New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-06

Augean stables Of the government service
Throughout his public career he had stood az
the exponent of clean politics. the msrciless con.
demner Of dishonesty in the public serFice-
Scarcely had he assumed the high Office OF Presi- -
dent when rurnors OF fraud and corruption n
the postal service began 10 reach his ears. All
in the early spring II 1885 DEFINITE charges
against certain officials were laid before hii"s-'
Without a moments hesitation he ordered 4
thorough Investigation. In vain did politicians
him that his inquiry r:ust reveal fraud AMI
duplicity the part Os men prominently fdenii-
fed with the Republican party. Futile wers
their appeals for mercy on behalf Of men who
had combined a superficial loyalty 70 ReRgb--
lcan party interests with their criminal
diversion Of the public funds. Go 10 the bot
tom Let guilty man escape. be lie high OF
low in the public service or the CoUusels OF the
party were the sole and the reiterated instruc-
lions Of the President 20 Assistant POstmaster5
General Wynne and Bristow. The results OF
that dragn"t investigation are well known SUI
flee il 10 say here that tvcEty-eight men had
been indicted by federal grand ju-ies before
the work was completed. and to-day six Of the
thieves are serving terms in the psnicentiaTy,
while many others still e-adiug their In
evitabIe trials by the devious methods OF delay
which the law affords From top 20 bottom the
PostOf1ce Department was secured. and no guilty.
appeal 10 the President for Ienieucy 10 their espe
cia1 proteges subsequently described their ex-
perieglces at the White House as humiliatins be-
yond expression.
PUBLIC LIND FRfJDS.
Even before the postoffce investigation had .
been concluded the Secretary or the Interior dis
covered evidences of gigantic frauds perpo-
trated through the dishcne~ty Of officials IN his
department with the cOuGivauce OF members of
Congress and others outside the public service.
Go 20 tho bottom was the ONLY Injunction
which The President save. and. with a thorough
ness and determination which are dominating
traits Of Secretary Hitchcock's character. the
injunction was carried out To the letter From
the first il evident that the prosecution r.
would drag in the mire. perhaps to the peniteu-
tiary. man who had for many years occupied a
prominent place in the United States Senate to-
gether with two men who had served their
States i'll the House of Representatives, but that
did not deter either President Roosevelt or his
courageous Secretary of the Interior. The Land
Office investigation instituted i'm the summer OF.
1903 has already resulted in the Indictment OF
ffty-nne persons. including a Senator and two
Representatives. and the conviction OF eight per
sons. and the end is yet i'm sight while there
is prospect that thousands Of acres OF public
land. title TO which frsudulentIy obtained by g
great corporations. viii now be restored to gov
eminent ownership and opened TO settlement by >
actual home builders.
CIVIL SERTICE REFORM.
Always an earnest advocate OF Civil Service re-
form. exigency or party, politics no great
political struggle has diminished the Presidents
faithful support of that principle. and as a re-
suit the spirit OF Civil Service reform is stronger
in the government to-day than ever before m
the history Of the nation. Close observers Know
/ that it is not the extent nor the drastic char
! acter OF Civil Service regulations which makes
/ for genuine Civil Service reform but the sprin
which each President instils into the members
of his Cabinet the disapprobation with which,
he will view their violation only OF The lette-
/ but of the spirit of the law. Never before has
/ II been so widely understood by the Cabinet and
/ by members OF Congress that the President will
/ sanction no trifing with the principls OF Civil
/ Service reform. II has been alleged that Prest-
| dent Roosevelt has made exceptions from The,