Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1903 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

Forty-eight battleships and twentyfour cruisers of the first rate, to be constructed within the next twelve years at the even rate of four battleships and two cruisers each year, is the plan ot the Navy Department for the upbuilding of the navy. Actuated by the growing demand for a new and efficient navy, Congress has for years* been proceeding without any well-established plan making appropriations as frequently as possible for as many ships as the majority would consent to. The result has not been all that could be desired, and inasmuch ns a board of experts has been giving the„matter close consideration and has been formulating plans, guided by the growth of this nation and the preparations made by European nations for the Increase of their naval establishments, it was decided to ask recommendations of the department that Congress might have the advantage'“of~experts’ Conclusions and adopt, if possible, some well-defined plan to be followed systematically in making appropriations for new ships. Should the estimates of the department be followed, the United States would rapidly advance ns a naval power and would set a pace which some European nations not enjoying the resources of this government would find it difficult, if not impossible, to follow. Representative De Armond of Missouri introduced a concurrent resolution providing as follows: “That the President be and is hereby requested to learn and advise the Congress upon « what terms, if any, honorable to both nations and satisfactory to the inhabitants of the territory primarily affected, Great Britain would consent to cede to the United States all or any part of the territory lying north of and adjoining the United States, to be formed in due time into one or more States and admitted into the Union upon an equality with the other States, the Inhabitants thereof in the meantime to enjoy all the privileges and immunities guaranteed by the federal constitution. Young blood 1» at n premium with Pension Commissioner Ware. Thirtyfour young men who are # well read in the law r and five young doctors have been named to fill vacancies in the ofiK.'e. Commissioner Ware said be hoped to obtain additional young lawyers and doctors to fill vacancies in his force as fast as they occur. “I want men who work with their heads, and not with political pulls,” said Col. Ware. “I must have young men who have finished courses in medical and law schools and are thoroughly up to date. Under the civil service rules I can offer them only S9OO a year to start on, but of course they will be promoted if they show that they are capable.” Uncle Sam has decided to "pay off” Liliuokalani, former queen of the Hawaiian Islands. She will get $200,000 in full satisfaction of ail claims, she may have against the United States. To make sure that Lillie gets it all herself, and so there will be no possibility of another claim of some kind cropping np In the future, the money will be paid Into the dark-brown hand of the ex queen lferself —no agents need nfiply—and her personal receipt taken. Liliuokalani has resided a number of years in Washington, and has almost worried the life cut of Uncle Sam pressing her claim to the throne of Hawaii, to which President Cleveland had tried to restore her.

The agreement with Cuba granting the United States a naval station nt Guantanamo* and a coaling station at Bahia Honda has been signed by President Roosevelt. President Palma having already signed the document, nothing remains but legal procedure to secure title to the stations, after the extent of the lands desired is determined upon by the Navy Department. These stations will effectively protect the Gulf of Mexico from foreign invasion. Secretary Wilson expends annually in conducting the Department of Agriculture. This money In part Is paid by every farmer and fruit grower in the country and all should feel free to call upon the Department of Agriculture when they need advice. If there are Insects Injuring your fruit trees, or other diseases affecting your stock write she Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. G., feeling assured that it is the business of that department to aid you. The anthracite coal strike commission Is making considerable progress In its labors. It has carefully gone over practically all the Important points Involved, and a tentative agreement has been reached on some of them. No statement has been made as to when the actual framing of the report will begin, but It is expected the final conclusions will be definitely shaped very soon. A statement of the expenditures of the Walker Isthmian canal commission, furnished by Secretary of State Hay to the Senate on request, gives the total amount as $1,030,481, of which nearly $240,000 was for salaries and traveling expenses. Each of the nine commissioners was allowed SI,OOO a month, with traveling and Incidental expenses added. The Sennto committee on appropriations has eliminated from tho sundry civil bill the House provision providing for extension of the cnpitol and construction of an office building for Representatives at a combined cost of $5,000,000, exclusive of site. Tho total increase recommended Is $3,279,701. making the total appropriations $83,270,050. > Second Lieut. Algernon E. Snrtoris’ resignation has been accepted by President Roosevelt. Young Snrtoris, the grandnon of Gen. Grant, was appointed to the army in May, 1902, and Is now in the Philippines with his regiment, the Tenth Infantry. Secretary Shaw has requested the banks which substituted State and municipal bonds for government bonds tq, security for public deposits during tbs rec«n( financial stringency to resubstltute the government bonds.