Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1905 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

Self-government is gradually developing In the Philippines. In 1902 Congress passed a law which provided that a census of the population of the islands should be taken, and that within two years after the completion of the census a representative popular assembly should be elected. The census was completed on March 27th of the present year, and on that day Governor Wright issued a proclamation fixing March 27, 1007, as the date for the first general Filipino election. The legislative body to be chosen Is to edntain between 50 and 100 members, elected by popular vote, and is to form, jointly with the Philippine Commission, the two-cliambered legislature of the new government. This legislature, besides making laws, is to elect two commissioners to represent them in Washington. It is expected that these commissioners will be allowed to sit in the American Congress much as the territorial delegates now have seats there.

Moroccan affairs continue to hold an important place in international discussion. The desire of Germany, as stated in a memorandum to the United States, is for the maintenance of the ‘open door” in Morocco, for the preservation of the status quo, and for the protection of the commercial interests of all trading nations. It is pointed out, however, on the other hand, that the Anglo-B’rench agreement of April, 1904, expressly declared for the principle of commercial freedom. April Gth, King Edward, on , his way to join Queen Alexandra at Marseilles, paid a brief visit to President Loubet at Paris, and the incident, following so soon upon the call of Emperor William at Tanglers, was Interpreted by the French-press as a reaffirmation of the Anglo-French agreement.

A reduction in freight rates on the Panama railway was suggested to Secretary Taft by the ministers in Washington of the republics in Central America and on the west coast of Sonth America. They said that it cost much more to ship goods to New York by way of this railway than to send the same goods to London by the Straight of Magellan. They also asked that equal facilities be granted to goods shipped by all steamship lines, and charged that under the old management—that Is, before the United States gained control of the road various lines were discriminated against. Secretary Taft promised that the discriminations would cease at once. The President has, by proclamation, Invited “all the nations of the earth to take part in the commemoration” of the 300th anniversary of the first English settlement in America, at Jamestown, "by sending their naval vessels to the said celebration and by making such representations of their military organizations as may be proper.” The festivities are to last from May to November, 1907, and are described as'“an international naval, military and marine celebration." Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, the president of the managers ot the exposition, at the time of his death, was engaged in persuading the various States to be represented at the exposition in some official way.

John Hay, when an undergraduate at Brown University, assisted in defending some lower classmen from unfair treatment in a hazing episode; but when a classmate recently wrote him about the incident, he humorously replied, “I remember nothing of my heroic conduct in the Gordon case. But my recollection of everything in those far-off days is dim, and heroism was my daily habit. I ceuldn’t sleep nights if I hadn’t saved somebody’s life. Now I only save a nation now and then.” Secretary Hay, just before be replied to the letter, must have been reading some Washington correspondent's description of bow he had prevented the lismemberment of China.

In the Sunday schools of the United States there are.fewer pupils by about five millions than the number enrolled In the public schools. Putting the fact In another form, of every three girls and boys who attend the day schools, only two go to Sunday school. It would be a delicate task to apportion the responsibility for this state of affairs; but it is Jair to suggest that when children stay away from the public schools their parents are held responsible. Persons who are close to thft authorities at Washington assert that no attempt will be made to change the location and general direction of the Rocky Mountains until the Fanarna canal job Is out of the way. The government of Brazil hag elevated Its legation at Washington to the rank of an embassy, and has selected its Minister at London, Bonboe Nairn so, as Its first ambassador to this couutry. Congress did not Increase the number of stars on the flag, but Its failure so to do was not because of a lack of stars nor of a lack of room on tbs flag.