Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-02
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Needs of Alaska Discussed
With the President.
SENATOR. DILLINGHAM;
GIVES THE RESULT OF HIS PER.
SoNAL OBSERVATIONS.
Minister Allen Talks of Russian Im-
provements in Manchuria-Not
Many Callers Today.
SENATOR. DILLINGHAM;

lHdt lHey were WIFI tne fTtSlueHl Couiu
hardly be called cabinet meeting. TITS
was the regular day for the cabinet meet
ing but Postmaster General Payne and Sec
retary Wilson are the only two cabinet Of
ficers in the city. They discussed with the
President a variety of things. The post
office investigation was foremost.
Mr.. Payne stated, at the conclusion of the
meeting. that the franking privilege is to
be taken away from the officials of Porto
Rico The Postmaster General has OBJ
general. decision that under the law the
governor and other officials of Porto Rico
are not any longer entitled to the privilege
of sending through the mails their official
correspondence free of postage So here
after the Porto Rican government will have
to pay postage all of its business un-
til Congress sees fit to extend relief by
giving it the franking privilege. Mr.. Robb
recently decided that the District of Co.
lumbia could not exercise the franking
privilege in its official business, and the
District officials now spending a con-
siderable sum each month in postage 1t
is thought that Congress will pass a law
at the coming session which will give the
franking privilege TO both Porto Rico and
the District of Columbia.
Talk on Alaska.
Senator Dillingham; of Vermont spent
nearly an hour today talking with the Pres
ident about the needs of Alaska, and one
result will be some vigorous recommended
tons in the Presidents annual message
relative to Alaska and her affairs. Senator
Dillingham; is chairman of the subconmit-
tee of the Senate committee on territories,
and he and Senators Burnham, Nelson and
Patterson have spent several months in
Alaska, going to nearly every part in their
search for information as to conditions, 50
that they may suggest necessary and useful
leg. slatiop the coming session of Con-
gress. Senator Dillingham; thinks the prob
lem of giving to this immense territory
legislation that is needed for its Develop
ment is big one.
Alaska contains almost much terri
tory as is included IN that part of ths
United States east of the Mississippi, and
the most important problem is tnat or
transportation, said Senator Dillingham;
The towns in Alaska are small and main-
tain some roads and streets, but outside the
towns and villages there are no highways.
Trails are found here and there and dogs
are the most generally used means of trans
portation. Roads will do more to bring
about the development of Alaska than any
other thing in the world The people par
ticularly favor the construction of wagon
roads. One highway, especially. from Val
deZ to Eagle City, distance of about five
lnileS, WOulu open TlCn cOun-
try, and its construction would develop the
section in a remarkable way. The people
think that immense copper deposits north
Of Valdez would be developed should road
between these places. With the opening OF
roads capital would undoubtedly follow.
and in time there would be a railroad" u
Senator Dillingham; sees no reason why
there cannot be legislation providing for |
building highways. Alaska is a source Of
revenue to the United States, he said. A,
record of these revenues is kept in the I
Treasury Department. Although he did not
legislation that will be formulated and in
dorsed by his subcommittee, Senator Dill !
nngham indicated that the revenues paid |
into the government by Alaska might rea,
sonably be allowed to be used in that terri- |
tory for its improvement. Until Alaska
has territorial form of government and a |
legislature to act for her interests Con- |
gress must do so. and Congress can well !;
afford to do everything possible to assist |
in the development of this great territory !
rich In resources of every kind (
The subcommittee will report to the full .
on territories and will, as stated, I
submit legislation that is considered neces- I
sary for the future of the territory. The ,
took a great deal Of testimony
while away. j
Senator Proctor accompanied his COLL
league to the White House and listened to !
Senator Dillinghams talk about the big
territory and its needs. Both the President .
and Senator Proctor were impressed
Not Many Callers.
There were comparatively few callers at
the White House during the morning, the .
general understanding that there would be
A cabinet meeting preventing this Repre-
sentative William Alden Smith of Michigan /,
,alled with John B. Chaddock of Ionia a |
member Of the republican state central |
of Michigan. Mr.. Smith is en-
to have the President take some /
action that will restore to his position |
Laurin Grieves, a young man of Ionia who
.pent four years in West Point and at the /
asst failed to pass his examinations because !
he was deficient in tactics, a most unusual !
hing. Mr.. Smith hopes to have Mr..
irieves restored to his position, so that he
nay enter the army. !
Mr.. B. H. Warner was also one of the
With him.
Charlemagne Tower, the ambassador ofJ
he United States to Germany. called upon
President and Mrs. Roosevelt yesterday
lfternoon. He was accompanied by Mrs. !
Tower. The call was one of respect. Mr..
Tower will return to his post shortly as he
Will sail from New York next Tuesday. \;
Russia In Manchuria.
Horace N. Allen. American minister to
corea. has been spending several days In
Mr.. Allen has conferred with |
he President and the State Department
vital questions IN the far east.
TO a representative of The Star Mr.. Allen
said that he could not discuss the questions
hat brought him to Washington, but he
lad no objection to talking about the trans
Siberian railway and the progress that
Russia Is making In her four-year-old Man.
,hurian city. Dalny. which means FAR.
lway." Formerly Dalny was Tal-ien-wan.
It was nothing but mud huts four years
,gO, Mr.. Allen said. u
Ia nyy n hla rffV copfaipinH
'ows Of brick houses and well paved streets
Ind magnificent docks built OF granite,"A
,aid Mr.. Allen. -Four years ago crossed
he Pacific ocean with Mr.. Sakcroff, Rua,
,ian engineer. He was on his way to
Oalny. He told me about the plans OF the
Russian government for building a great
city there. He had charge Of
he work. and had SO O00.0 900 to expsnd, II
lid not take any stock In hiz story at that
ime: In fact. thought 1t waR one of ulai
most visionary schemes had ever hcard.i
II L. Il "a