The Meeker herald., 1902-10-04
WASHINGTON NEWS.

The estimates for the rural free de-
livery service for the next fiscal year
has been finally framed. They aggre-
gate $12,G55,SUO. net Increase of ST.
126.40O over the appropriations made
for the current year.
Colonel Charles Smart, assistant sur
geOn general, has been designated as
chief surgeon of the Division Of the
Philippines and will leave soon for Ma
Mia by order Of the war department.
lie will look into the cholera situation
especially.
President Roosevelt has signed the
order providing for taking the census
of the Philippines in accordance with the
terms OF the Philippine act passed at
the last session of Congress and upon
the certificate of the Philippines Com
mission that the insurrection has been
suppressed.
The commissioner CT Internal rev.
enue in letter to collectors of internal
revenue cnlls attention to the opinion
of the attorney general to the eject
that no Internal revenue tax can be
assessed legally on cigars shipped
from the Philippine islands. and d.
reefs that afterward the word philip
pines" be imprinted on the customs
import stamp attached to the boxes
containing these cigars.
On his return from New York Secre-
tary Root, in answer to question as
to whether there was any truth in the
rumor that he intended to leave the
cabinet, said: THE rumors about my
retirement are false. have given the
matter no consideration, and do not In
tend to retire. When do decide to DO
so there will be no rumors. will
simply resign and that will be all. ana
the public will know all about It,"
Brigadier General w. A. Kobbe,
commanding the Department OF Da-
kota, in his annual report says that
the discipline and Instruction Of his
command are good, because, ms rule.
the officers are capable and painstak-
ing. He quotes from Major General
Alfred Reynolds. Inspector general OF
the department, to the effect that he
Is of the opinion lhat the abolition OF
the beer feature in post exchanges has
not materially increased the number
of trials by court nor called for other
extra disciplinary measures.
The cruiser Montgomery sailed on
September oath from Cape Haytien
for Gonaives, st. Mary's and Port de
PaLx, to investigate the situation at
these ports in connection with the
blockade declared by the provisional
government of Hayti. These three
places are in the possession of the rev.
olutionists and the Montgomery will
investigate to determine whether the
blockade is effective~br simply paper
declaration. So far as known here
the provisional government has no
ships with which to enforce block
ade.
The war department has received a
copy of an address to the people from
the Lake George Committee. This
address makes bitter attack upon
Secretary Root for the management OF
affairs in the Philippines. 1t charges
him with shielding the army In Its al
legged wrongdoings and states that the
secretary has never directed an invest
igation into any charge Of cruelty and
oppression by the army in the islands
with view OF having the facts
brought out, but that the Intention
has always been to shield and pro-
tect the army.
In conference with Il. H. Warner,
chairman of the local committee to pre-
pare for the entertainment of the
Grand Army Of the Republic during the
Forthcoming encampment. the Presl-
dent expressed a desire to do all In his
power to render the encampment a
success. He urged that the citizens Of
Washington should exert themselves
to the utmost in making the veterans
welcome, saying that this in all prob
ability would be the last visit many OF
them would make to the national capl-f
tai. The President cheerfully accept
ed the Invitation to review the parade,
md arrangements have been made Tor
the erection of reviewing stand for
his personal use Immediately in front
Of the White House.
The Bureau of Insular Affairs has
furnished to the press copies OF the
speech made by Governor Taft on the
occasion of the reception rendered to
him when lie arrived in the Philip
pine Islands. In the course of the
speech Governor Taft said: You can
be very sure that it will only be n
1 mater of year or two before the
American duty on Philippine products
will be reduced to SO small figure
is to make 1t practically free trade"
As result of reports that he was In
California in the interest of opposition
to the reelection of Representative
Loud Of that state, the leave of alb
sence for nine months recently granted
TO President Keller of the National
Association of Letter Carriers has
been cancelled. Participation in any
movement Of that political character
3 prohibited under the regulations
Governing the service, and the cancel
alton of Mr.. Keller's leave necessi-
iates his immediate return to work or
his resignation from the service.
Though recognizing in the request of
the Cuban government for the with