The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-07-30

1t to the house committee Investigate
ing the treasury department, the SUI
peryising architect, assistant secretar-
les and others connected with the adj
ministration Of the department have
may be recalled.
Chief Clerk Weed, of the postoffice
department., spent eight days upon the
witness stand before the committee in
quring into the postmaster generals
administration of that department.
The committee indicated that it will
want to hear the postmaster general
himself before the probe is concluded.
The postmaster general is accused of
building up a political machine at the
expense of efficiency in service, this
charge being in addition to those that,
despite the claim that the postal de-
ficit has been wiped out, numerous ex-
travagances in the department still
exist.
Major General Wood, chief of staff,
has appeared before both the house
military affairs committee and the
committee on expenditures in the war
department.
Wilson to be Planned
Secretary Wilson is to appear be-
fore the committee which has already
begun an investigation of his depart
ment and also Of the charges made
against DR.. Harvey w. Wiley, the pure
food expert, who is being fought by the
various Interests" who are opposed to
a strict Interpretation Of the pure food
and drug law.
Courtesy and custom exempts the
President of the United States from
appearing before An investigating
committee Of congress, but, were it
not for this, it is probable that Presi-
dent Taft himself would have personal
and direct knowledge of the thorough
ness of the several probes started by
the Democratic house.
It has been forty years since any
systematic investigation of the new
administration of the various depart
ments has been attempted. Before
the November elections, the Demochas
promised that if they were placed in
power in the house they would under
take a wholesale investigation OF the
red tape and the waste alleged to have
been fostered through continued Re-
publican rule.
At the time the threat was not TAX
en- seriously, but no sooner had the
Democrats come into power than the
machinery of Investigations was put
in motion, and the various committees
began to vie with one another in the
thoroughness of the probes.
This has meant work for the Cabi-
net officers They have been forced
to dig into records that have been for
gotten and have been required to fur
nish the house with information on
both complicated and discriminating.
If the information desired has not
been promptly forthcoming, the House
committees have seemed inclined to
send hurry up summons and the
Cabinet officials and their underlings
have been kept on hejump.
Disconcerts Republicans.
OF course there is considerable re-
sentiment in Republican ranks, but it
IL i
House at least. have the upper hand,
and there remains nothing for the
Cabinet officers to do except to re-
main at their desks and send over
such data as may be commanded by
the Democrats.
1t has been a hard summer on the
President and his official family. Va
cations have been delayed and the
happy-go-lucky existence they have en-
joyed under the long rule of the Re-
publican party is no more. Every
Cabinet officer is on the anxious seat,
not knowing where the Democratic
lightning will strike next. The Pres
idential campaign comes next year
and it is incumbent upon the Admin
istration to make the best showing
possible, hence the Democratic inves-
tigators have to be handled with
gloves. and the Administration must
at least show a willingness to give the
investigating committees all the aid
possible.
At the same time there are about
nine Cabinet officers who wish that
Congress would adjourn in order that
they might steal away to the noun
tains and the seashore, and forget all
about charges of irregularity and ex-
travagance in the departments.