The midland journal., 1904-06-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Both parties are numerously represent
ed at the conferences in this city prelim-
mary to the campaign. AT luncheon on
Thursday the President had as his guests
Speaker Cannon, Senator Dryden of New
Jersey, and Representative Hit of Illi-
nois. They subsequently declined to
talk for publication, except that the
Speaker said: Everybody knows that
the Illinois Republicans have endorsed
Mr.. Hit for Vice President" Senator
Dryden repeated the announcement that
New Jersey would favor the nomination
of Senator Fairbanks of Indiana, known
to be preferred by the President for his
running mate.
Quite a furry was caused by the an
nouncement that Attorney General Knox
had been selected by Governor Penny
packer for the seat in the United States
Senate made vacant by the death of Mr..
Quay. The selection of Mr.. Knox is said
to have been due to the persistence of
Henry c. Frick of Pittsburg, manager Of
the United States Steel Company. He is
a multi-multi millionaire. 1t is rumored
that Ambassador Choate may succeed
Knox in the Cabinet.
~
There is great excitement among the
old soldiers in the government service
here over the classification of them ac-
cording to age, it being understood that
all over seventy are to be dismissed from
the service. There are several hundreds
of these now liable to such dismissal.
There are 2,I75 veterans in the public
service here receiving salaries from 81, 200
to s., 900 per annum each. Of this num-
Der eleven are over eighty and one is
eighty-six. Most of them sleep at their
desks good part of the day. The Grand
Army posts insist that these men ought to
be retained because they are old soldiers,
without regard to whether they earn their
salaries or not Some of them do earn
their salaries and are excellent and efic-
lent clerks; but such few. 1t seems to
be universally assumed that these clerks
have laid up no money, have saved moth
ing from their large salaries, and if dis
missed would have to be supported by
charity. Unhappily, this is to great
extent true. The government clerk gen.
orally looks upon himself as favorite of
Providence, whose good luck is to last
forever. So thousands OF them spend
every cent of their salaries and borrow
money of sharpers at five per cent
mouth, and more. Whether these i'm
provident persons shall be supported in
definitely is question which mainly
concerns the taxpayers of the country.
~
This city, through the triumvirate at
its head, has extended official greeting to
the forty honorary commissioner"
from the Philippine archipelago now
making the tour of the country. These
gentlemen have been selected by Secre-
tary Taft and Governor Wright from
among the more intelligent of the inhab-
itants of those islands. They travel with,
out expense to themselves and are enter
tanned by the cities which they visit. Mr..
Tavera said, "None of you can appre-
ciate the emotions which welled up with
in us when our eyes rested on the White
House. within whose walls your beloved
President Mckinley evolved the inten-
ton of stretching out his benehcient
hand to raise us up TO the plane upon
which you stand and place within us the
same beliefs which you have in this great
country"
~
Henceforth let it be understood that
any clerk may be removed from Office for
any cause and that the civil service law
furnishes no protection. As the cliffs"
abroad generally carry people up, but not
down, so the civil service commission
helps people into Office, but has nothing
to do with their getting out. The case of
Rebecca Taylor, dismissed from the War
0Cpd DSSdhSC ShC hiOtC a bSno .
paper article "disrespectful to the Pres
ident" treating of Philippine matters,
has been settled finally. Her application
for writ of mandanus compelling her
reinstatement was year ago denied by
The Supreme Court of the District. The
Court of Appeals now decides that the
courts have no jurisdiction to consider
the merits of the case. The right of ap-
pointment carries with it the right of
removal.
-
Secretary Shaw threatened to take
charge of the gate receipts of the ST..
Louis fair if the first installment of the
loan, $500, 900, due the United States
Treasury, was not paid on June I5.-A
statue Of the distinguished Revolutionary