Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1903-07-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.

American clClZen.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our Regular CorrespondentJ
Washington, d. g., July 6-Strained
relations with Russia now threaten as
a result of President Roosevelt's de.
sire to cultivate favor with the Jewish
voters. AS has already been told in
these letters, the President yielded to
the opportunities of the executive
committee of the Banai Barith and
agreed to forward to Russia a petition
for consideration of the Jews in Bes.
serabia. AS soon as the Presidents
intention became known in Saint Pc
tersburg, an intimation was impaired
to the Associated Press to the effect that
under no circumstances could Russia
consent to receive any representation
or petition regarding it's internal af-
fairs. But the President was not
daunted by this intimation. He has
declared that the United States will &C.
cept no semi official intimation and that
the petition will be forwarded to the
Gar as soon as it is received in Wash.
ington. Russia's next move in the
situation is awaited with keenest in
terest.
Republicans in Washington claim to
be jubilant over the result of the Iowa
convention. Under the shrewd guild
ance of Senator Allison, the obnoxious
assertion that the tariff sheltered
mOnopolies," which has been eliminat.
ed or rather replaced with a non de
script plank which is one of Mr.. Alli-
sons masterpieces in the good Lord,
and good Devil'' line. To the ''stand
patters" there may be some satisfac-
ton in this elimination but the great
est satisfaction falls to the democrat
who can now point to the fact that
even Iowa has been swung into line,
afraid to stand by it's convictions, that
the tariff is the ''mother of trusts -
and that every republican who favors
a revision of the existing tariff rates
must vote the democratic ticket or
stultify himself. After the adoption
of the platform Governor Cummins
made speech in which he re asserted
his old time position, but in as much
as he had first yielded his position and
waived his conviction that prompt
lowering of the duties on trust made
goods was imperative, his subsequent
statements will be received for what
they are worth.
President Roosevelt and Postmaster
General Payne have between them
managed to close most of the avenues
by which news has previously been
obtained regarding the Postoffice In
vestigation and comparatively little
news of Importance is now getting in
tOprint. The most important subjects
under investigation at present are the
purchase of sheet-irOn mail. boxes, the
painting of the same with a certain
patent paint, and the General Mani
folding Company which sells to the
government 100000 worth of mani
folding paper a year, one half of which
is bought by the Postoffice. Almost
no Information can be obtained regard
Ing the first investigations aside from
the fact that they are presenting some
interesting and probably important de-
velopments. With regard to the lat
ter it has been found that the clerk,
who buys the manifolding paper has a
son who is receiving So, 900 a year from
the General Manifolding Company,
that Representative Joseph Sibley is
largely interested in the concern and it
is suspected that Speaker to. be Cannon
is also. although that has not been
verified as the inspectors have not yet
gained access to the stock books.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster Gen.
eral Bristow has announced a policy
which is likely to make for improve
ment of the postal service il be is sus-
tanned in it by the Postmaster G eneral
unfortunately very doubtful condi.
tion. Mr.. Bristow declares that the
rural free delivery service has been
seriously hampered by the establish
ment of routes as favors to Congress-
men, regardless of whether the condi-
tlons attending such routes warranted
their establishment. Hereafter be ia
determined that mem bers of Congress
shall have no voice in this matter.
apart from the preservation of the petit.
lions of their constituents. He saws
the inspectors will be used to ascertain
if the circumstances surrounding pro-
posed route are such as to give some
ground for believing that it will even
bually bring an adequate return to the
and that unless such ia
found to be the case the route will be |
1enied.
The most serious commentary vet |
'ound On the administration of Post.
master General Payne is contained in
he statement for the fiscal year just
ended by which is shown deficit for
The year Of $4,617. 203, nearly double
hat OF the previous year. 1t is an
bounced that large portion of this
ehcit is due to the extension of the
rec delivery service In the rural dis
riots. but it is not denied that had
uch extension been made on business
ines, instead of for political purposes