The San Francisco call., 1904-02-16

welfare OF the country requires the
inauguration Of such definite scheme
% Of n.N-l} construction extending over
"a term Of years as viii provide the
country with a homogeneous fleet Of
war vessels OF all needed classes and
OF 1he most modern approved type;
the possession of a powerful fleet
would De guarantee Of peace. The
navy OF the United States at the pres
ent time. The resolutions declare, is
composed OF so many and sUch vary
Ing types Of vessels as seriously TO mar
lis effectiveness and confine the YES
Sels OF greater speed. coal endurance
and other features Of effectiveness
L. the sphere Of action of those Of in
lerlOr description. The California
delegation In Congress is urged indi-
Nldually and collectively TO do what it
can 10 have the National Legislature
take such action as VIII remedy these
conditions and provide a scheme Of
progressive naval development along
definite lines in the immediate future.
NEW MANEUVER CAMP.
AdJutant General Drain Of the
Washington National Guard. who was
introduced by retiring Secretary Root
10 the incoming Secretary Taft as the
best adjutant general OF the National
Guard. has been here some time look
ing after the interests of Washington
sololery and largely as a champion Of
"a site On American Lake, near Puget
sound. as the rendezvous and maneu-
yer camp for the West. This site has
the unqualified support and indorse-
lneut Of General Funston. who was
delegated by the department to in
spect IT, That IL is not likely TO be
chosen however. is made TO appear in
the fact thar General Drain has ad-
dressed has cloquence and energy TO
having the whole matter Indefinitely
postponed The argument he has
been met with in urging the selection
of the Puget Sound site is that il is
TOO remote and 10 carry the National
Guard Of oregon and California 10
Washington would be expensive with
regard 10 both time and money out Of
all proportion TO the reverse Of the
ropOsitiOn-that of carrying the
guard OF the Northwest 10 California.
The reason is that the number Of
Euardsmen in washington. Idaho and
Montana are comparatively few.
In behalf Of the Washington site
General Drain urges that in the event
OF war In the Orient the troops would
take ship al Puget Sound. he believes
just why he so believes he does not
make clear-and that the possession
of "a camp ground there would be just
the thing. Ia the meantime il would
be good practice for such an embark
alton 10 carry the troops there 10
maneuYer every year. If the selection
OF a permanent camp is not made now
General Drain believes Congress and
the War Department may be brought
To this view at some later day. To
The average layman this would appear
10 be simply handing the case over 10
California and If contention among
the advocates in that State does not
% keep The matter in the air choice viii
pEobably be made there
The proposed appropriation Of so
large a sum as $250,OO0 10 the work
of investigating the boil weevil, so de-
srructiVe TO the cotton crop, has
drawn a letter from CALIFORNIA; State
Horticultural Commissioner, EllwOOd
Cooper. addressed TO Senator Bard. in
which he suggests that the proper line
OF inquiry in this regard is TO attempt
10 discover the natural enemy Of the
pest Senator Bard has submitted the
suggestion 10 Secretary Of Agriculture
wilson
In accordance with the request
made by Senator Foster upon the
sc3te Department and upon the Sec
Tetary Of the Department Of Com
merce and Labor the former has no
rifed the Senator that he has suggest
ed Joint conference between the
Canadian fishing interests and the
fishing interests Of the Pacific North
west 10 be held on Puget Sound early
in March. The object is 10 arrive, if
possible. at a decision which viii per-
INK DL ALLE EHLa aDA4clllAlFLlL OL JOINT llElA
naLcheries on the Frazer River in or
der 10 increase and perDetuate the
fishing industry Of Puget Sound.
SEATTLE HAS COMPLAINT.
The Merchants Association Of Seat
tie has sent resolutions 10 the Wash
ingtOn delegation in Congress with a
cali for aid from the California dele
cation asking for the repeal Of the act
of Congress approved April 29-''tO
Facilitate nT0Cl1Te emf ETHfiC-
tics of trade between the United
States and its nOn-cOnuguOus terri
1Ory." Exporters, say the resolutions,
have been and are row required un-
der the Treasury Department regula-
Ions prescribed 70 ME manifest with
the customs authorities showing in de-
tail the quantity and value OF each
item OF domestic merchandise in every
shipment. These requirements, they
say. are the source OF constant annoy
snce and expense 10 mercantile inter
csts engaged in export trade 10 the
Philippines and Hawaii 10 an extent
our OF ali proportion TO the value Of
the Information obtained. The ef-
forts Of the delegation are asked to be
addressed to the repeal of the law
While the House Of Representatives
was yesterday wrestling with the item
in the appropriation bill for a loan Of
f4.50O.O0o 10 the ST. Louis Exposition
the Senate was debating the proposed
AUTHORIZATION LDL EDEllallu Lewis ana
Clark Exposition In the latter case
Senator Perkins occupied the chair
The discussion in both cases being in
committee Of the whole. When, after
much amending Of the bill and a ma
terial reduction Of the appropriation
as ar first proposed, the Senate came
to a vote, Senator Perkins manifested
his interest in behalf Of the Portland
Exposition by declaring the bill passed
when he had heard the ayes.
WILL FIGHT WAGON ROAD.
General r. 7. Ballaine, formerly ad-
5Utant general Of the State of Wash
ington. is ia the city prepared to oppose
certain features Of Senator Nelson's
BIN making an appropriation Of $250,000
for the construction Of a wagon road
from Valdez 10 Eagle City. Alaska.
General Ballaine believes this money.
II appropriated. should be placed in the
GRAPE-NITTS