The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-10-02
First Gathering After Sum-
mer Vacation Finds All
the Other Members of the
Council Absent From City.
SENATOR DILLINGHAM;
REPORTS ON ALASKA
No Likelihood That Presi-
dent Will Find 1t Possible
to Make a Southern Trip
Either This Year or Next.

President Roosevelt called together
the first Cabinet meeting of the season
this morning. Postmaster General Payne
and Secretary of Agriculture Wilson
were the only members of the Official
family to gather around the long table
in the Cabinet room
Secretary OF War Root is in London
attending the sessions OF the Alaskan
Boundary Commissicn. Secretary Hay
is at his summer home. Sunapee Lake,
n. H.; Secretary Moody is attending
the Republican State Convention in Mas
sachusetts; Secretary Shaw is on mis-
way from Chicago: Secretary Cortelyou
is returning from Canada; Attorney
General Knox is at Beverly Farms.
Mass. and Secretary Hitchcock is at
Monadnock. y. H.
The only business transacted at this
mornings meeting was to take away
/ the franking privileges from officials OF
the island of Porto Rico Postmaster
! General Payne announced on leaving the
White House that hereafter all officers
of that island will have 70 pay postage
on their mail
This action is taken in accordance
with a recent ruling of Assistant Attorney
General Robb. OF the Postoalce Depart
ment, by which he denied of1cials OF the
District of Columbia. the right to frank
! their mall, on the ground that business
of the District was not. strictly
Government business.
President Roosevelt this morning was
acquainted with the results of the visit
TO Alaska of the subcommittee Of the
Senate Committee on Territories. which
made an exhaustive study of Alaskan
affairs last summer The subcommittee
consisted of Senators Dillingham; OF
Vermont. Patterson of Colorado, Nelson
of Minnesota, and Burnham OF New
Hampshire.
Alaska's Needs Explained.
Senator Dillingham;, accompanied by
Senator Proctor. his colleague. called on
the President by appointment this morn
ing and was in conference with him
for an hour. The Senator made as ex-
haustive a review OF the subcommittee's
work as it was possible to make in the
time allowed him. and the President
ly greatly interested.
There IS no doubt the President will
recommend that Congress take up legis-
lation for Alaska and enact laws ealcu-
lated 20 develop the mines and all the
vast natural resources of the region
The subcommittee will later make
formal report, and the President viii
take up the subject in his message. The
subcommittee was sent to Alaska not to
look up any special matter. but to make
a general inquiry into the needs OF the
Territory TO find out what Congress
could do to further the interests OF it's
people.
Transportation the Problem
Senator Dillingham; advised the Pres
ident that transportation was the great
need OF Alaska This is absolutely
necessary to the welfare of the country
Alaska is country of immense dis
tances. he says. being almost as large
as the United States east OF the Missis-
sippi. The towns are small.
Railroads viii come in time" he
says. but what the country needs now
is system of good wagon roads. Now.
lnGre are Only lIdllS anu the DullutlE U
few good wagon roads would do much
to facilitate travel and trafic. Trans
portation and means of communication
mean everything TO that country. 1t is
matter that will have to be treated by
legislation"
Senator Dillingham; thinks the reve-
nues from Alaska. which now are quite
large, and additional appropriations. il
necessary. should be utilized in this
work. He spoke OF one road that was
especially needed-between Valdez and
. Eagle City-an important point on the
Yukon. The distance between these
points IS SEQ miles.
- The subcommittee inquired TO some ex-
tent into the charges OF corrupt prae-
tees against Government officials in
Alaska Senator Dillingham; says con-
ditions are improving greatly In this
> respect.
!. Will Vote Against Cuban Treaty.
Representative William Alden Smith,
of Michigan. who was again at the White
House this morning to see the Presl-
:. dent. made it plain he had not changed
& his attitude on Cuban reciprocity and
II in the interviews he had given out on
e this subject he had gone no further than
Is 10 say he would not lead a factiOnal
fight in opposition to the treaty. Nos