The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-10-09
1R-UPPER MARLBOROUGH, MARYLAND OCTOBER g. 1903
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., October 5th, 49,

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. c., October 9Th, 1908.
The grand jury of Washington con-
tinues to find indictments against Off
Gals of the Post Office Department. The
latest is against w. Scott Towers, head
of one of the city substations. He is &C.
cused of taking commission on type
writer books sold by private company
to the government. 1t is said that he re-
ceived $50 on every 5000 paid for each of
these, and that his fees amounted to
$500. He has been dismissed by the
Postmaster General, and is now await
ing trial. The republicans are afraid of
the political effects of the Post Office
scandals and their members in Congress
are now clamoring for a congressional
investigation of the entire department.
They state openly that their purpose is to
forestall the democrats and prevent their
making political issue out of these evil
dences of republican NAL administrati ion.
It is said that the President wishes
to name the investigating committee,
which he hopes will be authorized by
Cong ress. The republicans have adopt
ed the same tactics with reference to the
Indian scandals, as committee from
both House and Senate will 60 to the
Territory to make an official report of the
state of affairs.
President Roosevelt's stand on the ques-
ton of Foreman Miller of the Govern
ment Printing Office and on the "open
shop" in government employment, con-
tinues to receive the attention of politi-
clans and labor men. In spite of the
cautious and conservative statement of the
executive council of the American Fedora
ton of Labor, there are indications that
many labor unions will join issue with
Mr.. Roosevelt and will show their disap-
probation at the polls. The President held
conference last Tuesday with the labor
leaders and many subjects were discussed.
On the Miller question, however, there
seems to have been but slight discussion
as the President simply Informed the
leaders of his decisioa. In the statement
ference the President declared that Mil
Ter should remain and that no discrimi.
nation should be made between union and
non union labor in choosing employees of
the government. He added that the law
demanded this and that the fact of mans
being member of union could no more
be allowed to tell against him than the
fact that he was Catholic or Protestant
Jew or Gentle, white or Colored. The
Executive Council of the Federation of
Labor made no criticism of the Presi-
dents statement, but the following day
they issued an address to organized labor
of the country in which they stated posi-
lively that the unions would contend for
the principle of union shops.
The radical men in the American Fed
Grafton, and they are numerous, bitterly
oppose the Presidents attitude and in
tend to bring up the question at the COM
ing annual convention of the Federation
in Boston, on November 8. They declare
that if President Roosevelt is a true
friend of labor and expects the laborers
vote he must make the same discrimina-
ton between union and non-union labor
as he daily makes between republicans
and democrats. They argue that the
labor unions must defend their interests
against the government the same as
against a private employer. The labor
unions throughout the country continue
to pass resolutions condemning the action
of the Administration and they seem de-
termined that the Presidents statement
shall not end the controversy.
Our government is about to establish
trade relations with Abyssinia. Mr.. Rob-
ert P. Skinner. our consul general at
Marse lilies. in now in Washington COM
pleting preparations for his coming visit
to King Menelik, whom he will invite
to the St. Louis Exposition, at the same
time urging him to make commercial
agreement with the United States. Mr..
Skinner has seen the President and re-
ceived from him message Of profound
| COuSlU6IdJlOu ~ Cut A1TlCdu uOuaTCu.
He will be taken to the nearest port in
an American warship and will have an
escort of United States marine on his
long journey overland before reaching
Meneliks capital. The press of Europe
sees in this expedition an attempt on our
part to establish footing in Africa, but
Mr.. Skinner has very peaceful and bust
nesslike intentions. Over one-third of
all the imports of Abyssinia are from this
country and every year we sell Menelik's
people over $5,OOO,O0O worth of cotton
goods; at the same time we get from them
ivory, hides, carpet woods and other raw
materials. This expedition is ridiculed
by some who suggest that instead of 60
ing to Africa we should turn our atten-
ton to South America where the Ger
SCOTS