Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-04-23

WASHINGTON. ID. c. April 20. 1903.
''If the President desires thor
ough investigation of the Postoffice
scandals and the exposure of the
rescals rather than a whitewashing,
he had better manage TO infuse a
little OF his strenuousness into his
Postmaster General" said a pro-
minent official of the Government to
your correspondent today and that
is the general impression among all
who have closely watched the course
of events since Postmaster of Gen
eraI Payne returned from his south
ern cruise. 1t is evident that the
Postmaster General has no heart
in the investigations which are
being conducted by Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General Bristow and
that, as a result Of politicalinfiuence,
or for other reasons he would like
to prolong the affair until the public
is weary of it and then drop it with
as little publicity as possible. With
an evident desire TO curtail the pub
licity which the affair has been
receiving in the newspapers, the
Postmaster General has twice taken
occasion to say to the newspaper
correspondents whom he receives
each day at p. NJ, that he would
expect them to prove the allegations
which they send to their papers and
that it was more than possible that
General Bristow would attempt to
drag them into the investigation
and make them testify as to the
sources of their information. Char
ges of the gravest import are being
filed almost daily but no word re-
garding them is given to the public
and it is doubtful il they will ever
be made public unless on an unequiv-
ocal order from the President or on
the imperative request of Congress.
-
The appearance of Cousin"
Abner Mckinley in Washington
this week was not altogether sur
prising but it is taken to confirm the
rumor that Mr.. Mckinley is trying
20 protect his old friend Superinten-
dent Machen of the Postoffice Depart
ment from the fire OF Presidential
wrath. Mr.. Mckinley had a long
talk with Mr.. Machen and from him
went Immediately to the Postmaster
General with whom he was closeted
for some time. was generally be-
lieved that when Perry Heath was
First Assistant Postmaster General.
it was Mir. Mckinley that effected
the withdrawal of the request for
Mr.. Machen's resignation which
had been made at that time.
-
A proceeding which reflects
grave discredit on certain officials
of the Administrator has just come
to light in connection with the
smuggling cases in Porto Rico. Of
iicers of the army and navy and
some civilians were recnetly arrested
for smuggling wines, silks and to-
bacco into Porto Rico and the case
was taken up at the instance of the
United States Attorney for the
island. When Secretary of the
Navy Moody, Postmaster General
Payne, Representatives Cannon and
other were in Porto Rico they were
appealed to in the matter and inn
mediately on their return to Wash
ington the United States Attorney
was instructed to "nolle pros" the
cases. The Porto Rican Judge re-
fused to entertain the plea, how
ever and the grand jury has indicted
the officers and civilians. The De-
partment of Justice, on being notified
that the local Judge refused to dis
miss the cases cabled theattorney, in
part, Considerations of moment not
to Porto Rico or individuals
involved have moved Administra-
ton, after full investigation and
tocoursedirected which |
will be adhered to. What will be
tie further course OF the Admins
tration, now that the culprits have |
been indicted remains to be seen.
but it is difficult to see reason or
Justice in the apparent exemption
granted TO smugglers. apparently
On the ground that they are army
md navy officers who should be the
irst to uphold the law.
-
A news item has reached WASH
ngton from Ohio which has excited
he keenest interest. 1t is to the
fleet that Senator Hanna is to no
onger enjoy the position ofsupreme
dictator of republican affairs in his
state but must, as q result of his
lefeat in Cleveland by Mayor John
on, share his dictatorship with
'enator Foraker and George B.
,ox o. Cincinnati. This informa-
ion is of especial interest because