Middletown transcript., 1903-06-27
WASHINGTON LETTER.

w Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral Bristow to the Tulloch charges, til
Post Office investigation took fresl
start this week, and has been almost tn
sole topic discussed in official Washing
ton. Bristow's reply SO thoroughly sup
ported the charges preferred by Tullocl
and reflected so gravely on the admins
tration of ex-Postmaster General Smitl
and ex-First Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral Health that they produced sensa
tion and when it was discovered, by .
comparison of dates, that POSTMASTER
General Payne was in receipt of the Bris
tow reply on May 4th and that it wa
not until May 10th that gave his nov
famous interview in which he said tha
Tulloch's statement was "stumI
speech, " "Hot air." etc, and that unless
Tulloch could make good'' he should
be "branded as slanderer and back
biter," the demand for Payne's resigna
ton became clamorous, even stauncf
Republican papers joining in the insis
tent representation that Payne had de.
monstrated his unfitness for his present
position.
~
The most grievous offense OF the Post,
master General was, however, what ap.
peared to be an attempt to drag in the
name of President Mckinley. He said
in the statement which accompanied the
Bristow report, ''The charge of Mr..
Tulloch is in its essence against President
Mckinley and Postmaster General
Smith," This statement, which was
construed in many quarters as a mean
revenge against the late, lamented Pre-
sident because he had refused to accept
Payne as member of his Cabinet, has
aroused the ire of SO may Republicans
that it is still matter of grave doubt is
the President can protect Payne and re-
tain him i'll the Cabinet longer. Mr..
Roosevelt, while sorely annoyed at the
many blunders made by his Cabinet
officer in handling the postal scandal,
feels that they are largely attributable to
Mr.. Payne's ill-health, Moreover, the
construction put upon Payne's reference
to President Mckinley, Mr.. Roosevelt
knowns to be erroneous. Mr.. Payne so
described the Tulloch charges with the
intention of excusing his reluctance to
make the Bristow reply public and was
as much surprised as anyone when he
saw that his meaning had been miscon-
strued.
~
Aside from the publication of the Bris-
tow reply, there have been few impor-
tant developments during the past week.
Ex-Representative briggs, of New York,
has admitted that he received $12,5
from a concern which sold automatic
cashiers to the Post Office Department
during his term in Congress and his in
dictment for this grave violation of the
statutes is regarded as certain by the
postal officials. Charles Hedges, super
ntendent of free delivery, and practically
The assistant of Machen has been brought
within the tolls of the investigation for
mis- part in lobbying the claim of one ].
W. Parrish through Congress, in which
H. H. Rand, Mr.. Payne's con-
idential clerk, was also implicated. Evil
lence has been presented to the grand
ury on which it is expected that an in
lictment of Machen for forgery will be
ecured and the indictments of George E.
1orenz and his wife are expected Mon.
lay.
~
The President has announced the ap-
,ointment OF General S. B. NJ. Young as
thief of staff, the appointment to go in
o effect on August 18th when the Gen.
'ral Staff comes into existence. Gen.
ral Young will be at that time relieved
rom the presidency of the War College
Board as his duties as chief of staff will
nlly occupy his time. 1t is further an
lounced that when General Young goes
N the retired list, which he will do be
ause Of the age limitation next January,
General Chaffee will succeed him as
Iiief of Staff. General Corbin, Adju-
ant General of the Army, has also been
appointed member of the General Staff
IS has General Carter and it is current
'elief in army circles that Corbin is
scheduled to become Chief of Staff even
ually and probably on the retirement of
General Chaffee. 1t is worthy of note
hat neither Young, Chaffee nor Corbin
ire graduates of West Point and both
Young and Chaffee have risen from the
anks. General Corbin is regarded as
laving filled the most responsible posi-
ion in the army during the war with
'pain and his promotion, although seri-
'usly opposed by the friends of General
Iiles, is felt by the army generally to
lave been well deserved.
~
An interesting situation has arisen
With regard to the cruiser Galveston.
The company which has been construct
ng the vessel went into the hands of a |
eceiyer when it was 60 per cent. COM
'leted and now the local courts-the ves-
Ell is in ship-yard at Richmond, Va. =
ave enjoined the launching of the crui-
er at the behest OF creditors of the con-
ractors. Attorney General Knox has
lecided that the vessel is Government
and therefore, cannot be at
ached nor the launching enjoined. Con-
force of naval officers, mari |
les and seamen will go to Richmond and |
aunch the vessel to-day, despite the in
JUNCTION. When the vessel is launched
will be towed to Government navy
ard and completed. If the attempt to
aunch the cruiser meets with resistance
gunboat will be called into requisition
nd force used if necessary.