The Elk Mountain pilot., 1902-10-21
WASHINGTON NEWS.

commissioner
District of Columbia, to succeed the
late John w. Ross. Mr. West is a
well-known newspaper man of Wash
ington.
Representatives of missionary socie-
ties have formally requested the State
Department to make demand on
Turkey for repayment of the amount
of ransom paid on account of the re-
lease of Miss Ellen M. Stone.
The board of ordnance and fortifica-
tions has definitely decided on a field
gun for the United States artillery. 1t
will have the best features of the va
rious types of guns which have been
considered by the board of ordnance
for fortifications.
Maj. NJ B. c. Wright, who held
position on the board of review in the
United States pension office, is dead,
aged sixty years. Major Wright
claimed the distinction of having been
the youngest major in the volunteer
service during the Civil War.
President Roosevelt went out social
ly on the 18th instant for the first time
since the operation was performed on
his leg at Indianapolis. 1t also was
the first time that he has walked in
public. His leg apparently has recov-
and he no longer has to use crutch.
No limp is observable.
The secretary of the treasury has Sc
lected a site for the government build
ing Colorado Springs. at the corner of
Pixies Peak and Nevada avenues. This
site is valued at $4,000. but the late
w. S. Stratton, the owner, before his
death offered to contribute half of the
value to the government, so that the
accepted price is $4,000.
While President Roosevelt was un-
able to go to Oyster Bay to register his
vote for the November election, he will
go home to vote. The President is pro-
crossing finely toward complete recov-
cry and is now able to move about
without crutches or even cane, but
his physicians have advised him not to
travel any distance for at least two
weeks.
The President has selected Col John
L. Rodgers, senior colonel of artillery,
for promotion to the grade of brig
adler general to succeed Brigadier
General Quinton- on the retirement of
that officer. General Rodgers was the
chief artillery officer at Tampa during
the Spanish war, and afterward went
to Porto Rico with General Schwan
in like capacity.
President Roosevelt has issued an
executive order calling attention anew
to the civil service laws regarding po-
litical contributions and reafiirming
the illegality of solicitation by feder-
al officials or members of Congress. He
says such practices must not be coun-
tenanced or continued, and that gov
ernment employees need not contribute
campaign funds except voluntarily.
Secretary Root has approved the pre-
liminary plans prepared by the board
of officers at West Point for the i'm
provements at the military academy.
These plans have been submitted by
Colonel Mills to the supervising archi-
tect OF the treasury for suggestions
and amendment. The action of Secre-
tary Root settles the plans. leaving it
for the architects to work out the de-
tails
A committee headed by b. II. War
ner. chairman of the citizens execu-
tive committee of the recent national
encampment of the Grand Army OF the
Republic, and the Hon. ]. II. Brigham.
assistant secretary of agriculture,
called at the White House recently and
presented to President Roosevelt
gold Grand Army of the Republic
badge. commemorative of the national
encampment.
Hon. Bernard Moses of California,
member of the Philippine commits
sion, will retire from that body on the
first of next January. Following that
Professor Moses will make a tour of
portions of the Old World. shaping his
affairs so that he will be able to reach
his home and take up his college work
in the University of California by the
beginning of the next scholastic year,
at which time his leave of absence ex-
pires.
Orders have been issued by the War
Department providing that the regular
army be reduced to the minimum au-
thorized by law, SO 900 men. With the
practical cessation of outbreaks in the
Philippines. it is believed that this can
be done safely. The present size of
the army is about $1,000. The cavalry
and artillery regiments will be reduced
to the minimum basis except around
Fort Leavenworth. where the COM
mands will be kept to full size for edu
cational reasons.
Advices received at Washington
make ii appear that the fate of the
pending Danish West Indies treaty in
the Rigsdag is very uncertain. So mar
row is the division between the parties
that the approval of the treaty prac-
tically depends upon the state of health
of one or two members, and 1t is in
timated that if the measure is to sue
coed at this session the government
must press it to a vote before one of
the convalescents is able to return to
his legislative duties and cast an ad-
verse vote
Sir Michael Herbert, the new Brit
ish ambassador, was presented to the
President October 18th by Secretary
Hay. The new ambassador will take
rank next after Signor Mayor hes