The Grit-advocate., 1904-01-01

So many. perpiexing and important
have become the cases arising IN the
State Department involving the deter
mination of citizenship. that Assistant
Solicitor Frederick Van Dine has com
piled in 40O-page volume all the de-
cisions of state and national courts and
of the department itself bearing on the
matter. The volume is to be placed in
the hands of United States consuls, i'm
migration inspectors and other United
States officials who are called upon to
pass upon questions Of citizenship. The
publication of the work is deemed es-
sential because OF the fact that this sub
ject has increased in importance In the
United States with the development OF
the nation as a world power. The great
extension of commerce which has
marked the past decade and the recent
additions to our territory have made
inevitable broader compact with the
nations of the world and have compli-
Gated the relations with the govern
ments and citizens OF other countries.
In both houses OF Congress there
seems to be a strong sentiment in IA
vor of continuing the enlargement or
the navy. The President spoke Of such
enlargement, in his message. as one OF
the genuine needs" and advised that
no parsimOnious treatment should be
given this subject. There Is little
doubt that a conflict of no mean d.
mensiops will arise between the sup
pOrters of navy appropriations and
those who clamOr for the river and
harbor bill. The percentage OF increase
OF appropriations has been less for
rivers and harbors than that for any
appropriation except the Indians. The
low state of the treasury makes It nee
eSsary to decide on some form OF econ
omy, thus decreasing the chances for
the river and harbor bill. The repre-
sentatives from the interior states de-
clare that quite enough has been ex-
pended on the navy of late and that the
need OF improving rivers and harbors
should outweigh the ambitious exten-
sions Of the navy.
To some of the senators who have
particularly interested themselves in
the pending Wood nomination with an
eye especially to the protection or
some of the veteran army officers, the
President has expressed himself very
plainly to the effect that these OFF,
GERS have nothing to fear in the i'm
mediate future. AS it was pointed out
to him that there was considerable
apprehension among the friends Of
these army officers lest upon the re
tirement of General Chaffee with the
rank of lieutenant general, the Presi-
dent might appoint Maj. Gen. Leonard
Wood to be lieutenant general, involv-
ing the jumping OF a number of dis
tinguished officers who never would
have chance to attain the highest
rank by reason OF General Woods in
cumbency in the place for fifteen
years, the President has explicitly de-
clared that he has no such intention.
incidentally that involved an under
taking on his part to promote some of
these general officers referred to after
General Chaffee's retirement. But he
did not state that when he made such
promotions as he saw fit he would not
close the list by appointing Gen. Leon
ard Wood to be lieutenant general
The understanding thus reached with
the committee is expected to have an
important influence upon the action
that will be had upon the Wood nopj-
nation.