The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-12-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
lBy Olger q. Olzon.l

ag ainst Judge Swayne, of Florida, was
the principal event outside of routine
procedure in Congress during the past
week. The investigation reveals the
fact that Judge Swayne is guilty OF
conduct unbecoming federal Official
and an honest man. Among the irreg-
ularities with which he is charged is
padding his expense. In some instances,
while holding court outside OF his
district, he reported his actual expenses
as ten dollars day, when as matter
of fact it has been proven that he e2-
pended but one dollar and quarter for
this purpose per day. In the case OF
railroad which bad passed into the
hands of receivers the Judge, proceed
ing on the assumption that the road
was in the custody and control of the
Court, undertook to avail himself OF
this custody for was he not the Court?)
by utilizing special trains to take his
family to California on a pleasure
jaunt. and bringing into reqnisition m
this trip the dining car, with service
and employees of the company, paying
nothing for these advantages or for the
tram itself. These are but examples of
his high handed methods in general
Congressman Conner during the week
introduced bill in Congress which is
of far reaching Importance. 1t pro-
vides for changing the rates of postage
on packages of books or merchandise,
not exceeding five pounds in weight,
sent out on rural mail routes from the
local offices. The bill fixes the rate at
five cents pound for the first pound or
fraction thereof. The rate is to apply
only on rural routes, and not to matter
sent from one post Office to another
The bill meets with the approval of the
postal authorities, and is regarded
as particularly timely and desirable
measure. 1t will, if it becomes law,
increase the revenue of the post office
department, and diminish. if not re
move. the deficit which has been very
large under increasing demands OF the
department since the establishment OF
the rural free delivery service and the
of the service generally.
Congressman Conner has been exceed
ingly diligent in looking after the mail
facilities in his district since coming to
Congress. both as to rural routes and
and he takes deep interest
in the post Office department and its
work. His bill is meeting with con-
siderable encouragement and It'll hoped
that it raay become law in due time.
According to the reports current this
morning it is the intention of the presi-
dent to retain his cabinet officers, ex-
cept R. j. Wynne, Acting Post Master
General, who will be succee ed by Geo.
B. Cortelyou, formerly private secre-
tary to presidents Cleveland, Mckinley
and Roosevelt. Chairman of the Repu >
lican National Committee. Mr.. Wynne,
it is reported, has been promised some
appointment abroad in the diplomatic
service. The cabinet as it will then
appear is strong one. John Hay, OF
Washington, D. c., conceded by foreign
diplomats and statesmen to be the
greatest living diplomat, is at the head
of the State Department. Leslie M.
Shaw, OF Iowa, shrewd, practical and
energetic, directs the colossal depart
ment of finance. Judge Taft, OF ohio
whose mental capacity is proportionate
with his physical preponderance, lends
the force of his intellect and personality
o the management of the War depart
ment, W. 81. Moody of Massachusetts
formerly secretary Of the navy, sue
ceeded Philander Knox, as attorney
general. Geo. B. Cortelyou will be
post master general after January lst
Paul Morton, Of Illinois, ex-railwaJ
manager, and robust specimen o.
western manhood, is Secretary of til.
Navy. A. Z. Hitchcock, from Mis-
souri, and formerly ambassador tt
Russia, efficiently looks after the
Department of the Interior. James
Wilson, of Iowa, is giving the depart
ment of Agriculture the benefit Of hi
extensive and practical knowledge O
farming and stock-ralsing, and he il
demonstrating the magnitude of thu
commercial significance of American
agriculture. Victor Metcalf, OF Cali
fornla, is at the head of the Bureau O
Commerce and Labor. This depart
ment is one of growing Importance AM
scope.
The holiday exodus of congressmer
senators and government appointee
will soon begin A majority of tn
members whose homes are east of th
4 Mississippi, and many who live beyon'
it will go home to spend the holida.
recess which is of two weeks duration
The Christmas festivities here, how
ever, are such as to preclude any posi-
/ bility of dullness in consequence 0