Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-06-10
From Washington.


The several score of recently denoted
inspectors and night watchmen in the
customs force at the port Of New York
are playing with double-edged tools 10
their use Of political influence upon Ool-
lector Loeb in an endeavor to regain
heir former posts. Ii is limited that
such action may result 10 their dismiss
sal from the service. The temper OF
Treasury officials is such that they will
brook no interference with Collector
Loeb in his work Of wedding out in
efficieufs. Reports received at the
Treasury relative to the personnel OF the
customs force at New York disclosed
some astounding conditions. Although
officials decline 10 discuss The matter, 1t
is understood that evidences point 10 the
collectors Office having been In part
used as political dumping ground. 1t
is said that 10 some instances where con-
gressmen have secured appointment of
iavorite to 8 civil Service position by
executive order, the man has been shown
10 be utterly incompetent to perform the
duties of the Office for which he has been
drawing good pay, A report on num-
Der of cases at the Treasury Department
reads somewhat like physicians report
on hospital cases. "Slckly; lacks judg-
meut and initiative" is the way II
reads in one case. "Partial paraly-
sis; feeble; superannuated; cannot-dO~
active work." refers to the case of a
ran who is drawing pay for boarding
vessels and inspecting incoming bag
gage. "NO experience; old and feeble, -
refers to smother man assigned to the
same work. There are scores OF such
cssessreported. Some Of the men have
been given subordinate position be-
cause they have been ia the services for
| many years. The treasury officials fear
bat they should be removed, but out Of
sympathy for their condition they have
ordered the men reduced to service
which they msy be able to perform. Ooe
case has been discovered Of an inspector
gho is a practicing physician and in no
wise dependent upon his inspectors sal
sry; man whom the report declares Is
DOT available for active duty. Some OF
the men have been reported to be ley
aud rot intelligent; possessed of no quail
feat ons for the work OF inspector in
emperate; infrm and with bad habits
Whether these uniavorable reports refer
to men who have already been reduced
or refer to others whose cases ire
to be acted upon cannot be actually
ascertained.
| Orville and Wilbur Wright, the
| American kings Of the air, received from
the hands of President Taft this after
noon the magnificent gold medals voted
them by the Aero Club of America for
their achievements in aviation. The
presentation took place in he east room
of the White House, and was witnessed
By throng nf distinguished scientists,
diplOmsts, officials and military men
aud their ladies'. Herbert w. Parsons,
the New York Congressman, introduced
the Wrights to President TAFT with a
brief speech recOuntiDg their achieve
ments. A. the conclusion of his re-
marks President Taft stepped forward,
handed them the medals and told them
how we'll pleased he WAS to perform the
Office. The two medsls, which are
identical in design, were the work of
Artist V. ID. Brenners. One side is
blank with the exception of a small
representation of the Wright aeroplane
in fight at the top and miniature re-
production of the Aero Clubs seal at
the bottom. On the other side, beneath
the words "AerO Club of America" are
overlapping profile portraits of the two
brothers with the inscription: "W.
Wright, Sept. 81, 1908, La Mans,
France" and go. Wright, Sept. 9.
1908, Fl. Myer, Va. u. S. A" The
medals cost 81, 900 and were paid for
by members of the Aero Club, no in
dividual subscription of more than $50
being accepted Orville announced that
he and Wilbur expected to return to
Washington from Dayton on the 18lb,
for the official triGls of the seroplane be-
fore the signal corps board. Orville
will handle the mschiue. The aero
plane With which the official fight will
be made at Fort Myer is almost eTsctly
identical with that smashed in the acct
dent here last year.
ThSt the most practicable means of
obtaining and maintaining a Davigable
channel of "A feet depth from 81. Louis
to the mouth of the Mississippi river is
by the combined method of dredging and
regularization works in the open river is
the conclusions reached by the special
board constituted by the river and bar
Dor bill of 1907. The board estimates
the costs of this plan OF improvement to
be $l2S, 900, 600, with Sc, 500, 900 an
nuslly for maintenance after completion
of the work.
"All you need in Nebraska is &c
inches of rain; then you can tell the
devil to stay in hell" This was the
remark made by Speaker Cannon to Rep
reseDtstive Kinkaid, of Nebraska, as
they met at the White Honse Office
building. "We are getting the rain /
think" KiDksid said, "but we need
somebody out there to pray and cuss &C.
cssionslly, so | gneSs veil send for
you"
Minister W. w. Russell reports to
the State Department from Caracas that
two more deaths have occurred there
from bubonic plague. The physicians
of the marine hospital service of the
United States who we're stationed at the
Consulate at LIS Gusyrs have gone to
the capital 10 consult with the Venez1e-