The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1903-07-03
Washington Letter.
r Regular Correspondent.


duties this week as he expects to
complete all pressing business and
leave for Oyster Bay ON Saturday,
where Mrs. Roosevelt and the chill
drcn have already proceeded him.
Senator Hanna is expected in Wash
ington on Friday for conference
with the President regarding the can
didate and the craftsmanship Of the
republican national committee. Mr..
Roosevelt Is most anxious TO have the
the Ohio statesman retain the chair
manship. 1t Is believed in some
quarters that Senator Lodge will b.
the next national chairman. Your
correspondent is in u position to state
that this will be the case, only ins.the
event Of Mr.. IIanna's refusing the
homeland Likewise the tremendous
amount uf work which the position
entails,
Mr.. John A. Mccall, OF New York,
was the guest of the President for
day and night this week. Mr.. Nc
Call, who is president of one Of the
big New York Life Insurance COM
panys, was formerly Tilden demo-
crat but in the last two campaigns he
has been republican and q liberal
contributor to the campaign fund.
His visit to Mr.. Roosevelt at this
time is regarded as significant. 1t is
known that Secretary Root desires to
resign from the Cabinet after the
Army General Staff is organized, next
August. His retirement would leave
New York without representation in
the Cabinet and while it Is not be-
,lieycd that Mr.. Mccall would be &C
corded the war portfolio it is consid-
cred likely that he might be, named
successor to Postmaster General Payne
who will probably drop out when the
Postofflce investigation is completed.
even II the President stands by him,
In the face Of public clamor for his
resignation, until then. Mr.. McCall's
record as business man is such that
his administration OF the Postoffice
Department would be hailed as a
business administration and it is likely
that he would welcome the honor.
Gov. Taft is regarded AS the most
likely man to succeed Sec. Root and
he may occupy the position Of Score
tary of War for short time even If
he is subsequently selected the vice.
presidential candidate.
1t Is the unanimous opinion of the
republican press, excepting only some
publications which are not loyal to
Mr.. Roosevelt, that Postmaster Cen
eral Payne ought to be permitted to
resign Immediately, but Mr., Roose-
welt Is emphatic in his assertion that
he will not permit it.. He regards
Mr.. Payne as having been injudlcous
and as more unfortunate than blame
worthy, but he says that the Post
mastef General has 'learned his les
son" and that he Will not abandon
one Of his Cabinet officers when he
and his Department are under fire.
There are, however, some striking
similarities between the case Of Payne
and that of Ex-Secretary Of War,
Alger and it is not impossible that
Payne will be forced out despite the
President, as Alger was.
Augustus w. Machen, the two
Groffs, Geo. e. Lorenz and wife, have
all been indicted by the grand jury on
the charge of conspiracy, in recent
Postotfice frauds, this constituting
the second Indictment OF the first
three. A remarkable feature OF the
employment Of II. II. Rand, conf
Dental clerk to the Postmaster Gen
eral, has been unearthed. 1t appears
that Rand was appointed assistant
superintendent of the division Of sal
aries and allowances. He has never
performed the duties of that position
and when this fact came to the at.
tention OF the Treasury officials the
Postmaster General was on what
ground Rand's salary could be paid.
Mr.. Payne explained to the Comp.
trollcr of the Treasury that Rand was
de facto assistant uperinteEdent but
that he had temporarily detailed him
to condnct an investigation into Ger.
Tain irregularities. Meanwhile the
| Postmaster General had explained to
your correspondent ard Others that
he had placed the charges against
Rand in the hands Ct the Fourth As
sistant Postmaster General and that
Rand was presumably under investiga-
ton. Thus according to Mr.. Payne,
1t Is case OF San Investigator in
yeStigltedn CharVes have hoo,