Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-11-09
President Urges Speedy Determination Oi
the Questions Involved.
has INTERVIEW WITH COLONEL MosBY
Cabinet Also Discusses Situation and the
b Oattlemsn's Protests,
PREPARING WAR DEPARTMENT REPORT
Secretary Root VIII Make strong
Recommen that the Army
Canteen he Re-Estab-
Iished.
CFrom a STAFF Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Nov. s.-(Special Tele-
gram. )-Secretary Hitchcock will early
next week take under consideration ques-
tions which have arisen in Nebraska and
elsewhere in the west regarding the al
legged Illegal fencing Of the public domain
by cattlemen. In fact, the question was
discussed at the cabinet meeting yesterday
and It is understood the president urged
the secretary Of the interior to speedy
action. Colonel Mosby some days ago had
an extended talk with the president and
laid before him many facts tending TO
show that hundreds of thousands OF acres
Of public land are now illegally occupied
by cattlemen which should be free and
open to occupancy of homesteaders. At
any rate, there will be some decisive step
taken by Secretary Hitchcock during the
coming week. AS an official of the Interior
department who is in close touch with
Secretary Hitchcock expressed 1t today:
"The fences will come down and stay
down. The president has taken a hand"
Secretary Root has begun the prepara-
tion of his annual report, which this year
will be of particular interest to the army,
as II will contain special recommendations
regarding the general staff, army war col
lege, militia and the scheme for annual
field maneuvers. The secretary is deter
mined to express himself in very positive
terms in favor Of the establishment OF
the army canteen and his report will in
clude a strong recommendation on this
subject.
Consolidating Departments.
He will also again recommend legisla-
tion favoring the consolidation OF supply
departments Of the army, as he believes
considerable improvement Will result from
placing the quartermasters subsistence
and pay departments under one head. with
out at the same time destroying the in
dividual character of each branch. An
other feature Of the report which has al
ready been mapped out by Secretary Root
will relate to the reduction Of the military
force during the past year from over 7e.OOo
? men 10 the minimum provided by law OF
less than $1,000. He will point out that
this reduction was accomplished gradually
and without detriment 20 the interests OF
the country, the improved situation in the
Philippines permitting the withdrawal OF
large force to the United States and a
ls,iuurion in the army to about $1,000 men
as early as last July. This was further
reduced to $1,000 on October l. and an
other reduction is now in progress, 50
that within a short time the army will
be at the minimum.
In the Departments.
The postmaster at Newton, Ia, will be
allowed one additional letter carrier on
December 1.
The comptroller of the currency has ap-
proved the Des Moines National bank Of
Des Moines as reserve agent for the Flrst
National bank of Mason City, la.
William H. Knox of Brookings, S. D..
has been appointed assistant in the sol
division Of the Agricultural department
Miss Mary e. Howell Of Chamberlain
s. D.. has been appointed laundress at tn,
santee Indian school, Nebraska, and Mis-
Katherine B. Frazier OF Meadville. Pa.
cook at Lower Brule, s. d.
W. B. Dew. superintendent of the Arap
ahoe Indian school at Darlington, okl.
has been transferred to be superintendent
Of Wind River boarding school, shoshon'
reservation, Wyoming vice @, NJ. Meyer
transferred to Arapahoe.
The proposal OF r. ]. Gaddis Of LincolI
to repair the storm doors. sheds. etc, o
the federal building at Lincoln, Neb.. a
q cost OF s216, has been accepted.