible reason being that
the naval situation there affords the
most available opportunities for
mauoeuvres. 1t is further stated
that the fleet always makes an
annual visit TO Chez Fu.