Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-03
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Not Many Congressional Call
ers This Morning.
SENATOR ALGER WINS
STRUGGLE BETWEEN HIM AND
THE STATE PoLITICAL-BossEs.
President Favors Battle Ships for the
Navy-Panama canaa Company
Accepts Offer.

The necessity for the presence of senator's
and representatives at the Capitol in the
closing hours of this session limited the
number of congressional =yisitors to the
White House today. Ordinarily there are
many congressman at the executive Offices
between 10 O'clock and noon neach day, and
on cabinet days, like today, the number
is almost as large as on other days.
Senator Alger Of Michigan had a brie:
talk with President Roosevelt about two
Michigan positions that are causfag plenty
of discussion in political etrties in that
state. Senator Alger was first appointed,
and afterward elected. to- the Senate on
the demand of the people Of the state, the
demand being so overwhelming that it
could not be resisted. He has been sen.
ator for number of months, sufficiently
long to look over his share Of the federal
plums and determine just who he wants to
fill them. Recently Charles Wright, the
collector Of internal revenue of the Detroit
district, resigned his position Senator AL,
ger concluded to name David; Meginnity, a
young business man Of Detroit, and a per.
sonal friend. Some of the leaders of the
old Mcmillan organization In Michigan led
by two federal officeho,ders, began to OBJ
ject to Senator Alger selecting men of his
own plcklhS. Iney wanted the plunS LOT
the old organization. and they proceeded tc
ask the President to nominate ex-State
Senator Holmes as collector. The Pres.
dent Is said to have promptlyf resented the
activity Of federal off1ceholdef8 in the mat
ter and to have given hintssthat this
would not be tolerated. He qnickly de-
cided that he would accept the recon-
mendations Of Gen. Alger, and the nomina.
tion of Mr.. Meginnity was agreed upon.
The opponents of Gen. Alger are1 to receive
another blow. Senator Alger has recon-
mended the nomination of an old soldier a
wartime friend and comrade, for a small
position, that Of appraiser sof the port Of
Detroit. This friend is Maj. L. s. Trow
bridge. He belonged to Gen. Ayers COM
mand in the civil war and was such a
brave fellow that Gen. Alger will always
remember his deeds. Atithes battle of
Gettysburg horse was shot from under
Maj. Trowbridge within few feet of Gen
Alger. Maj Trowbridge will succeed Jas
H. Stone, the incumbent.
Senator Alger has never had any idea
that the President would Ignore his recon-
mendations, and there has been little Ques-
ton that in his first brush with the poll
ticians in his state Senafer sAfger would
win.
President Favors Heavy Ships.
In the differences between the Senate and
House over the warship appropriations, the
President is said to be in sympathy with
the House contention for heavy ships. The
President has not made any suggestion,
however, but a few friends who have asked
for his opinion have been informed just how
he feels He has long been in favor Of
genuine battle ships, real fighting machines,
and his views in that respect are well
known. Representative Dayton Of the naval
affairs committee of the House talked to
the President this morning about the situa-
tion in Congress. where the conferees on
the naval appropriation bill have been tied
up good while over the question of war;
ships. The contest Is stubborn, but one
side or the other must yield before many
hours
The Signing Of Bills.
Major Palmer of the enrolling department
of the secretary's office took several bills
to the White House this morning. Major
Palmer will arrange with the enrolling de-
partments of each house that all bills ready
shall be sent to the; White House all
through the day up to 10 o'clock tonight.
Beginning with tomorrow morning, at 8
o'clock, bills will be delivered to the Presi-
dent at the White House up to 10 o'clock.
At that hour he will go to the Capitol to be
present to sign bills and resolutions up to
the closing hour of the session. The Presi-
dent Is familiar with most of the legisla-
ton that is now in the process of going
through Congress.
Senator Pritchard is urging the President
to appoint DR.. d. H. Abbott of North Caro-
lima as assistant commissioner of corpora
tions, but the President has reached no de-
cision in the matter. Senators. .Dolliver and
Penrose and Senator-elect Hopkins were
among the callers who saw the President.
Bills Signed by the President.
The President yesterday afternoon signed
the army appropriation and the Philippine
coinage bills.
Offer Accepted by Canal Company.
President Roosevelt and his cabinet were
in session today for nearly two hours. The
status of the Panama canal negotiations
was the most important subject discussed.
Attorney General Knox has been for several
days in conference. at various times, with
Attorney Nelson w. Cromwell, the Ameri-
can representative Of the Panama Canal
Company. Today the Attorney General re-
ported to the cabinet that he had received
from Mr.. Cromwell an acceptance of the
proposition he, on behalf of the United
pany to keep alive the option held by this
government on the company'Ss property.
Just prior to the meeting ;of the cabinet
Mr.. Cromwell submitted his formal answer
to the Attorney General The answer is
regarded as entirely satisfactory to this
government. 1t keeps alive the eption now
held by the United States on the canal COM
pany's property, and, as stated by the At
torney General, the option Dc now hard and
fast, and 1t matters not <whethers the treaty
pending in the Senate be ratified before the
adjournment of the presest Congress or
afterward. Both the President and the
members of the cabinet received the in
formation with expressionseof satisfaction
Details of the negotiations probably will be
made public later
Secretary Hay announced the exchange of
ratifcatiOns of the Alaskan q boundary
treaty, which was concluded today. Official
of the appointment of Secre-
tary Root and Senators Lodge and Turner
as the American commissioners u expected
soon.
The cabinet spent some time in s. discus
sion of the legislative situation in Congress
Information has reached the President as
suring him OF the passage of all the big sup-