Evening star., 1904-04-27
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
May Be an Extra Session Of
Senate
TO SETTLE CRUM CASE
PRESIDENT BUSY SIGNING BILLS
PASSED BY CONGRESS.
Austrian Minister'S Protest Against
the Lodge Amendment to the
Deficiency Bill

A strong hint was conveyed at the White
House today that the President had con-
suited with republican senators during the
morning as to the advisability of calling
the Senate tn extra session If Congress
fails to confirm DR.. Crum as collector of
customs at Charleston prior to adjourn
ment. The President, it is stated, is sim
cere In his belief that the Senate ought to
act upon Crum's case before adjourning,
and he feels that the party will be accused
Of playing cheap politics should there be
q feint at confirming the nomination and
then allowing 1t to go over until the next
session.
Therefore the President is considering
what he ought to do under the oircum-
stances. and, in view Of the appearance that
Congress will adjourn and leave Crum as
high in the air as he has ever been before,
the President will talk over the matter
with other senators between now and to-
morrow and will reach a decision A num-
Der of republican senators agree with the
President, while others feel that Congress
ought not to be kept here for the settle
ne MT of one case. That adjournment would
be delayed and for some time, is certain. If
a serious attempt is made to bring about
confirmation, the democrats having de-
opportunity.
BUSY SlRI I11lS 0lllS.
The President has signed a number OF
bills today and Is attaching his signature
as fast as the various measures that have
gone through reach him from the respective
departments to which they have been re-
ferred. 1t has for many years been the
custom that every bill bearing upon matters
affecting the departments are referred to
the respective departments when there Is
time to give them consideration. The De-
partment of Justice also goes over all bills
to pronounce upon their legality. The de-
partmental examinations of the measures
greatly aids the President in determining
what his course to the bills will be. So far
this year the President has not vetoed any
measure of Importance, or any bill Of any
kind. for that matter. In one or two IN
stances where members of Congress confer
red with him as to measures that were
pending he announced that he would not
sign bill containing certain things.
Representative Dayton of West Virginia
of the naval affairs committee of the
House. after a call on the President today.
said that the naval appropriation bill would
be signed this afternoon. THE speech Of
Senator Hale day or two ago advocating
the construction of fewer battle ships, and
referring to them in an uncomplimentary
way" said Mr.. Dayton, did not represent
the views or the attitude of the admins
tration. What we want Is more ships, and
the best kind that can be built, including
many battleships.''
The President signed what is known as
the Chicago tunnel bill this morning, Rep
resentative Mann of Chicago being pres
ent. The pen with which the bill was
signed was given to Mr. Mann, who will
present it to the Chicago Historical So
ciety.
Semi-Arid Land Bill.
Senator Dietrich and Representative Kin
kaid of Nebraska conferred with the Presi-
dent about Mr.. Kinkaid's bill changing the
homestead laws applying to about 9,OOO.O00
acres of semi-arid lands in Nebraska. The
bill proposes to allow a grant of $40 acres
of land instead of 16O as now and the Pres
ident will sign the measure before Congress
adjourns.
The land Is located in western Nebraska,
and is unfit for agricultural purposes. 1t
is splendid for grazing. The objection to
it for grazing purposes heretofore has been
that homestead entries for 160 acres were
not desirable. By increasing the amount
that may be taken to $40 acres it is believed
that many people will settle upon the land
for ranch purposes. All the lands embraced
In the region that can be irrigated will be
withdrawn from homestead in such large
amounts and will be subject to the usual
laws governing public lands.
1t Is not known whether the President
will visit the Capitol to sign bills in the
closing hours of Congress. It is expected
that he will do SO If Congress works right
up to the moment for adjourning, and If
there are any bills requiring his signature.
The opinion Of senators at the White
House today was that the time for ad-
journment was more or less unsettled. al
though all Of them indulged in the hope
that it would be reached tomorrow. Much
depended on the seriousness Of the fight on
the Crum nomination. Senator Alger Of
Michigan said: II am in favor of remain
ing here. no matter how long it takes. until
Crum has been confirmed"
Negro Development Exposition.
The President received visit from the
officials of the Negro Development and Ex-
position Company of the United States, an
auxiliary of the jamestown exposition to be
held in 1907 The officers consisted of Giles
B. Jackson, president; w. ]. Johnson, vice
president, and John B. Jackson J. Anderson
Taylor and N. r. Goldesburg, directors They
were presented by Judson w. Lyons, reg
lister Of the treasury, and the object Of their
visit was to ask the President to aid them
tr every way possible in making creditable
exhibit at jamestown and in securing an
appropriation from Congress. They left with
the President a statement Of facts showing
the progress of the negro race since eman-
cipation. The statement shows that the race
has built 10 800 churches, with seating capa-
cities of 100000, and that this property is
valued at $4O,000OO0; that there are 1,6OO,-
600 negro children in common schools, and
40 900 in higher institutions, with 10000 ne
gro teachers; 25.OOO students of technical
professions and thousands pursuing other
courses. The colored people Of the country
own 137, 600 farms and homes valued at
$3.50, 100000 and personal property valued at
$170000,0O0. The race owns 100000 acres of
lands in the south alone and ia constantly
increasing its belongings. It owns school
property valued at more than $12,0OODOO
and has 12 negro colleges, 10 academies, go
high schools, law schools and 25 theologi-
cal seminaries. Ills illiteracy has been re-
duced over so per cent in 40 years.
The President said he would be glad to
give consideration to the paper submitted
to him and felt that he could take a deep
interest in the exposition work of the
negroes.
Ex-Gov. Crane Calls.
Ex-Governor Murray Crane of Massachu-
setts, one of the warmest personal friends
the President has. made a short visit to tho
White House. Mr.. Crane has been fre-
quently talked about for chairman Of ths
republican national committee. but thu
position was never offered him. and he gave
his friends to understand long ago that he
could not aocept II 1t should be offered him.
His business interests viii prevent HIS TAX.
ing an astfys part IN national poaataC1 q