Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-21
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Senator Beveridge Talks of
the Statehood Bill.
MINISTER B0WRN CALLS
DOES NOT DISCUSS VENEZUELAN
SITUAT1ON.s
President Invited to Attend Ohio's
Centennial Celebration Next Nav
Other Callers Today.

The President is taking a deep interest
in the legislative situation in the Senate. in
which the omnibus statehood bill is the
central figure at this time. He is watching
keenly the developments, foreseeing the
possibilities that may grow out of a tie-up
= Of important legislation That the Presi-
dent Is opposed to the omnibus BILL and
that there is strong likelihood that he
would veto 1t should 1t reach him, are facts
evident to all those interested In this meas
ure, but the President Is not saying or do
ing anything that would invite criticism of
interference in the legislative field His
interest is shown in carefully listening to
remarks made to him by senatorial and
other callers. The opinion Of many Of the
senators who called on the President today
appeared to be that the spirited debate and
the accusations in the Senate yesterday as
to obstruction of legislation had sharply
drawn the issue between the supporters and
opponents of general statehood The draw
Ing of the issue, 1t was claimed, would not
benefit the statehood advocates. On the
contrary, the opinion was expressed that
the result would be the loss of strength to
the statehood supporters The argument
that this would be the case was on the
ground that with the known opposition OF
the President to the measure as it stands,
and with the powerful opposition Of Sem
ator Hanna and other republican leaders,
the tendency would be in the direction of
an addition to the hostile forces now lining
up against the bill.
The statehood opponents are more san
guine today than they have been at any
time. and declare that they are expecting
accessions to their ranks. In fact 1t is as
serted with some show OF genuine belief
that the statehood bill has lost strength
since yesterday, and that If vote could
be taken today 1t would not show ma
jority for omnibus statehood. This claim is
made by those in close connection with the
situation. 1t is further chained that the
opponents of statehood have been gaining
ground ever since the opening OF Congress.
There has been a gain Of six votes in that
time, 1t is said. Further gains are expected.
A denial is made by those we'll acquainted
with the situation of the accuracy of the
Quay as supporting the omnibus statehood
bill. Senator Beveridge will not point out
the inaccuracies his side assert are known
to them in Senator Quay's claims. They do
not care to reveal their hand at this time.
Senator Beveridgeass statsment.
Senator Beveridge was exceedingly eau
tious in his statements to those who ap-
preached him today. This is all he cared
to say to a representative Of The Star who
saw him: -@-=
II am not surprised that Senator Quay
should be urging his bill as desperately as
he is. He knows how dangerous to his
cause delay Is. We have been gaining
steadily since the opening OF Congress and
will continue to gain until success Is un-
questionably assured. We are many votes
stronger now than on the day that Con-
gress convened. Senator Quay knows this
and that his prospects diminish as the mer-
it's Of his bill are discussed"
Messages From Samoan Chiefs.
The President had call today from Cap
tain Sebree, U. s. N, commander Of the
naval station at Tutuila, Samoa, and Com
mander Underwood, U. s. N, who will sue
ceed Captain Sebree. Commander Under
wood will soon sail for his new post, which
is practically the position of governor of
the 5000 Samoans who acknowledge the
sovereignty Of the United states In the
four inhabited islands of the Tutuila group.
This territory is among that acquired in re-
cent years by the United States, and is
governed in much different manner from
some Of the other territory possessed oy
this country. 80
Captain Sebree called .on the President
to convey to the chief executive OF the
United States the greetings of the Somoan
chiefs; greetings Of everlasting loyalty ana
satisfaction with the conduct OF a1alrs py
officials of the United States 10 com
mander Underwood the President conveyed
reciprocal greetings, and directed that the
chiefs be told a number Of nice things
about their good behavior and the 1rleno-
ship of the President of the United states
for them. .
The naval commander at Tutuila Is the
governor of the four islands. which con-
tain the people who are under the govern
ment Of the United States Whatever the
commander says is law, but ne trles 10
make as little law as possible for the easy
going, good natured, honest natives. me
old native laws govern in the daily lie or
the American Samonans unless tnose laws
are manifestly improper and UNFAIR, Where-
upon the naval commander proceeds 10
ko har additional
stance Captain Sebree found an ola law
among the Samoans that II man changeo
his religion he had to leave the town IN
which he lived. OF course, the Samoan
must learn catho!icity of views and reli-
gious liberation, and SO the law was
changed, that a convert might remain III
his home town and worship whoever or
whatever he desired. -,
native magistrates, men of ability VINO are
selected for the positions Z by the COM
mander. The police work throughout tne
islands is done by natives ahso; mostly
chiefs. who receive the huge salaries OF
from 81 to 81 per month. and consider tnat
they hold positions of great magnitude ana
power The expenditures In this and other
directions are paid from an import auty ana
from a collection of cecoannt mat erfal from
the chiefs, this material being sold In putk
to the highest bidders. The expenses OF
maintaining the government, however are
abiding and kind. '-rhe faet is." said Capt.
Sebree, that there was only one prisoner
in the single jail Of the four islands dur
ing the last six months; and i pardoned
him. When left Tutuila- there was not
single prisoner in the jail This speaks
well for population of d4O0 people. Tnere
are about fifty villages In the islands. and
each head of family is n chief. That is,
the head Of name, which includes all the
kinsfolk, by blood and marriage. There
are over fifty chiefs in; the Islands"
President Wanted in Chic.
A delegation of Ohioans. headed by Gov.
Nash. and including Gen. Roeliff Brinker-
hoff, president Of the state board of chari-
ties; Gen. ]. Warren Keifer of Springfield
and Robert Manley Of Chilicothe, called
upon the President today and invited him.
to attend the Ohio centennial anniversary
celebration. to be held ii CAillicothe on the
10th and 21st of neH May. President
Roosevelt informed the delegation that.
owing to arrangement1 already partially
completed Tor his western tfip in the spring
i might be impossihleGfoS him to bs; In
Chlsieothe ON the datea< xed for thescef-
ebration. He expressed "a desire however.
TO attend and participate insthe celebration
II posethle. and px0mAAed to communicate
with Gov. Nash in q few days defaite