Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1903-12-11
A SCATHING REPORT
is GENERAL BRISTOW'S FIND
lNGS ON POSTAL FRAUDS.


Spectacular Comedy.
From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 1908.
Assistant Postmaster General Bris-
tow's report, published in abstract
form, furnishes the chief topic of con-
versation among politicians here. Is
there to to be congressional investi-
CATION of the postal scandals? Will
Perry S. Heath be forced to resign
from the Craftsmanship of the Repub-
lican National Committee? What will
be the political effect OF the frauds dis
covered in the Postoffice Department?
These are some of the questions which
are discussed once again on all sides.
As q summary, the report says that
four officers of the Department have
resigned, thirteen have been removed
and ten indicted. Forty.four indict-
ments have been found involving thir-
ty-one persons. 1t is published with
memorandum by President Roosevelt,
in which he praises the work of the
inspectors and promises that all Of
enders will be brought to justice. He
adds a dissertation on the crime of
bribery in public life and on the Joint
responsibility of bride .giver and bribe-
taker.
A congressional investigation, just
at present, is opposed by Mr.. Roose.
welt on the ground that it would be
disastrous to the prosecution of the
cases now pending in the courts. At
torney. General Knox agrees with him
that public sitting OF the facts would
reveal the hand of the government.
No mention is made of the fact that
the postponment of on investigation
would delay it until after the Presi-
Dental election. The Democrats, how
ever, will no doubt show that the
country is far more interested in pun
ishing the party, under whose Admin
istration such frauds vera possible
than in securing the conviction of the
thirty men who are now indicted.
Senator Carmack is demanding an
investigation by the Senate, but SEN
ator Penrose is following the plan of
forestalling the Democrats" by in
troduducing a resolution calling for
the papers of the investigation to be
sent to the Senate Committee on
Postoffice and Post Roads, which will
make further investigation, off neces.
sary."
Mr.. Bristow declares that the sum-
mary dismissal of Perry S. Heath, for
mer First Assistant Postmaster Gener.
al, would have been justified. The stat
ute OF limitations saves Mr.. Heath
from criminal prosecution and his in.
fiuence in the Republican party saves
him from being forced to resign the
secretaryship Of the national commit
tee.
The Republican House and Senate
now remain in session about an hour
between each three day adjournment.
Little or no business is transacted and
Congress is forced by the majority to
kill time until the extra session comes
to an end. The House refused to ad-
journ when the Senate expressed the
desire to do so. and now each branch
10 waiting for the other to propose ad.
journment-
This condition OF affairs was we'll
described by Judge De Almond, one
OF the able Democratic members of the
House. "On the question of adjourn.
ment OF the extra session the Alphonse
of the Senate is saying to the CASTOR
OF the House, After you my dear Cas-
tom and the CASTOR of the House is
saying to the Alphonse of the Senate,
After you my dear Alphonse,' and
Leon, standing off 1t distance is say
ing, How magnificent. how magnani.
nous, how strenuous But aside he
is giving this expression, / wish had
four years OF my own in that dear
White House in Washington, D. C.
This spectacle has to be gone through
with because no more important mat
tere are to be disposed Of"
During the same "talk" as it was
called in the House by Speaker Can
non. Representating Williams, the
Democratic leader, took up the ques-
ton of tariff schedules, and pointed
out how under guise OF sacred duty
to stand pat the Republicans were
furnishing shelter whereby the trusts
can extort from the American people
while selling to the foreigner cheaper
than the foreigner can manufacture.
The Republicans joined in the "talk"
with the old argument of the "unex-
ampled prosperity" of the farmer and
laborer. After the half hour allotted
to each side had been consumed in
this talk, the House adjourned for
another three days.
The Republicans are becoming
alarmed over the investigation of Gen.
eral Woods military record. Not only
does the disagreement between the
President andSenator Hanna threaten
the harmony OF the party, but it also
feared that the revelations concerning
Woods career will involve his friend,
Mr.. Roosevelt. It may be that the
Senate committee will make q party
vote of the nomination aud report it
favorably, in which case there will be
debate on the floor of the Senate
but it is said by many Republicans
that the President ought to let the
nomination fall with the end of tn
extra session. Unless the nomination
is sent again at the regular session the
investigation will cease.
The junta signed the canal treaty on
the day after its arrival in Panama and
the document is now on its way to
Washington. where it will require the
ratification Of the Senate to make it
90 into effect. As its approval by the
Senate is practically assured, it is safe
to say that the work on the canal will
soon begin.
The reception of the treaty on the
Isthmus was unique. The ship, that
bore it, was met at Colon by Senior
Esprilla, the Minister OF foreign affairs,
who carried it himself to Panama. On
it's arrival at the capital he was met
by the member of the junta and min.
istry, who accompanied him to the