Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-03
SECRETARY TAFT BACK
RECoRD-BREAKING TRIP FROM
YOKOHAMA.
Was Anxious to Arrive in Time for To-
days Meeting Of the Presi-
dents Cabinet.

After an absence of more than three
months Secretary Taft returned to Wash
ington at 1927 o'clock yesterday afternoon,
establishing record from Yokohama to
washington by making the trip in fourteen
days, and arriving two days ahead of
schedule time
Ihe trip from San Francisco was made
over the southern Pacific. the, Union Pa
cine, the Chicago and Northwestern and
the Baltimore and Ohio railroads,
when Secretary Taft reached San Fran
cisco 1t was his desire to be here In time
to attend the first Cabinet meeting, which
was held at the White House today. Under
ordinary circumstances he could not have
been in Washington for that meeting. and
s sags, arrangements were made by the
rallIoad passenger services to land the
party In Washington yesterday From
Chlcago to Washington over the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad the Secretary's speciaI
t tpns veg OF the private car Colonial and
three other cars, and broke all records rum
ming TO Washington. The fastest average
scheduled run from Chicago to Washing
Ton Is tWenty-three hours. The distance is
ISS miles. The actual running time of Sec
rotary Taft's train was eighteen hours and
eighteen minutes, or a little less than a.
minute and half a mile for every mile of
the journey.
Breaking UP of the Party.
or the original members of the congress
sfonal party only one, Senator Foster of
Louisiana, returned to Washington with
the Secretary. The other members went
home by different routes or stopped on the
way across the continent, and only Colonel
Edwards. Private Secretary Carpenter and
several members of his immedtate Marty ar
rived with him. At the station. to meet
Secretary Taft, were General Oliver as
sislant secretary of war; General Bates,
the acting chief of staff; Chief Clerk SEQ
field of the War Department; Mr. Cromwell
of New York, the chief fiscal agent of the
isthmian canal commission, and other off,
Gals
Secretary Taft appeared to be hearty and
vigorous and cordially greeted those who
met him. He made a quick trip to his
nome, and then proceeded to the War De-
partment There he expressed qualification
that the long journey was over and that 1t
had been accomplished without mishap to
any of the party.
In discussing briefly his trip the Secretary
said that the natives of the Philippines
nave reached the point where they can par
tlc1pate in legislation with profit to them
selves, and that it will be a good education
for them. There are, he added a sufficient
number well qualified to compose one
branch of the legislative body
Consuls Poorly Paid.
Speaking of the consular service in China
he said he had made no statement since
reaching this country which he meant to
be construed reflection upon the per-
sonnet of the consular service, and declared
that If any such impression had been Gre
ated he desired that 1t be corrected The
United States consuls, he explained, are
poorly paid, inadequately equipped with
clerical help and occupy buildings not in
keeping with the dignity of the country
they represent. One European country, he
stated, had ten times as many men In its
consular service in Shanghai as the Ameri-
cans. 1t is wonder, he added, that this
country Is able to secure such able and
capable men as it has in the consular sery-
ice in the Orient-men who are working
hard and Observation-Disclosures they are
paid such low salaries. He also pointed out
that ambassador receives but s175OO,
where it costs him $50, 600 to live. Mr. Taft
said provision should be made for better
pay of officers in the consular service. The
Secretary will treat Of his trip to the Phil
ippines in his annual report
Secretary Taft dined with President and
Mrs. Roosevelt at the White House last
night. The Secretary spent the evening
there and detailed to the President the re-
suits Of the congressional party's tour Of
the Philippines and the orient.
Secretary Root also dined at the White
House last night, as did also several other
friends, including Commissioner of Corpo-
rations Garfield.