The Delta independent., 1902-10-10
WASHINGTON NEWS.

port Ship Building Company at its bid
Of $3,990,O0O.
The estimates for the rural free de-
livery service for the next fiscal year
has been finally framed. They aggre-
gate s12, 1855, 500, a net increase of So
126,4OO over the appropriations made
for the current year.
Secretary Root to-day approved the
elaborate plans prepared by the engi-
neer corps for the war college build
ings in Washington and at Fort Riley,
Kansas. The department will at once
advertise for construction work
The monthly statement of the public
debt shows that at the close of busi-
ness September 80. 1902, the debt. less
cash in the treasury, amounted to
1857 7,415, ,SS7. which is a decrease of
SIC, 0,675, ,434 as compared with Septem-
ber 1st.
The feature of the naval estimates
of 1904, which have been made public
at the Navy Department is the liber-
ality of the recommendations for each
of those branches of the service which
have to provide for the equipment of
fighting ships The total estimate calls
for $50, ,426, ,0305S.
Indian Agent HaZlitt of the Fort De-
fance agency, Arizona, has made re-
port to Commissioner of Indian Affairs
Jones, denying the reports that 6,OOO
Navajoe Indians in San Juan county
are starving. He says he wants to hire
100 Indians at S1.1O per day to work
on a railroad. but cannot get one, from
which he infers that none of them can
be very hungry.
On his return from New York Secre-
tary Root, in answer to 2. question as
to whether there was any truth in the
rumor that he intended 10 leave the
cabinet, said: THE ruInors about my
retirement are false. l have given the
matter no consideration, and do not in-
tend to retire. When l do decide to do
so there will be no rumors. l will
simply resign and that will be all, and
the public will know all about it,
In recognition of their long and hon.
orable service in the army the Presi-
dent has directed the advancement to
the grade of brigadier general of Col.
Amos S. kimball of the quartermas-
ter's department.; Col. Chambers Nc
Kibben, Twenty-fourth infantry. and
Col. Charles C. Hood. Sixteenth infan-
try. This action is made possible by
the retirement of Brigadier General
William H. Bisbee. who is now on his
way home from the Philippines
Secretary Cortelyou, upon being
asked as to the condition of the Presi-
dent, said the coal conference was a
severe strain on the President While
in the judgment of his physicians his
progress toward recovery has been
satisfactory. they consider that to
avoid the risk of a setback he should
be relieved of any undue tax upon his
strength. Therefore for the next week
of ten days only such matters will be
brought to his attention as it may be
imperatively necessary for him to con-
slider.
Secretary Moody has issued an order
creating the new Caribbean division,
with headquarters at Culebra, Porto
Rico. Admiral Coghlan will assume
command of this division, comprising
the following vessels: Olympia, flag
ship; Montgomery, Detroit, Marietta,
Machias and Panther. The duty of the
division includes, SO far as pertains to
the navy. the guarding of American
interests in those countries that bor-
der on the Caribbean and the cultivat-
ing of friendly relations with their
people.
POSTMASTER IeueIdl ray has du-
dressed circular letter to the officers
and employees of the postoffice and 9TH
ers concerned regarding the extent OF
the prohibition put by the department
on political activity on postoffice en-
ployes The letter says: "Postmas-
tiers or others having unclassified po-
sitions are merely prohibited from US
ing their Offices to control political
movements from neglecting their du-
ties or causing public scandal by po-'
litical activity. A person in the clas-
sified service has q perfect right to
vote as he pleases, and to express pri-
vately his opinions on all political
subjects. but he should take no active
part in political management or in po-
litical campaigns"
There will be no call for an extra
session of Congress to deal with the
coal strike situation at this stage. The
President expressly stated in his ap-,
peal to the operators and representa-
tives of the miners that he did not act
officially in calling them together. He
has for the time being exhausted his
individual resources. In his view, the
matter is again one with which the
state of Pennsylvania should deal. II
the commonwealth finds itself unable
to control the situation and appeals to
him through the constitutional chan
nels. the President will be ready to
bring the great forge of the national
government. military and civil. But
for the time being the President has
relaxed his efforts.
Though recognizing in the request of
the Cuban government for the with
drawal of the remaining American
troops in Cuba, very natural desire
to remove all traces OF foreign occupa-
ton, the indications are that the au-
thorities will order the withdrawal only
upon the completion of the permanent
treaty contemplated in the Plat
amendment. Both the amendment and
the Cuban constitution provide that
permanent treaty shall be signed be-
tween the United States and CUBA,
whereby each government shall assume
certain distinct obligations. Cuba for
its part is not to make any foreign