Middletown transcript., 1908-02-15
WASHINGTON LETTER

d WASHINGTON, D. CAs February Sth, 1908
THE main topic Of interest In Washing
ton this week is the suspension Of ths
Public Printer. Charles A. Stiiiings by
the President which amounts practically
to removal as the facts already disclosed
will preclude the possibility of his rein
statement. That powerful concern, the
Audit System, is still on the salary roll,
but its days are numbered and under a
clause Of its contract il may be terminated
upon one weeks notice and that that
notice has already been given While the
government probe is to go 10 the very
bottom of things no sweeping changes are
contemplated by the Acting Public
Printer Brian who Is proceeding with the
/ aeliheTation and care to acauant himself
with the actual conditions now existing.
| He desires to have the business of the
| great establishment CONDUCTED 10 an or
derly manner while the Investigation is
| 10 progress. Senator Lodge assured the
/ president, this week, that he and his coll
league Senator Crane did not stand for
PUBLIC Printer stiliing and that while
they acquiesced in his appointment. they
now believe it was nat good one and
they both favor the investigation OF the
Government Printing Office that Is in
progress,
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| The Central Labor Union, through its
executive committee, went before Presi-
dent Roosevelt, following the removal Of
Mr: stiiiings, and made additional charges
against him. The charges we're fled with
the President aud BY him turned over to
| Mr. Rossiter for hearing. These are that
the Public Printer was guilty of violation
Of the eight hour law and two or three
other statutes governing the office Of the
Public Printer.
~
Congress was honored this week by the
| President and Mrs. Roosevelt, who held
the third state reception Of the official
season complimentary to that body, and
seldom has theze been more brilliant
Congressional reception. large contin-
gent Of the diplomatic corps and Glen
tele of New York guests also added to the
reception. As the function was compli-
me- ntary TO the members of Congress. the
| frM person to greet the President was, of
course, the Speaker Of the House Mr.,
Joseph G. Cannon. popularly known as
| l"Uncle Joe" II a thought passed
through, the brain OF either gentleman
about the possibility Of their changing
places by reason Of the next Presidential
election, neither showed it. With
i hearty word Of greeting and a jest,
"Uncle Joe,n passed down the line, fol-
lowed by Miss Cannon and their house
| guests.
i ~
| A joint resolution offered by Senator
| Frye was reported favorably this week
| from the Senate Committee on Commerce,
which provides for the transportation by
sea Of material and equipment for use in
the construction Of the Panama Canal.
According to its provisions, vessels owned
by the United States or chartered by the
United States, shall be the sole carriers
Of supplies to the isthmus for use on the
canal. The canal commission is author
lied to purchase and operate vessels for
this purpose, these vessels to carry in ad-
dition employees on the canal and mails
for canal workers.
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In expressing regret at being unable to
attend lecture on aCastles in the Air.
to be delivered next week by Senator
4 Taylor OF Tennessee, for the benefit of the
monument to be erected to the Confede-
rate dead at Arlington, President Roose-
welt heartily endorsed the movement for
the monument. He said, in part: "Not
far from the monument which will stand
to commemorate the Confederate dead,
not far from the many monuments COM
memorating those who died in the Union
| army, at Arlington, now stands the monu.
ment to the soldiers of my regiment who
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died at Santiago; and among those |
should say there are about as many whose
fathers wore the gray as whose fathers
wore the blue, I wish you all success,
land Iwisl that it we're in my power to |
do more than to testify, as am now tes-
tifying, to my sympathy or the success of
the patriotic epdeavor in which you are
engaged.
~.
No provision will be made in this years
post-ofice appropriation bill for increased
salaries for postal employees. Hearings on
the matter have been completed and the
bill will be reported to the House the
latter part Of next week. II will carry
approximately 10000, 900, an increase
of about $4,000, 600 over the sum carried
in the bill for the current year.
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President RooseyeIt's earnest desire that1
four battleships be provided for at this
session will not receive the approval ofthe
House Committee on Naval Affairs.
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