West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-11-23
OUR washington LETTER.
The President Having all the Federal
Departments Investigated.
This Government Refuses to Inter
fore With the Jewish Trou-
bles In Russia.
Regular Correspondent OF The Argus

Regular Correspondent OF The Argus.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 1905. -
The Keep Commission which is in.
vestigatIng the federal departments
at the command of the Presiden,
has gotten after the land office. The
investigation started this week and
the commission probably will pry
some things loose before they get
through. They were given free
swing when they appeared in the
office of Assistant Secretary Rich
ards who suavelY informed them
that "the clerks. the books and pa
pers and in fact the whole disvision
was entirely at their service" With
this assurance the commission got
to work. But as in It's other inves.
legations, the hearings will be IN ex-
ecutive session and the results will
be kept secret also till a report is
submitted TO the President. Then
something may come out through
Secretary Loeb at the White House,
but in all probability it will be scan
ty in quantity and unsatisfactory IN
quality.
The commission probably had
been doing little investigation on
the side before it approached the
office, for it had circular letter all
ready for submission TO the clerks
with questions that were obviously
suggested by someone on the inside,
though who that someone was will
of course continue state secret.
The questions included the subject
OF principal examiners" whom the
commission wanted TO know il it
would not be possible to reduce to
the rank and salary OF ordinary
clerks. Then there were some tech
nical questions about the consolida.
ton Of the "swamp land division"
and the consequent saving of the
salary Of a division chief. There
were other questions about the ad-
visibility of segregatlng the sexes in
separate Offices with view to i'm
proving the morals of the force.
These things will simply be starter
for the investigation. The scope
probably will widen as the inquiry
proceeds. 1t is understood that the
investigation will be confined to the
office in Washington and will not
touch the gigantic frauds Of the west
for which Senator Mitchell and Rep
resentative williamson have already
been convicted.
Departmental inquiries are quite
the fashion these days, but Secre-
tary Shaw seems to have reached
the limit in a circular addressed TO
the clerks of the Treasury Depart
ment. The object of the inquiry is
ostensibly worthy one. 1t is to
give the Secretary data for a speech
he is preparing on the subject OF
civil service retirement. But the
questions asked are of a sort that a
man does not often answer voluntar-
lily and that # asked by someone
other than an employing cabinet Of
hcer would be met with the prompt
advice to go where snow fake
would stand no show whatever,
Among the questions are: Have
you bought your house and how
much did you pay for it7" "How
much do you still owe on it ?" care
you in debt for It and II so how
much ?" "If not, how much are
you worth ?" what portion of
this money have you saved out of
your salary9" Well, maybe the
Secretary will get answers to that
sort Of personal questioning. May
be If he does not he will FIRE the
clerks who refuse to answer. But
IL is not the sort Of catechism that
the average private employee would
stand from his boss and the outcome
whatever it will be, IS awaited with
commingled interest and curiosity.
Speaker Cannon says that there
will be rate legislations at the com
ing session of Congress. Speaker
Cannon ought to know. lie does
not want il, but the situation has
been forced on an unwilling Con-
gress by the people and the Execu-
tive much against the will both Of
Congress and Of the railroads. The
outlook now is for some sort Of rate
legislation, probably compromise
bill that will pass muster in the SEN
ate where is the stronghold Of the
railroads, Whatever the measure
is, it may be taken for granted be-
forehand that il will not be one that
efn L.