The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-12-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.


in two Of the most important questions be-
fore Congress and the country. A Canal
appropriation of $4,000, 900 which it is
expected will carry the work on the big
ditch to the first of March has been passed
by the House and will doubtless be passed
by the Senate and probably become law
before the Christmas holidays. The bill
was not passed without debate and fur-
nishes an opportunity for brilliant criti-
cism on the part of the Democratic lead
err, Mr.. Williams. His structures as well
as those of other Democrats were directed
mainly against the high salaried officials
appointed by the President, especially
against Mr.. Bishop whom they charac-
terized as press agent with salary of
$4,000 year and who, they insisted
was there to dole news to the Press as
Mr.. Roosevelt has recently attempted to
dole it at the White House and, it was
emphasized, that his other business was
to write the history of the Roosevelt
Canal and eulogize the President as
author and factor.
Mr.. Bishop by the way, is gentleman
of capacity. broad culture and first rate
editorial writer. He is not the press
agent of the canal except in the sense
that he is the official source of informa-
ton pertaining to the Canal. Before he
accepted place with the Canal Commits
sion he had declined an offer of some
powerful interests that are opposing the
Canal and which have established
bureaus of publicity in Washington, New
York and Chicago. Had he accepted the
offer of the opposing interest he would
now be receiving twelve thousand dollars
a year in the healthful environment OF
New York instead of risking his life and
Drawing discomforts in the region of
Panama. 1t is understood that President
Roosevelt heard that the rival concern
was striving to retain Mr.. Bishop and in-
mediately engaged his services. This is
plain statement of Mr.. Bishops connec-
ton with the Panama Canal. He has
been high salaried man for many years
and was actually receiving higher com
pensatiou as journalist when he accept
ed his present Office than he is now
getting from it. The other high salaried
men, two of them getting thirty thousand
each. one seventeen thousand and two
others ten thousand each. are all men OF
character, standing and ability who are
leaving comfortable homes and lucrative
places for life in niasmatic and fever
infected region. Their services are indis
pensabie, the administration is justified
in paying for the highest skill and ability
and in the matter of sanitation where it is
employing medical ability and reputation
it would be criminal to. risk the lives Of
the thousands who must 60 there and to
imperil the progress or the completion Of
the great enterprise by false economy
or by too great sensitiveness TO captious
or shallow criticism. 1t is true that mill
itary and naval officers of the sauie rank
aud performing analogous duties are re
ceiviug much smaller salaries. but they
are holding life positions in the homes Of
their choice, surrounded with all the
material sources of comfort, refinement
hardships and risks his life should anu
must be paid for it.
~
It is beginning to be realized by Con-
press, politicians and the public in and
out of Washington that the President has
in his cabinet composed of Cortelyou,
a Bonaparte, Root and others, steruer
and less penetrable stuff than Cabinets
are sometimes composed of. have men,
toned the names but might include
every member of the Cabinet. There is
not weakling or asdrone among them
Mr.. Cortelyou, the Postmaster .GeneI al
is quietly revolutionizing the Postoifice
department and the changes and improve
ments that be is making will be of meal
culable value to the country. Congress
should supplement his work by Postal
laws which would make our postal estab,
lishment like some of those of Europe.
self supporting The United States not
withstanding it has more post Offices. a
larger reading public and the material
for the best postal establishment of any
country in the world has also the largest
postal deficit. The international postal
bureau of 1908 published that the United
States ir that year had deficit of over
four million. The deficit now is much
greater but in the same year Great Brit
aims profit was twenty two millions OF
dollars Russia, fourteen millions; Ger
many fourteen; France fourteen Spain,
three millions. all Of course because
those conntrys have an up-to-date par
GELS post and do not permit express COM
psnies to interfere with the legitimate
business of the Post Office department.
Apropos of postal or Postofiice news no
order Of the Administration has created
greater surprise or greater disappoint-
meut or satisfaction. as the case may be
according to the persons affected, than
Mr.. cortelyou's order that Presidential
postmasters shall continue in office be-
you'd the fonr years term if their services
hage proven satisfactory. This order
places thousands of postmasters all over
~or~s~x, the CANA efor1s,,r 1f