The Press., 1902-01-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
washington, January 70, 1909.


conversation In Washington this week,
not onlyin social, but In executive and
diplomatic circles as we'll. While the
proposed visit fs of a social character, Its
diplomatic Significance is Of sufficient Inn
port to raise 1t above ordinary social af-
fairs, and the president and the members
OF the cabinet are as much interested In
the details as their wives and daughters.
This is the first time that a president Of
the United States has been called upon
to entertain royalty Of Prince Henry's
rank travelling In an official capacity, and
Mr.. Roosevelt is most anxious that the
event pass of, with eclat.
William A. Downey, member of the
firm that is building the royal yacht, has
been inWashington In conference with
the president, Secretary Hay and the Ger
man ambassador, and the date for the
launching has been set for February 25th,
although it Is possible that 1t may be
changed to later In the week, as 1t is de-
sired that the prince should be present in
the capitol on the 9th, when Secretary
Hay will deliver his eulogy on President
Mckinley. The details of the reception
have been confided to a committee COM
posed .of Assistant Secretary of State
Hill, Major General Henry q. Corbin,
Rear Admiral Robley D. Evans and
Count Won Quadt, first secretary of the
German embassy. The president will,
Of course, be present at the launching of
the yacht, but it has not been definitely
determined whether Mr.. Roosevelt and
his party will accompany the prince to
Shooters Island or whether they will
travel separately. There will be state
banquet at the White House In the princes
honor, and he will probably travel farther
west before leaving for home. He will
sail for home on March 9Th.
Undoubtedly there are some important
matters of etiquette to be determined,
but a diplomatic friend said yesterday,
II your president would make the most
pleasant impression on the prince he
should try and forget all about etiquette,
the remembrance Of which Is apt to make
these affairs too formal, and merely treat
him as entirely his equal In dignity and
position and as very good friend. II
Mr.. Roosevelt had good friend coming
to Washington from abroad he would go
down to the depot and meet him and tell
him he was welcome, and drive with him
to his abode and would try and make
things pleasant for hmm in all ways pos
sibre, and / ann sure IL he does that with
the prince he~aH make the most pleas
ant impression. To be always thinking
Of etiquette is to make mistakes. Let
sn9 othsrs think or ofthe.etiquette."
The dinners and levees at the White
House continue with the usual regularity
ana are better. managed and more enjoy.
able than formerly. Almost every night
some one In Washington gives dinner
party, and on most evenings there are one
or two receptions and perhaps ball to
be attended later, SO that no one who has
come to the capital to enjoy the social
gayety Is likely to be disappointed. A
great many men from Washington went
to Philadelphia last week to the Glover
club banquet. Minister WI was the
guest of honor, but that did not save hin
from the interruption to which speakers
at the clubs banquets are always sub
jected. However, the minister PROVED
himself to be both good natured and wit
ty, and was voted ''a royal good fellow.
The daily session of congress the pas
week have been limited In number anc
brief In duration, and the only really i'm
portant work has been done In committee
To-day or tomorrow the Philippine tarif
bill will be reported to the senate, anc
promises to furnish subject for debats
that will last for some weeks. The sen
ate committee on commerce has decided
to report favorably on the ship subsidy
bill, and that will come up for discussion
before long, although probably not unit
after the Philippine bill is disposed of.
met Representative James III. South
ard of Ohio in the capitol yesterday, amt
he told me that he was pushing the ques
tion Of the adoption OF the metric system
OF weights and measures in his commit
tee. He is chairman Of the house com
mittee on coinage, weights and measures
to which the bill providing for the adop
tion Of that system by the government
was referred. 1--WE have heard from tn,
scientific men Of the country in pas
years." said MIR. Southard, ''and they ar.
unanimously In favor of the change. /
| Is recognized that 1t must come sooner o.
later, and we desire to ascertain II tn,
time has come. With that end In view,
have invited some Of the most prominen
| manufacturers In the country TO appea
before this committee and express thei
views. We expect to hear from such mel
as MIR. Vaulcian, superintendent of tn,
Baldwin locomotive works, w. M. Nc
Farland of the Westinghouse electro
company, T. G. Search, president of tn
National Manufacturers association, an,
others. The men we have invited nov
are the only ones who might object to til,
change. don't think they will, as man,
of our manufacturers now have to us
| two systems Of measurement becaus
| their foreign customers demand the met
trio system" In reply to a question, Mr.
Southland said that the United States
England and Russia were the only grea
countries who had not already adopted
the system.
The house committee on commences 1
still hearing deputations on the subjec
Of the Pacific cable. General Greeley
head Of the United States signal service
strongly advocated government owner
snip OF the cable: He stated that durin,
the recent war he had been obliged to se
cure control of the Haytian cable at
cost OF $4,000 per day, an expense whiel
i need not have heon incurrod hod %hs, o,nx