Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-04
At THE WHITE HOUSE.
Shiny Attended Cabinet
Meeting Today.
CORRUPTION CHARGES
JUDGE DAY TALKS OF HIS TRIP
TO ALASKA.
Tells President Result of His Investi-
cation Into Charges Against
United States Judges.

Just three members of the cabinet went
to the White House today to attend the
weekly cabinet meeting. This was the
slimmest attendance at a meeting In some
time, but there will probably be no Inn
provement in this line until after the cleo
ton. Secretary Shaw is making speeches
in various parts of the country; Secretary
Taft Is out on long speechmaking tour;
Secretary Metcalf is In California; Secre-
tary Morton went west to attend the we'd
ding of a niece; Attorney General Moody
has left Washington in connection with
politics, and the three members Of the cab
met in the city and able to attend the
meeting were Secretaries Hay, Wilson and
Hitchcock. They were not long with the
President. There was an exchange of po-
litical ideas and views and some depart
mental business of minor nature.
Secretary Hitchcock has presented to
President Roosevelt for signature an order
setting aside certain islands near the mouth
of the Mississippi river as reservations for
use of the government The order was
taken to prevent the slaughter of ducks on
these islands by pot-hunterS, and the reSer-
vatiOnS are to be turned over to the De-
partment of Agriculture as breeding
grounds for native birds. This will stop
the pot-hunting of ducks and give the De-
partment of Agriculture splendid breeding
grounds. The islands included in the reser-
walton are Breton. Old Harbor and an
other, and they will be known as the Breton
reservation. They are located on the Lou
isiana coast, in a nOrtherly direction from
the mouth of the Mississippi river. 1t Is
stated that pot-hunterS kill something like
100000 and 100000 ducks each year from
these Islands, and place them In cold stor-
age for general sale. This slaughter OF
ducks has greatly decreased the supply in
the gulf, and sportsmen have made fire.
quent complaints to the government
Aid for the Alaska Indians.
Lieut. G. T. Emmons, u. S. N. retired,
had another talk today with President
Roosevelt about the conditions of the
Alaskan natives during the winter season.
Lieut.. Emmons has spent much time among
the Alaska natives. and has studied them
and their needs fully. He has made some
recommendations, which have been turned
over to Assistant Secretary Oliver of the
War Department, for possible action.
Lieut.. EmmonS was not on a government
mission, it is understood. His recommended
tons involve the distribution of rations to
the Copper river and other Indians during
the winter from the army posts in Alaska.
This plan was followed last winter. Mr.
Oliver has not taken action on the recon-
mendations of Lieut. Emmons.
Corrupt Officials in Alaska.
William A. Day. assistant to the Attorney
General, had a conference with the Presi-
dent today about various United States
officials in Alaska charged with corrup-
ton and other offenses. Included In this
number are two United States judges. Mr..
Day has just returned from an extended
visit to Alaska as the special representa-
tive of President Roosevelt. He was Sc
lected for this work by Attorney General
Knox, upon the request of the President
Mr. Day has spent twelve weeks In Alaska.
talking with people of all classes, having
hearings and otherwise seeking to learn
the truth as to the charges. AT the same
time he has been investigating the con-
ditfOnS surrounding the administration OF
Justice in the territory, and his visit to
the President this morning was to make a
preliminary report. This will be followed
by extended report to the President
personally, and it will be used as basis
for whatever action the President may
take in the future. The history of fed
eral appointees in Alaska for many years
has been done of elimination and recrlm1-
nation, of charges and corruption Few
appofntees have been free from charges
and some have been convicted and de-
graded. The many large mining interests
In Alaska are such that the influences
surrounding every man who goes there In
federal capacity are anything else but
pleasant. The bride plays a strong part
in affairs, and the man who cannot be
bribed must sooner or later defend him
self against trumped-up charges OF various
kinds. Some who cannot be bribed with
cash outright become stockholders in min
ing companies and sooner or later must
pass in some form or other upon ques-
tions arising concerning these companies.
The President had heard much of the rot
tenness and unpleasant environments in
Alaska, and he wanted the truth before he
made further appointments. Mr.. Day was
sent to Alaska to learn the truth.
fOlr-yelr amendments
two of the federal judges in Alaska eX-
pired, and the question of giving them new
commissions came before the President. For
some time prior to this attacks and charges
against these two men-Judges Melville C.
Brown and James Wickersham-had drifted
into the Department Of Justice. The at
tacks and charges became frequent and Bit
ter, and the statements on both sides were
of such a nature that it was considered best
to make full investigation. This Is what
has been done.
Whatever action. If any, the President
may have determined upon is not known
but it is probable that he will have some
further conferences with Mr.. Day before
doing anything
Not That Kind of Flush.
"Of course, I'm not familiar with poker
and poker terms-everybody knows that
but L do know enough about them from
what players have told me to feel that my
views have been grossly misrepresented,"
said Representative Cooper, democrat Of
Texas, when he called at the White House
today to pay his respects and to ask about
some business in his district. Yesterday
1 spoke of the democratic chances in
November next as being pretty good-some-
thing like drawing a bob-tail flush, I be-
lieve put it. I was made to compare these
chances to a Straight flush My informa-
ton, gathered strictly from men who have
played the game, is that a bob-taiI flush is
not difficult to fill to- believe this is the
term, while a straight flush is something
rarely done. At any rate, there is a vast
difference In the two expressions, and de-
sire to stick to the bob-tair flush as repra-
senting democratic prospects at this time.
The party is in good fighting trim and will
give the republicans some campaigning they
will long remember before the balloting'
takes place next month"