Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-06-29

Western States, making the longest
journey ever attempted by President
of the United States while in Office.
While on this tour he dedicated the ST.
Louis Exposition. He returned to
Washington on June 8, having visited
nearly every State and Territory west
of the Mississippi River. He Travelled
1900 miles, and during the journey
made 263 reported speeches.
Hunts Down Postoffice Frauds.
The sensational feature of the year
was the invest cation of frauds which
had crept into the Postoffice Depart
ment and from small beginnings had
grown into formidable proportions.
This investigation was made by direc-
ton Of President Roosevelt. 1t contin-
ued for several months and resulted in
the Indictment of number of officials
and the removal of others. Among
those indicted were James n. Tyner,
Assistant Attorney General for the
Postoffice Department, who was for
several months Postmaster General IN
der President Grant and who had been
connected with the department since
1861. A. W. Machen, general superin-
tendent of the free delivery system,
was removed from office and indicted
ON fourteen counts. George W. Beav-
ers, general superintendent of salaries
and allowances. was removed and in
dicted on eight counts.
Other officials indicted were: ]. T.
Metcalf, superintendent OF the money
order system; Daniel V. Miller, assist
ant attorney; Louis Kempner, superin-
tendent OF the registry system; Chas.
Hedges, superintendent of the city free
delivery service; and seven other minor
officials, together with a number of
contractors outside of the department.
Some of these officials have been tried
ard convicted al ot.,.oIs acquitted.
Some are waiting trial. Under the Wig
orous policy of President Roosevelt dis
| honesty ard incompetency were weed
ed out of the department and its adj
ministration placed above suspicion.
Recognizes Republic of Panama.
The closing month of 1903 was an
epoch marking December for the
| United States, for in that month Presi-
dent Roosevelt, Selling the opportunity
presented by the secession of Panama
from Colombia, negotiated the treaty
which finally after many decades of
effort gave the United States the right
to build and own the Panama Canal.
A treaty between the United States
and Colombia had been signed at
Washington on Jan %, 1902. Under
this treaty the United States agreed to
pay Colombia $10,000,000 in cash for
the canal concession and $250OO0 an
nualIy for the rental of the right OF
way The Colombian Congress reject
ed the treaty almost unanimously. On
Nov. 8, three days after the Colombian
Congress adjourned, the people of Pan
anna, whose prosperity was bound up
in the canal, seeded and set up an in
dependent republic. This republic was
recognized by President Roosevelt.
He at once negotiated a new canal
treaty. giving the new republic of Pan
anna the same liberal terms rejected so
contemporary by Colombia. Congress,
early in the present year, ratified the
treaty The French company trans
| ferred all its rights in the canal to the
United States. and today the Stars and
| Stripes are floating over the canal zone.
| President Roosevelt has appointed the
engineering and executive commission
! TO build the canal and already work is
going forward.
The Inauguration of the Panama Ca
nal under the auspices Of the United
| States insures its speedy completion.
| To hare been instrumental in begin
| ming this great work added luster to
| President Rooseevlts administration,
and the prophecy is made that If he
shall be elected next November-as
doubtless he will be-the end of his
second administration in 1908 will see
the Panama Canal practically COM
pleted.
| President Roosevelt won his fight
for Cuban reciprocity in the closing
months of 1903 The treaty negotiated
by Tasker II. Bliss was ratified. with
amendments by the Senate, March 20.
The amendments provided for action
| by the House. The House was unable
to reach the question before adjourn
| ment-
| President Roosevelt summoned an
/ extra session Of Congress. which met
| Nov. 8. Ten days later. Nov. 10, the
House passed a resolution ratifying the
| treaty by a vote Of 3S5 to q. The
Senate passed the reciprocity bill Dec.
1G, and the treaty went into effect Dec.
81, 1903. Time already has justified
President R0Osevelt's Cuban policy.
The trade between the United States
and Cuba is growing larger month by
month.
Defeats Railroad Merger.
| One of the features of President
Roosevelt's administration was his at
tack upon the proposed consolidation
| Of two great competing transcontinen-
tai lines of railway. the Northern Pa
cifc and the Great Northern. These
lines had been merged into the North
ern Securities Company Nov 10, 1901,
only a few weeks after Mr.. Roosevelt
became President. The company was
capitalized to the enormous amount of
SI0OOOO.0O0 and its promoters pro-
J posed to place under the control of one
set of men the two great railway sys-
tens, reaching from Chicago and st.
! pauI to the Pacific Ocean