St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-11-06
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Especial Correspondence


tainer. Mrs. Roosevelt must know him
well enough by this time to make her
breakfast, dinner and luncheon orders
ample, for until the time comes she
never can tell how many will be round
the board over which she presides.
When luncheon time comes, the pres
dent glances around his office and
says, "Well, let's all go and have some
luncheon" and marches in at the head
Of the company that happens to be
with him, whether it is one man or a
dozen. He has had somebody at din
ner and usually three or four every
night since he has been in the White
House. The number at luncheon will
average three day, and there have
been a dozen guests at breakfast at
various times.
These meals are not formal affairs.
The guests go in and take pot luck.
The Roosevelt menu is simple. The
president believes in plenty of plain
food. Usually oysters or clans, a soup,
a roast and some simple dessert make
the dinner. Sometimes there is an en-
tree and oftentimes some dish like
chicken pie. Game is frequently served.
Mrs. Roosevelt is a charming hostess
and is never ruftied, even when the
president bursts into the dining room
at the head Of half a dozen guests
when there are seats provided for
three. She would not be surprised if he
came in with twenty, as he will some
day without Doubt
Troops For the Philippines.
The Philippine army will be reduced
by 10000 men within the next few
months by the expiration of enlist
ments, and the officials of the war de-
partment are making preparations to
meet that deficiency by the prompt
transfer of troops from the United
States.
Final action in that regard awaits
only the approval Of the secretary of
war. Troops and transports are ready
to start for the Philippines as soon as
he gives the word 1t is expected that
the first expeditions will start from San
Francisco within few days on the
transports Grant and Meade and that
more troops will be forwarded later
from New York by way of the Suez
canal on the transport Crook.
The reductions will be gradual and
will be met from time to time by fresh
troops as required. These arrange
ments are predicated on the belief that
1t will be necessary to maintain the
Philippine army at its present strength
of about 10000 men for some time to
come
NO Cabinet Changes Now.
According to one who claims to know
what he is talking about, those enter
priSng gentlemen Of the press who are
tearing President Roosevelts cabinet
to pieces and building up a new one for
him may save themselves a deal Of
trouble if they will only stick to facts.
No cabinet changes are contemplated
at the present time or in the near flu
ture. What may occur months or years
hence is not worth specializing about.
1t is true there has been little anX-
iety concerning the health of Secretary
Root. For several months Mr.. Root
has not been well. He has been trou-
bled with many boils and carbuncles,
and his blood has evidently been in bad
condition. The secretary has been in
oil ipfAt
matters turned for the better and all
wrong if they turned for the worse.
Fortunately, they have turned for the
better
Additions to the Capitol.
Further additions to the United States
capitol are suggested by the annual re-
port of the architect, which has been
made public at the department of the
interior. This report for the last fiscal
year not only reviews the marked
changes which have been made in the
historic structure during the last year
or two and gives list Of the various
statues and objects Of art in the build
ing but proposes that new building
be secured or erected at little distance,
something on the order of the Maltby
building for the senate apparently, in
which members of the house can have
their offices and in which can be located
the lighting and heating plants for the
capitol.
The New Knox Home.
Mrs. Knox, wife of the attorney gen.
eral, and her daughter, Miss Rebecca
Knox, have arrived in Washington and
taken up their residence at their new
home in X street, which was the former
home of Mrs. Childs of Philadelphia.
The stables of the attorney general
have been enlarged, and the house is
undergoing the most careful changes
and is being superbly equipped for So
cal entertainments.
Washington society expects much OF
the attorney general and his agreeable
family, and, though neither Mrs. Knox
nor her daughter are fond of the mad
Whirl of social affairs, their house I'M
doubtedly will be the center of attrac-
ton for the young folks of the official
set :
Water For Fighting Fire.
The District commissioners have de-
cided to place in their forthcoming
estimates to congress an item for