Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-21
At THE White HOUSE
Not Worried Over Senator
Culberson's Surprise.
THE CABINET MEETING
WAS OCCUPIED BY OTHER MAT
TIERS TODAY.
Speaker Cannon Brings Good Reports
From His Campaign in West Vir-
ginia and the West.

'If that is the largest projectile they have
to fire at us it will not be necessary to in
crease the thickness of our armor,'' said
cabinet officer at the conclusion of the
cabinet meeting today when he was asked
if there would be anything to say by the
administration in reply to the surprise
sprung on the republicans by Senator Gull
berson of Texas, in his speech in New York
last night. .'Why, there is nothing new in
all that" he said.
The cabinet meeting was so short that
there was little time to discuss the Cuiber-
son bomb SHE'LL" and little inclination to
do so. Nobody seemed to think the shell
political and executive. occupied the hour
that the abinet was in session. Seven of
the nine cabinet officers were present, the
absentees being Secretaries Shaw and Will
son. who have been on the stump for prac
tically two months, and who will continue
to the end.
Postmaster General Wynne said there was
no truth in the story of an investigation to
be made of the New York post office. 81
think I would know something about it,"
said Mr.. Wynne. The four-year term of
Postmaster Van Colt will expire early in
January of next year, and he will probably
not be reappointed. A the time of the
post office investiga tons the business of the
New York office was looked into. but Moth
ing was found to indicate that the conduct
of the office needed a more thorough inves-
tfgatiOn.
Cannon Optimistic and Breezy.
Speaker Cannon. carrying with him OPP
timisrn and breezness galore and the aro-
ma of mighty good cigar, bounced in the
front door of the White House today with
elastic tread and smiling face He broke
right into the Presidents room as the
President and cabinet were preparing to sit
down in the cabinet meeting.
"Hello There he is What a pleasure. +"
and similar expressions greeted the veteran
lllinolsan, fresh from his campaign in
West Virginia and the west
The Speaker briefly told everybody pres
ent that the thing was dead easy so far
as the republicans were concerned, and that
lit was shame to take the money" Then
he started out and encountered his news
paper friends.
"Oh, I've had a half dozen of the boys
with me on my trip he said, land they
have kept the papers full of what 1 have
been doing and saying. So there is nothing
new to tell YOU
But" persisted one of the crew. tell us
something about Illinois. Garter Harrison.
you know, says the state is doubtful and
that the democrats stand a chance to carry
well, Carter is a powerful knowing
man., was the humorous response, but
somehow | guess we will just struggle
through with enough to elect our ticket"
LAS to West Virginia, now?'
That state is republican by a big ma
jority."
by how big a majority?''
"Oh, / never give majorities.''
But we want to know, as several of us
have a bet on West Virginia.
What is the bet?'
1t was explained that A had bet that
West Virginia's republican majority would
not be as much as 10, 900.
We'll, is a d-n fool and he had bet
ter hedge at once was the brief rejoinder.
Enlargement Of New York's Canal.
Col Thomas w. Symons. former superin-
tendent of public buildings and grounds,
made a call at the White House today
Col Symons, by permission of Congress and
the Secretary of War, became member Of
the commission in New York that Is to
widen and improve the canal between Lake
Erie and the Hudson.
In a short time" said Col. Symons
speaking of the work of the commission,
contracts will be awarded for work on the
canal, involving the expenditure of some
thing like $4,000, 900 or 100000. The plans
and specifications are being prepared now,
in fact they Should have been completed be-
fore now, and, so far as 1 know, may have
been completed. At any rate advertise
rents will be placed in newspapers of the
country calling for bids. The intention of
the commission is to have something like
81 100000 in work done in eight or nine
places, this being test work to a large de-
gree. The estimate made as to the total
cost of the work was $101 5000 and this
amount voted by the people of New
York. The object in letting number of
contracts at this time is to ascertain
whether the bids will come within the esti-
mates already prepared, SO we will know
whether our estimates have been correct
and whittier we go ahead with the work
on the canal, satisfied that it can be COM
pleted within the amount allotted"
Col Symons thought that the contra tors
for the work would be able to commence
excavations next spring, as they would
have the winte-- in which to prepare for
this