Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-22
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Canal Question May Come Up
at Extra Session.
BANK >TELLER'S PARDON
DIFFERENCES OVER A NORTH
CAROLINA POST OFFICE.
Charges Against the Consul at Jerusa-
lem-Telegram of Congratulations
to Alaskan Commissioners.

In calling Congress in extra session No
vember Q President Roosevelt designated
only the subject of Cuban reciprocity for
consideration. but it is now a practical
certainty that the isthmian canal question
will be placed before the Senate, and that
it will be carefully handled in that body.
Its appearance in the House during the
same session is not improbable, although
that body. under its rules, can choke off
that subject any other it may desire.
Senator Morgan of Alabama has inji-
Gated his intention of introducing a reso-
luton bearing upon the canal question,
and some of his colleagues are aware Of
his purposes. Whether it will take the
form of an inquiry to the status OF the
negotiations relative to the Panama canal
or whether it will be a direction to the
President to proceed with the construction
of the canal by the Nicaragua route, un-
der the terms of the Spooner amendment,
is not known: indeed, the precise form of
the resolution, it is understood, has not
been determined.
Senator Morgan's purpose is said to have
the approval of number of colleagues
and the subject will be laid before the SEN
ate in some form soon after the eXtraor-
binary session shall begin. Senator Nor
gan will demand consideration for the
question raised, and, in the opinion of sena-
tors who have been made aware of Mr..
Morgans plans. the Senate will probably
devote time to the matter. The
President himself will no doubt be relieved
at any action of this kind in the Senate.
In that way he can lay the canal ques-
ton before the Senate upon inquiry by
that body and not find it necessary to
submit the situation in the form o. a mes
sage or recommendation.
Isthmian canal legislation in the Senate
will not embarass Cuban reciprocity legisla
ton, it is stated. as that legislation under
the law. by reason of its relations to reve-
nues. must be originated by the House and
be enacted first by that body as in the case
of tariff bills. Until the House shall have
effected its organization and enacted Cuban
treaty legislation the Senate VIII have
nothing to do, and will have time and oppor-
tunity to take up any business that may be
proposed. OF this situation Senator Morgan
will take advantage. He will endeavor to
show that the Panama route now is beyond
consideration and he will urge that it is
the duty of the President under the Spoon
er law, to construct the canal by the Mica
ragua route.
1t is pretty generally believed that the
canal question, unless settled IN some un-
known way by a treaty, will be most i'm
portant one, and may possibly be para
mount during the session.
Pardon of a Bank Teller.
The President has pardoned Joel G. Tyler,
who pleaded guilty in Massac achusetts to
violation of the national banking laws, and
on March q, 1901. was sentenced to impr- s.
onment for five years in the county jail at
Fitchburg. Mass. Tyler was teller of the
Safety Fund National Bank of Fitchburg,
and temporarily appropriated to his own
use several thousand dollars. He lmme-
diately made the money good to the bank,
and pleaded guilty and received the m-nl-
mum penalty of five years imprisonment.
After he served one year the district attor-
ney and judge urgently recommended
ardO IN a ground that the minimum
penalty prescribed by the statute seemed to
them excessive in this case, and they be
lieved the prisoner had been sufficiently
punished The President denied the first
application. The prisoner now having
served more than two and one-haif years
of his sentence, the President, on the recon-
mendation of the district attorney and
judge and many prominent citizens of Mas
sachusetts, has reconsdered the case and
believing the petitioner has been sufficiently
punished has granted him a pardoD.
Differences Over Post Office.
T S. Rollins, chairman of the republican
state committee of North Carolina, had an
interview with the President this morning
relative to the post office at Lincoln, n. c.
T. A. Barclay is the postmaster, and he has
the backing of the organization for reap
pointment to the position. Mr.. Rollins,
who is the head of the republican organiza-
tion in North Carolina, since the appo MT
ment of Senator Prtchard to the bench of
the Supreme Court of the District, is look
eu to by the President for the proper dis
pensation of patronage. Mr. Rollins wants
Mr.. Barclay named to succeed himself as
postmaster, but Mrs. William E. Shipp.
widow of Lieut. Shipp, who was killed in
the battle of San Juan Hill, Is strongly
backed for the position. The President
knew Lieut. Shipp personally and they
breakfaSted together the morning of the
battle in which Lieut.. Shipp was killed. The
President is said to be strongly desirous
TO Il
old comrade Mrs. Shipp is fully qualified
for the place, being a highly educated and
refined woman No action has been taken
by the President, and a settlement of the
matter will not be had for the present.
''There is unanimous spirit in North
Carolina for the nomination of President
Roosevelt as the standard bearer of the "a
publican party next" said Mr.. Rollins,
land l do not think there will be any oppo-
Sition to him anywhere.
Charges Against Consul Merrill.
Assistant Secretary Loomis of the State
Department was with the President this
morning, discussing a consular matter.
Later in the morning Madame Lydia
Mountford, a well-known lecturer on
manners and customs in the Holy Land,
called at the White House to see the
President. She talked with Secretary
Loeb. Yesterday she had an interview
with Mr.. Loomis. Madame Mountford
has filed charges at the State Depart
ment against Dr. Selah Merrill, the United
States consul at Jerusalem These
charges are to the effect that he has
prosecuted her personally on all occa-
sions; that he has unnecessarily gone out
of his way to write and say harmful and
prejudiclal things of her, many of which
she says he knew to be false; that he has
used his office to try to interfere with her
business engagements and affairs.
Nine. Mountford says she was born and
reared in Jerusalem and that she Is a
British subject. She says that If she does
not obtain justice through the State De-
partment she will present her case to the
British embassy.
The American Consular Service.
It Is presumed that President Roosevelt,
in his message to Congress- will discuss the
reorganization of the consular service on a
basis of the elimination of politics in tho
appointments. He is known to desire and
to favor such a reorganization. Referring
to this subject the assistant secretary oS
state said to a Star representative: Tho
consular service can be much improved by
reorganization. but it stands 1t is The
best and livest consular service in thu