The Holly chieftain., 1902-08-22

Ine Navy Department has been IN
formed that at the trial Of the torpedo
boat Chauncey on the Barren island
course August 18th, she made 28.6
knots, her contract speed being TWEEN
ty-seven knots.
Secretary Sliaw has given some
study to the matter OF the proposed
Cuban loan OF $35 1000 600 and has
reached the conclusion tint the Ques-
tons involved are not such as come
within the Jurisdiction of the Treasury
Department 1t Is likely that the Sec
retary VIII 90 inform the secretary of
state.
The repairs to the White House are
rapidly nearing completion and win be
finished long before the President is
ready to bring his family back to
Washington. OF the old White House
nothing will be left but the outside
walls and these will not be changed.
In the least. A few rods from the
White House, within the grounds, the
work Of erecting an office building for
the President is being rapidly pushed
along and will be completed by the
time the President returns to take up
his oiicial life In Washington. The
walls of the new building are nearly
completed and 1t does not compare well
with the White House, or the state,
war and navy building, between which
1t is situated. The structure Is low and
built of red brick and Its appearance
is not prepossessing. Many changes
have been made in the interior Of the
White House and the removal Of the
business offices Will give plenty of
room for social functions. President
Roosevelt and his family intend that
the short session Of Congress shall be
marked by fully as much social life
as ever characterized season at the
national capital.
The answer of Secretary Root to the
petition Of Miss Rebecca J. Taylor for
writ Of mandamus to compel him to
restore her to clerkship In the War
Department, has been filed. Miss
Taylor was dismissed for publishing
criticisms on the Philippine policy Of
the administration. Secretary Roots
answer says one of these published
letters was referred. by Secretary
Roots direction, to Miss Taylor for an
explanation or statement; that Miss
Taylor admitted Its authorship, with.
out offering any Justification or retrac.
ton, and that her answer, in the opin-
ion Of the secretary of was. was insub-
ordinate and prejudicial to the order
and efficiency of the service. and Sec
retary Root therefore caused her re-
moval. Secretary Root says his action
was not taken because OF Miss Tay-
lor's political or religious affiliations,
and that all the acts Of the department
In the case were done IN, conformity
with the civil service regulations. His
answer contends that The action of the
head of an executive Department In
respect to the case 10 not sutject to
review orr control by. a court. .of law,
and that his action -canhot. 10 directed
by mandamus.
Army officers are not surprised at
the report that Gen. Jacob Smith will
seek redress In the courts; from the or
der Of the President BY which he was
summarily retired. Smlth's friends
think his treatment was Illegal. The
order which placed him on the retired
list was appended to the Presidents
martial, which recommended that Gem
eral Smith be admonished by the re-
viewing authority, III this case the
President of the United States. Cen
eral Smiths friends have contended
that the President, by appending the
order for retirement to the admonition,
increased the sentence. Under the law
the reviewing authority Of court
martini has no authority to increase q
sentence. Secretary Root and Judge
Advocate General Davis have paid no
attention to the comment on the le-
gality Of General Smiths retirement,
Judge Advocate General Davis, in an
swer to query, pointed out that the
lay which enables the President to re-
tire an officer after he is sixty-tw0
years old, without giving cause, was
never enacted as a punitive measure,
and did not increase any punishment,
II exercised In connection Herewith.
The President has appointed Oliver
Wendell Holmes, chief Justice Of the
Supreme Court of Massachusetts,, to
be aE associate Justice of the Supreme
Court Of the United States, vice JUS
tice Gray, resigned. The resignation
OF Justice Gray was due to Ill health
Several months ago he suffered
stroke OF apoplexy, which some time
later was followed by another. He
has not appeared on the bench since
he was stricken the first time. His
advanced age, seventy-four years, told
against his recovery with serious force.
Realizing that he probably never
would be able again to assume the
place which be SO long had filled with
distinguished ability and honor, he de.
cided short time ago to tender his
resignation to the President. Oliver
yVandalI HoIypoo I,or,, T., Da..-