The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-10-15

the CUSTODY OF all the contracts OF the fOs
Office Department. 1t would not b.
tifarions and important duties there woult
be subjects for very strong criticism afford
| ed frequently but Capt Castle has man
aged with singular ability to escape mucl
of this. During the torrent Of accusation
against the Post Office last Summer ther'
was nowhere any impugnmcnt OF Capt
Castles official integrity or ability. Th'
most that has been said was that he pass
ed accounts which he should not, but ther
his duties as to these were purely minis
terial. and when accounts came to him Ger
tilted by those who were responsible fol
them, there was nothing left for him bu
to accept what was technically correct
When he did demur he was overruled BY
his superiors. 1t has long been held b!
students of the Treasury Department.
methods that the Auditor for the Posi-
Office Department was burdened with toe
much. and that there should be a division
of his functions among other responsible
officers. Capt. Castle desired to resign
last Spring. but the development of scan
dals connected with the Post Office De,
partment prevented his doing so, as he
could not seem TO withdraw under fire.
Capt. Castle was appointed at the in,
stance of the late Senator Cushman *.
Davis, whose devoted friend and supporter
he was, and the death of Senator Davis
left him without a political sponsor, The
change in Minnesota politics due to the dis
appearance of Senator Davis's masterful
influence brings other men to the front who
may or may not want the place for one
of their particular following. Last week
Capt. Castle rendered his resignation,
which was accepted by Secretary Shaw
with thanks for the marked courtesy which
Capt. Castle had always extended toward
him.
Capt. Castle is veteran of splendid
record. He enlisted in the army in 1SGl
as private in the celebrated Preacher
Regiment" (73 IlL). commanded by Col
Jaquess, rose to be Sergeant-Major, was
so severely wounded at Stone River rs to
compel his discharge, but after recovering
raised a company for the 18th ILL.,, and
commanded it in the field. He has always
been an earnest Grand Army man, and
was Commander of the Department of
Minnesota in 1924. He was for a
number of years editor-in-chief of the St
Paul Pioneer Press, has been a member
of the Minnesota Legislature, held other
positions of honor in the State, and for
five years was Postmaster of st. Paul.
He is warm hearted, genial, kindly man
of much ability in many directions, who
made world of friends during his resi-
dence in Washington:
Representative Burton, of Ohio, has re-
turned, after having spent five months in
Europe studying details of navigation on
interior waters and canals, as well as the
means of appropriation for the betterment
of navigation. He visited every country in
Europe. going as far east as Constantine
pie. Mr.. Burton is Chairman of the Com
mittee on Rivers and Harhors of the
House, and in company with Maj. Mahan,
y. S. A. and Private Secretary X. q.
Floyd, went abroad to make study of in
land waterways and the trea tment of their
by the various Governments
of the earth. He found, in brief. that the
United States is very laggard in this re
spect, and the Government nigSardly in its
appropriations. He found some cities
abroad which spent more money yearly in
improvements of this character than the
United States Government on its whole
system.
New York seems to be the storm center
of the Postal frauds. A bench warrant
was issued last Thursday for State Sen
ator Green, of New York. who has hecn
indicted for conspiracy to defraud the Gov
eminent in connection with the sale of
time clocks. Senator Green and his con-
freres sold the Government time clocks by
the gross. They are piled up around Gov
eminent Offices like cordwood. Time clocks
were sent to offices that had but one clerk,
and his salary for a year wcrldn't buy
half a clock. 1t was a great graft and
no mistake.
Lewis b. Gunckel, of Ohio, died last
week. Mr.. Gunckel was once a member
Of Congress from Ohio. and to him is due
in great measure the locating of the Ma
tional Soldiers Home near Dayton. Ohio
He was Lincoln Presidential Elector in
1864, and was appointed by President
Grant to investigate the frauds in Indian
Agencies affecting the Cherokee, Creek
and Chickasaw tribes. He was for ~
years member of the Board Of Managers
of the National Home at Dayton, and was
prominent in the United Brethren Church
and philanthropic work all his life.
President Roosevelt has notified the
trustees of the Holy Trinity Church, of
Sharpsburg. Md, that he will place a me
mortal tablet in the church. The Presi-
dent was much interested in the church on
his recent visit to the battlefield of An
tietam when he delivered en- address there.
1t is built as war memorial and the win
dows, pews, furniture and many tablets
have all been contributed by military or
CARNATIONS or individuals.
Col. A. L. Miles, Superintendent of the
United States Military Academy, declares
that hazing at West Point is
dead.
The members of the Cabinet are going
into the political campaign with a vim.
Secretary Shaw will sweep Ohio in a 10
days tour, then go over into Kentucky for
a few days, after which he will strike out
for Iowa, and speak, till election day.
Secretary Wilson will take part In the
Iowa campaign. Secretary Hoody
will make several speeches, and Col
Eugene Ware, Commissioner of Pensions
is scheduled for several speeches in Ohio
Col. Cecil Clay, Chief Clerk Of the De-
partment of Justice, has been deservedly
promoted to be General Agent for the De
partment Of Justice, at a good raise in
salary. Col. Clay is in Denver, and did
not know that the promotion was coming.
He was a gallant soldier, and wears an
empty sleeve and a medal of honor.