The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-06-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Tur

dShSh, ldtO Va
free delivery, has been indicted by the
grand jury on nine separate counts and
will be brought before the criminal court
at its fall term. Thomas w. McGregor |
and c. Ellsworth Upton, both subordinates
of Machen and both noted for their init
mate relations with their chief, have been
arrested and admitted to bail, for defraud-
ing the Government in the purchase of
mail bags for rural free delivery routes.
In the last case it is claimed by the offic-
ials representing the Government that
the men named have been purchasing
mail bags at go cents each and have been
receiving from the maker, c. E. Smith of
Baltimore, commission of 40 cents each.
Numerous other clews are being followed
up and it is expected that an appalling
in the division Of free delivery
will berevea1ed. Of SIS, 900 paid to Smith
S, 900 has been returned to McGregor
and Upton.
~
One Of the most important events of
the past week has been the practical turn
ing states evidence of one of Machen's
closest friends who is almost thrusting
information on Fourth Assistant Post
master General Bristow, with the hope no
doubt, of evading prosecution because of
the assistance he is i'll position to rem
der in the ferreting out of frauds in which
he himself is not implicated.
~
President Roosevelt returned home Fri
day evening, apparently refreshed from
his long trip in the West. He was re-
ceived by enthusiastic crowds which lined
Pennsylvani Avenue from the station to
the White House, and which cheered
outside OF the White House until Mr..
Roosevelt was compelled to come out on
the veranda and make brief address of
appreciation. The President dined alone
with his family that evening and Secre-
tary Hay and Secretary Cortelyou were
the only callers received during the
evening.
~
The army is being scandalized by an
unusual number of misdemeanors. That
such period of scandals should follow
the promiscuous appointment of lieuten-
ants as a result of political influence
rather than on merit, is not altogether
surprising. nevertheless the list has al
ready attained deplorable proportions.
Lieutenant Faulkner of the Eighth H.
family his had to resign because of fnan-
cial irregularities, Lieutenants Murtaugh
of the Coast Artillery and Lacour of the
Sixteenth Infantry. have deserted after
defaulting; Lieutenant Bushfeld, Seven
teeth Infantry, has been captured trying
to desert, to escape the results of forgery;
Lieutenants Robinson, Thirteenth In
fantry and ]. F. Mccarthy have been
tried for financial shortages. Lieutenant
Lowe, Thirteenth Cavalry, has been re-
duced in rank for juggling the canteen
account, Lieutenant Betah Smith of the
Seventeenth Infantry is before a court
martial, one officer has been dropped for
desertion and five others have been drop
ped "for the good of the service"
*
The rapid disappearance of the more
valuable timbers of the United States has
led to new form of economy which al
ready gives great promise This is, briefly
put, scientific method of seasoning with
a view to making timber as immune from
decay as possible. AS the presence of
moisture is essential to the development
of the fungi which causes decay, the thor
ough drying of the timber in advance of
its use goes long way towards preserv-
ing it. Added to this the Bureau Of For
estry is experimenting with various SUBJ
stances by which the wood can be pre-
vented from absorbing moisture after it
has been completely seasoned. While it
is not claimed than the cheaper timbers
properly seasoned and treated will outlast
the deuser timbers similarly treated, it is
maintalne1 that even pine so treated will
outlast white oak untreated and unseas
soned. In the past railways have been
in the habit of laying green ties, but it is
believed that custom will be abandoned
hereafter.
*
The Government has won a great vic
tory in the Colombia Court of Appeals in
two suits involving the right of the Post
master General to determine what is and
what is not entitled to the use Of the sec
ond class mail privilege. The Courts
rulings will exclude books, sheet music,
ETC., published periodically and only tech
nically coming within the category of
newspapers or magazines.