Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-01
Three Members Absent From To-
days Cabinet Meeting.
PACIFIC CABLE FRANCHISE DISCUSSED
A Japanese Statesman Talks With
the President.
TODAY'S MENTS

Secretaries Hay, Gage and Root are out
of the city and were not at the cabinet
! meeting held today. With one exception
the meeting was devoted to departmental
affairs, the President making inquiries as
to the status of business in the various
branches of the government. The impor
tant question under discussion was the petit
tion of the new cable company headed by
John w. Mackey for the privilege of land
ing its cable in this country, Hawaii,
Guam and in Manila. The proposition was
! made to President Roosevelt about week
ago, and is the most important new matter
pending before the new administration.
Several questions have arisen that tend to
prevent or delay the granting of the prop
osition, although it is believed by some OF
the cabinet members that these questions
will be settled and that the privileges asked
for by the new company will be granted.
The principal question is whether the
right can be granted for the landing of a
cable in the Philippines. 1t is claimed by
those opposing the granting of the petition
that the Spanish government gave an eX-
elusive concession to cable company in
the Philippines for period of forty years,
and that this concession was binding on
the United States when 1t assumed owner
ship of the Philippines Whether this is
true or not will be passed upon by Attor-
ney General Knox, who has been asked by
President Roosevelt for an opinion on the
question. Mr.. Knox will render an opinion
as soon as a full study Of the case will per-
init. The opinion Of some of the cabinet
members was that Spain's concessions
ceased to be of force when this country
took possession If this is true then Pres-
dent Roosevelt has full authority to grant
the cable landing in the islands If the
concession granted by Spain was binding
on this government then the cable COM
pany now operating out of the Philippines
has an exclusive privilege that cannot be
infringed upon for number of years
Distinguished Japanese.
There were few callers upon President
Roosevelt this morning before the cabinet
met at IL o'clock, but among these We're
K. Takahira, the japanese minister, and
DR.. X Hatoyama, one of the most distin-
guished men of Japan. DIR. Hatoyama is
accompanied by his wife, and they came
to this country on a pleasant mission. On
october % both President Roosevelt and
DR.. Hatoyama will receive from Yale the
honorary degrees of LID. DR.. Hatoyama
is a graduate of Yale of the class of 1881
and was in that institution when President
Roosevelt was in Harvard. After gradual
Ing from Yale and returning to Japan DR..
Hatoyama occupied many places of dis
tinctfon in his native country. He was a
member of the Japanese house of repre-
SelrativeS for nine years, and three years
of that time he was speaker of the house
He held other high political positions and
then became identified with the educational
institutions of his country. He was first
professor in the imperial university of
Japan, but later became the head Of an
other large institution. He is still at the
head of this institution He arrived at
seattle 81 about a week ago and will remain
In this county for probably month
President Roosevelt and the japanese
visitors had a long and Interesting talk
the President asking much about Japan
and expressing the most friendly interest
IN the little country across the Pacific.
Commercial conditions in Japan have
not been so good for several years" said
DE- Hatoyama, but the outlook is bright
enlng right along and the prospect is for a
revival of good times in Japan. The bus
mess depression followed the war with
CHINA. Our victory gave our people an idea
that our nation was an exceedingly big one
and many enterprises were begun. In the
course of time there was an overproduction
without markets for the surplus, and hard
times followed"
Other Callers Today.
Paymaster General Bates and Brigadier
Gen. James NJ. Bell who retires today. saw
the President, did also F. H. Wines, the
assistant director of the census bureau, and
Representative Kleberg of Texas.
Senator Deboe of Kentucky is in the city
and will see the President tomorrow regard
ing several Kentucky matters.
Ex-senator Marion Butler of North Caro-
lima called at the White House after the
cabinet meeting and made an appointment
to see the President tomorrow.
1t has been decided to appoint A. S. Dean
as United States attorney for Kansas, in
place of 1. E. Lambert, resigned.
Today's Appointments.
President Roosevelt today made the fol-
lowing appointments:
War-To be colonel Of cavalry Louis H.
Rucker. To be lieutenant colonel of cav
airy, George S. Anderson. To be major of
cavalry, John c. Gresham. To be captain
of cavalry. Clyde E. Hawkins. To be first
lieutenants of cavalry, William F. H. God
lfeutenants of cavalry, Talbot Smith, James
e. Abbott. To be colonel Of infantry, Chas.
r. Paul. To be lieutenant colonel of in
fantry, Harry L. Haskell. To be first lieu
tenants of infantry, A. La Rue Christie
VIII! H. Point, Walter o. Bowman. To be
second ieutenants of infantry, Melville H
Fechheimer, Robert X. Spiller, Horace F.
Sykes. Jennings B. Wilson, Frederic G.
Pike, William P. Screws To be surgeon of
volunteers, with rank of major John c..
Greenewalt. To be assistant surgeon Of
volunteers. rank Of captain, Edwin M.
Trook To be assistant surgeons, rank of
first lieutenant, Herbert Meloy Smith, CO.
sam Julian Bartlett, Evan Park Howell.
To be first lieutenant in the artillery corps,
Ellison L. Gilmer. To be second leutenants
Elisha G. Abbott, Morris e. Locke, Marion
b. Wilhoit
StatelTo be consul Of the United States
at Saltillo, Mexico, Arthur H. Williams of
New Hampshire.
Navy-To be assistant surgeons. with rank
Of lieutenant, junior grade. Lewis Wilson
Bishop, Archibald NJ. Fauntleroy.
OVER TWELVE MILLIONS SURPLUS.
Statement of Government Finances