The San Francisco call., 1905-05-28

are said to be the real owners of the
premises at present writing, although it
was duly declared several months ago
that they would release the property so
that the United States of America could
have a hand in Its management, as pro-
vided by Congress.
Chicago's merchants have protested to
headquarters and have declared em-
phatically that already a sandblast is
needed to wipe away the dust of ages
that rests heavily on the dome Of the
mighty structure. The fiuted columns
refuse to flute, for the crust of twenty
years has filled their grooves and covered
up multitude of contractorial SINS
And twas ever thus. San Francisco
has watched its postoffice contractors
erect fences and gates and derricks and
other strange things for fifteen years.
And there is not that which can be called
a building yet. But San Francisco has
been patient and has not given up all
hope of being ousted from the dear old
quarters on Battery street The only
thing that is worrying the San Fran
cisco merchant is the proposed Federal
building that is to stand where the
present postoffice is. Now and then comes
a message of inquiry as to when is that
building going to be commenced?'
Well to make a long story short, the
new Custom-house for San Francisco
will not have been completed in less than
fifteen years at the shortest calculation
unless present methods governing con-
struction Of Government buildings are
completely revised and the political
grafters that now create jobs when
ever a public building is contemplated
are rousted out.
ADMINISTRATION Is FIRM.
That the administration will not recede
from the position 1t has taken in the
matter of the purchase of supplies for
the Panama canal and will seek bids
from foreign manufacturers has already
been dilated upon to a great extent In
telegraph dispatches But 1t is not gen.
orally known that ever since the Spanish
American war the painfully expensive
experience of the Government with East
ern shipowners, Middle Western packing
establishments and army transport
frauds have weighed heavily upon the
mind of President Roosevelt When the
expedition of General Shafter was ready
to sail for Santiago from Key West II
was apparent to the commissary depart
ment of the United States army and to
the men in touch with the railroad mat
ters and the transport accommodations
or lack Of them-that there was the ever
present specter Of graft in every case OF
goods and at every wheel IN a pilot
house.
President Roosevelt was at Tampa
with his division OF the Rough Riders
and the miserable conduct OF shipownerl
and provision dealers was made pain
fully evident to the observing cavalry
leader. This observation, followed as II
was by practical demonstrations to him
of the effort on the part Of Government
contractors to get their feet in the
trough is known to have had its inflt1-
ence in the recent executive determina-
tions. It formed q basis for an opinion
that has evoluted with the events Of four
years of history.
President Roosevelt DOESN'T want the
nation to be held up and robbed any
more. He doesn't want division of the
United States army to LAY OF and on
fever-stricken coast in the hot sur
waiting the convenience of a lot OF civil
lian captains whose owners get the price
Of $1,000 to $1,000 per day for the delay. He
doesn't want any more soup meat in
tins nor weevilly biscuit. When the
American people come to understand thai
the administration policy Is not q meas
ure OF judgment that will initiate against
an honest exchange OF goods for homes,
American money. but q desire to avoid
payment OF frst-cIass price Tor the