Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1907 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

Construction work on the Panama canal will be rushed next year. Thirtytwo millions, approximately, are to be expended. Congressman James A. Tawney of Minnesota, chairman of the committee on appropriations,' just returned from Panama with ’Wventeen members of the committee, predicts that the canal will be completed by Dec. 31, 1914. “We found everything going along in the most satisfactory way,” the Congressman declares. “There may be a million cut off the sum of 332,000,000 asked for construction, although demands In the main have been modest Reductions will be asked In only a few departments. “Social conditions there are better generally than among the workmen of the United States. Workmen are well cared for and satisfied. We found the ■employes, clerical, TSMtcai 'aird'enginveering, were paid 50 per cent more than at home, while quarters are furnished. A single man gets a room; married men a house. Canal men are paid one-third more than at home, and they can live more cheaply. The government sells them supplies at a lower rate than home prices. Ice water and light dre cheaper than In New York. Sanitary conditions are all that can be desired.” In all the money centers of the country, as well as in Wall street, the news o|the government’s bond and note Issues caused a feeling of relief and the financial skies were clearing. Everywhere bankers were eager to get the new securities and there was no need of an underwriting syndicate. Many Bent telegrams of congratulation to the President and Secretary Cortelyou. Subscriptions to both issues have already begun to pour in. Nevertheless Chicago’s clearing house carried out its project of issuing certificates indeuominations of sl, $2, $5 and $lO, and over $3,000,000 In these were eagerly grabbed for current business needs. At New York quantities of currency brought 2 and 3 per cent on the curb. But at the same time arrangements were In progress for . a resumption of a cash basis all over the country. The indictment of three officials of the Borough Bank of Brooklyn for false reports of the bank’s condition was taken as another sign of the financial housecleaning in progress. —Three railroad companles, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, St Louis and San Francisco, and the Missouri Pacific, have absolutely declined to comply with an order of the Postofflce Department that for the next forty days these roads should cany empty mall bags and other mall equipment b»ck to the distribution centers without compensation therefor. The reason for this order was a desire to prevent a tie-up or congestion of mail during *nd just preceding the holidays. To this end, it was thought that it would be well to have the equipment transferred more speedily than can be done by freight, which Is the method provided. While there is some doubt as to the right of the department to enforce Its order, the law permits the use of the express companies for the purpose In question, which would meet the emergency, though proving rather expensive. The military authorities of the various governments have not overlooked the important part which airships will probably play in the wars of the future, and are making active preparations for both offensive and defensive operations along this line. It Js reported that Captain Thomas T." Loves lace, the aeronaut, recently made a balloon trip over the walls of Fort Wadsworth, New York Harbor, and took a series of bird’s-eye photographs of the fortifications, showing the entire practicability of obtaining information this way. This material was turned over to the War Department, arid it is intimated that the aeronaut will be given a commission In the United States Army Balloon Corps.

Developments in regard to the pending prosecutions of the tvhisky dealers for violation of the pure food law indicate that the question as to what should be construed as pure whisky was finally decided by President Roosevelt, to whom the matter was taken by Dr. Wiley, chemist of the Department of Agriculture. The President concurred with the chemist In the opinion that to meet the requirements of the law the whisky must be the pure spirits, unmixed with neutral spirits, flavoring or coloring matter, which produces the article called “blended whisky.” Delegates from five Central American republics met with Secretary of State Root and Ambassador Creel of Mexico at Washington to discuss a permanent peace program. Speaking as the temporary chairman, Mr. Root told the delegates very plainly that hereafter something more than fine words and promises must be given, and that tiie means for enforcing a peace agreement must be supplied which would hold responsible those who might violate It