Middletown transcript., 1904-10-15
WASHINGTON LETTER

| WASHINGTON, D. c., October 10th, 1904.
| YESTERDAY thousands of people as
sembled inside and outside of St..
Johns Episcopal church, in this city, to
attend the funeral of Postmaster General
Payne. The streets were blocked for a
long distance around Lafayette Square
and the Arlington hotel. The services
began at IL o'clock, and continued for
one half hour. Among those in the au-
dience were the President, and Mrs.
Roosevelt, dressed in black; Admiral
Dewey; the Chinese and Japanese min.
listers; the General OF the Army; Gen.
Black and wife; Mr.. Justice Harlan and
Mr.. Justice Brown of the Supreme Court,
with his bride; and many other officials
together with such OF the Cabinet officers
as are in the town. The display of
flowers was very elaborate When the
casket was taken to the depot the hearse
was proceeded by 200 letter carriers who
marched four file front. A few carriages
followed filled with members of the
family and the pallbearers. The Presi-
dent looked in the best of health and
spirits. Those nearest to him say he is
very optimistic regarding the political
situation. Mr.. Cortelyou came on from
New York TO attend the funeral. After
wards he went to the White House. As
he was about to leave he said:. "Mr.
President | believe you will win, and
you will win without promise, express
or implied, having been given corpora
ton, interest or individual in exchange
for support" This is taken to be an
answer to lengthy attack recently made
upon the President by New York daily
paper. A few days ago delegation of
Philadelphia citizens, headed by Senator
Penrose, called upon the President to
ask him to revoke recent order from
the War Department, which would take
work away from some 5000 widows and
wives of old soldiers and give it to con-
tractors. 1t seems the War Office wants
90, 900 pairs of dress trousers and sought
the cheapest contractor, regardless of the
fact that heretofore these women have
done the work. The President immed-
lately Cancelled the order and dictated a
letter OF inquiry to the Secretary OF War,
asking why it was issued. He promised
that an investigation shall be made. The
1nlf kha.r
reception, and will hold thank-offering
meeting in Philadelphia. Senator Fora
ker has been in town, and assures the
President that in his opinion Indiana,
Wisconsin, and Nebraska will give Re-
publican pluralities.
-
Comptroller Ridgelev of the Treasury
Department would like to devise scheme
of bank examination which would be
absolutely rascal tight. He says this in
face of the fact that recently at Grinnell,
Iowa, an institution was wrecked by the
successful substitution of forged paper
right in the face of an examination by
bank examiner Shaw. The bank showed
no trace of mismanagement, and as Mr..
Shaw has some two hundred or more
bands to examine, he cannot stop to
verify all the paper which passes through
his hands. Mr.. Ridgely is decidedly of
opinion that the directorate of each in
diyidual bank should exercise such
scrutiny, over its internal affairs as to
make forged paper impossible. Fifty
years ago banks suffered robbery in num-
erous instances from expert cracksmen.
Owing to modern safeguards their oc-
cupation is now lost. The problem now
is how to protect banks funds from
those inside the bank.
~
The old naval observatory, which
stands upon beautiful elevation in the
south western part of this city, has for
the past ten years been used for the
Hygienic Museum. There is now being
held within its ample walls free school
for Naval Surgeons, There are some 20
pupils in attendance from different
states, all of whom have received the
degree of NJ. d. from medical college,
but who will remain here for six months
of hard study to fit themselves for duty
on board war ships. Lectures are given
each day from o'clock until 4.30 P. M.
with half an hour for luncheon. Your
correspondent had pleasant interview
with Medical Director Marmion day or
two ago, and learned that there are more
vacancies in the Navy for surgeons than
there are applicants. At this school the
men are taught the use of the compass;
the barometer; signalling; fencing; the
broad sword;-and as soon as tank is
provided swimming will be added to the
list of accomplishments. The object of
the school is to make the men familiar
with conditions on ship board, besides
supplementing their medical education
where there is need of it. By the first
of next January there will be some forty
vacancies in the Navy to be filled by