The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1902-11-13
At Washington.

The annual gross cost of complete
rural free delivery service throughout
the United States will approximate S24,
600, 900, according to the annual report
of the general superintendent of the
service. fhe remaining 100000 square
miles not now covered by rural free de-
livery service will require the employ.
.ment of 26, 900 or $1,000 carries in addi-
ton to those now employed.
Secretary Root has cut down the esti-
mates of the engineers for the continu-
ing contract work of rivers and harbors
nearly 100000, leaving the total
amount $16,5S0,0O0 The appropria-
tions, which are made for these works
will depend on the probable amount of
work contractors can do in the next
year.
Secretary Hay, for the United States
and Sir Michael Herbert, representing
the British Government and the Govern
ment of Newfoundland, signed what is
known as the Bond Hay treaty providing
for reciprocity between the United
States and Newfoundland covering fish
products and bait. The treaty will be
submitted to the Senate Immediately
upon its reassembling and meanwhile
following the rule in such cases the
State Department refrains from making
public the details of the instrument
Minister WI on Saturday called at
the White House and presented to Pres
ident Roosevelt his letter of recall. Mr..
WI, acting under instruction from his
Government, will return to his home
Immediately and without awaiting the
arrival here of Liang Cheng, who is to
succeed him as minister to Washington
and is still in China The first secretary
Mr.. Tung, will be left in charge of the
legation here until the arrival of the
new minister.
The report, widely published, Satur-
day, to the effect that the AdmiDistra-
ton had decided to favor the reduction
of representation from the South in Re-
publican national conventions, arises
from the natural inference that such
would be the feeling of Administration
leaders in view of the almost tota! wip-
ing out of the Republican strength in
that section on Tuesday, and the fur
ther fact that Mr. Henry G. Payne, now
member of the Presidents cabinet,
states emphatically that it is his pur-
pose to continue the agitation for such a
change. 1t is assumed that Mr.. Roose
welt would favor it, although word
comes from excellent official sources
that he has not yet given the matter
sufficient consideration to enable him to
form judgment.
Representative Overstreet of Indiana,
secretary of the Republican COMPRESSION
al compaign committee, says no attempt
will be made at the short session of
Congress looking to revision of the
tariff. Except in Pennsylvania, West
Virginia and one or two other States"
he said, "there is a feeling that the
tariff should be revised. But the recent
elections have demonstrated that II such
a revision is to be made it must be upon
protection Ines 1t is quite certain that,
at the short session this winter, little
will be done besides passing appropriate
bills.
Comm issoner General Sargent has
restored to duty John A Wright, i'm.
migrant inspector at New ork, recently
suspended by Commissioner Williams
Mr.. Wright, however, has been assigned
to duty under the collector of customs
at Portland, Me.
The annual report of Gen. Henry G..
Corbin adjutant general OF the army,
begins with a statement showing how
the army is to be reduced by Dec. /, to
90, 020 men, of which 2S77 belong to the
staff departments.
The report shows that during the fis-
cal year there were 80 officers killed in
action or died of wounds and diseases,
81 resigned and 6S retired. OF the en-,
listed men 1927 were killed or died of
wounds and disease, So, 800 were dis
charged on the expiration of service,
5698 were discharged for disability or dis
missed by order of court-martial, 1887
deserted, two we're missing and 203
retired