The Washington herald., 1911-07-17

Department in 1903 under a now obsolete
system Of bookkeeping.
But last week the cropping out OF the
Wiley controversy and the charges
against President Taft and Attorney
General wickersham growing out Of the
Controller Bay and Alaska syndicate
propositions have given the Democrats
renewed hope of, stirring up scandal
or two Of sufficient size to assist in dis
crediting the present administration.
Investigations Under Way.
And yet, ignoring the Lorimer inquiry
at the Senate end Of the Capitol mere
are the investigations authorized by the
House which are now under way:
Steel trust.
Sugar trust.
Controller Bay land tangle.
Indian land scandals.
Trust-busting expenditures.
Effort to Gust DR.. Wiley.
Threatened extinction Of Pribilot seal
herd.
Government of the District Of Colupl-
bia.
Irregularities at the Washington Navy
Yard and alleged general extravaganza
in naval service.
Alleged persecution Of Lewis publica-
tions.
Railway Mail Service troubles.
Alleged favoritism shown to Maj. Ray,
U. 8. A, and other charges.
Extravaganza in the United States
army.
Charges against Attorney General
Wickersham in connection with Alaska
syndicate frauds.
Parcel-post proposition and other postal
servics matters.
Fire protection in government build
ings and governmental methods OF con-
structing public buildings.
Violation of civil service laws.
Creosote undervaluations.
Governments rental Of the Union
Building.
Recoveries on sugar frauds.
Irregularities in the customs service.
The success of a few Of the committees
in stirring up questionable propositions
of popular interest and the nonsuccess
of others has led to much jealousy among
the chairmen Of the various committees.
For instance, Representative Cox. OF In
diana, chairman of the House Committee
on Expenditures In the Treasury Depart
ment, appealed to several newspaper men
the other day to turn UP something for
him.
IT don't believe there is anything much
wrong in the Treasury Department" he
said. in a discouraged tone. That is, our
Investigations so far haven't revealed
anything. Can't you put me on to a
good scandal or two?'
Cox Enters Wiley Dispute.
Cox decided to borrow a little OF the
glory of the Wiley inquiry from the
Committee on Expenditures in the Agri-
cultural Department. He introduced a
resolution asking how many complaints
had been made against DR.. Wiley in re-
cent years, with the idea of showing that
the interests are prosecuting the govern
ments expert. This Immediately irritated
Representative Moss. Of Indiana, chair
man of the Agricultural Expenditures
Committee.
In addition to this feud. the committees
on Military Affairs and Expenditures in
the War Department are now quarrel
ing as to which shall investigate the case
of Maj. B. B. Ray, who II is claimed,
as a result Of his close relations with
President Taft during the 1908 campaign,
has been shown rank favoritism in the
army. This particular fight will be set
tied this week. Other rows of the same
sort apparently are brewing between
the chairmen and members of the va
rious committees Of the House clothed
with inquisitortal powers.
The multiplicity of investigations has
resulted in keeping all Of the members of
President Taft's Cabinet In town up to
date. Indeed. It has been many a long
day since the official family Of any Chief
Executive was ever so pestered.