The Savannah morning news., 1903-02-18
BY r. NJ. Larner.

Serve on the Commission.
BY r. NJ. Larner.
Washington, Feb. 1.-THE prellm-
inaries towards the drawing of a new
Alaskan boundary line are advancing
favorably here. A prophesy to the
Morning News some days ago that one
of the three commissioners might be
chosen from Massachusetts has proven
true, according to the generally ac-
cepted opinion that Senator Lodge of
Massachusetts will be the man. He is
the most intimate friend of President
Roosevelt in public life, a man of ex-
cellent learning, the author of several
historical works, and, like President
Roosevelt, a graduate of Harvard Uni
Versity
In the light of his expected appoint
is easy to understand the great concern
Mr.. Lodge had over the ratification of
the Alaskan treaty, so that he was
able to secure for it a favored place
ahead of the Cuban reciprocity treaty,
which all the Senate was expecting to
be considered first. Then Mr.. Lodge
is one of the leading Republican mem
bers of the Senate Committee on For
eign Relations and was near to being
its chairman about a year ago.
Washington Likes the Men.
The character of the men understood
to be slated for the commissionerships
is very satisfactory from the Washing
ton point of view. AS was intimated
in a previous letter, Senator Turner of
Washington state, although a Popull5t
and a Democrat in politics, the former
tending to discredit him i'm the
eyes of many people, is nevertheless
highly regarded in the Senate for his
eminent legal abilities. He was Cor
merly a Republican in politics, and is
a man of sterling qualities.
Secretary of War Elihu Root
friends of President Roosevelt
and the two were associated in
political and reform matters years ago
| before either attained much national
| prominence.
Evidences of the personal friendship
| of the President for both Senator
Lodge and Secretary Root are seen
here almost every day Both men and
their families are frequent visitors to
functions. The President, a persistent
horseback rider, often invites either
Mr.. Lodge or Mr.. Root to accompany
him on a canter out over the hills
that surround Washington on the
north. Mr. Roots fixed views and his
habit of having what he wants are
proverbial among public men here. AL
though regarded as an enlightened and
progressive man, he stands out Vigor-
nIIGIV for what ha thinks 10 ahNnf
square, and then there is no budging
from it, Members of Congress, who
generally be-devil the life out Of the
Secretary of War about the assign
ment of army officers, who happen to
be their particular pets or constituents,
give Mr.. Root wide berth
All Are in Their Fifties.
All the commissioners, if the appoint
ments tally with the predictions as in
spired from the White House, Will be
young men. Senator Lodge will be SO
next May; Senator Turner will be 50
next week; Secretary Root is the old
est of the three having been 81 years
old yesterday. Their appointment and
confirmation will be completed before
the end of the present session on
March A. and they will probably pro-
coed to London very soon thereafter.
Before March Congress will also ap-
propriate 100000 for the expenses of
the commissioners, and the plans
which they wish to put into execution
for the determination of the boundary
line. The item will go on one of the
appropriation bills, perhaps one of
those now pending, or on the general
deficiency appropriation bill, which is
always the last to be passed at ses-
sion,