The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-18
RESOE RCEFII..

That the Republican stewardship is neither lack
ing i'll political insight nor devoid of ingenuity is
shown by the remarkable pronunc!ameno issued infer
maly after the Roosevelt Payne conferences upon
Pest Office affairs.
Those who have been wondering what the Presi-
dents Ieturn Washington would bring forth in con
npction with the scandal situation may perceive The
result in the manifestation Of strong hani in
the fraud Investigations. Gut i'll the announcement Of
tremendously aliiusiic plan looking the future
benefits cf those who patronize Uncle Sans mail bus
ness.
Ii has been permitted 10 leak forth that the Post
Office in the future vii I've simple business
enterprise and great political mechanism. All!
things relating 10 the service and the expenditures
will he arranged practical lines. and not ordered
10 suit the political cyiscnccs of those havn. what is
vulsary known as Il pull Whereas il has been Gus
tomary to consult notify interested politicians
whenever the salai les Of Postmasters to be in
creased. additional clerical assistance allowed. rental
sites changed other things done with which 4 Sen
ator Representative other boss close the powers
that he night probably concern himself. all is
to he different No longer will the job bosses and
patronage hucksters be informed of matters affect
ing their stock in trade. The future plan will he
to abandon the practice of notifying statesmen of
changes in their Post Offices. and the Department
will so right attending TO business just if there
political debts to be paid promises full
1illed it will actually arrange its affairs to suit itself
And all these glorious reforms will be for the pnr-
pose of eliminating the postal service factor in
politics throughout the country-and in Washington
The truly remarkable feature Of the plan is that
Mr. Payne is credited with its origin. This credit is
heavily emphasized by the administration news
papers: also the fact that Mr. Roosevelt approves the
plan heartily 1t would he difficult to imagine him
approving anything otherwise than heartily. not TO
say strenuously and he doubtless approves the plan
of regeneration just heartily as if the Republican
leopard could actually change its spots
But the hearty secondng is nothing to Mr. Payne s
originating. Here is the man facile princers among
all the practical politicians who inhabit the District
of Columbia proposing to throw away the thing that
is part of himself Knowing and approaching and
worshiping the perfection to which his own and his
immediate predecessors policies have brought the pos
tal-potcal machine. he announces his intention to
demolish the result Of loves labors
Such Utopan Post Office as he proposes is little
beyond the dreams of the average man. Consequently
there will be unknd critics attributng the an
ncuncement to the ADMINISTRATORS desire 10 offset
the severe loss has recently sustained in popular
esteem or ascrbe it to Mr.. Payne's resourcefulness
when put the of making grand-stand play in
order to retain his place in the Cabinet.
II Mr.. Payne really wishes to reinstate himself in
the peoples goodwill rather. restore himself to
that position of semiohscurity from which he emerged
when the Government scandals to light. he
should do the thing nearest at hand-go to the bot
tom of the department frauds in such manner as
the country of his sincerity. For instance,
he should publish Mr.. Bristows report which is be-
| iieved to corroborate the Tulloch charges.