Casco Bay breeze., 1905-09-07
notes FROM WASHINGTON
Especial Correspondenca..

Forestry Exoeriments-The forestry
service has begun a series of expert
| ments TO determine the value of the
scrub pine for paper-making purposes.
1t Is hoped that this timber can he
utilized to relieve the demand for
| spruce. which Is very heavy. Tree
plantations made by railroads are
also being studied by the service. with
the view Of gathering such statistics
OF success or failure IS may aid IL
when called upon here after by rail-
roads to supply plans for other work
In forest extension. The plantations
OF the Boston & Maine and of the Nor
folk & Western railroads have first
been taken up.
Cabinet Chanses-The statement
that Secretary Metcalf. of the depart.
ment OF commerce. is about to resign
because OF reported difference be-
tween himself and the President on
the subject of Chinese immigration.
serves to draw attention to the spirit
OF unrest which has been reflected in
the cabinet changes Of Mr.. Rooseyelt's
administration. The members of his
Official family. whom he has carefully
retained or selected, have been two
secretaries Of state. Hay and Root;
two secretaries of war. Root an, Taft:
three secretaries of the navy, Moody,
Morton and Bonaparte; two attorneys
general, Knox and Moody; three post.
, masters-general. Payne. wynne and
Cor:elyou. and two secretaries of com.
merce. Cortelyou and Metcalf. II is
interesting to note. also, that the near
future cannot fail to record changes
In the Offices of secretary of the treas
ury. attorney-general and secretaries
OF the interior and agriculture.
Navy Department "Leaks"-For a
long time 1t has been a source of great
concern that European navies know
as much about American warships un-
der construction as we DO ourselves.
The attention of the navy department
has now been directed to the fact that
so-cailed confidential plans, which
have been guarded with utmost eau.
tion, are accessible practically to any
one who may choose TO consult them
at the returns Office in the interior
department. Under the law copies
OF all contracts, with full designs,
plans and specifications must be sent
to that branch of the government.
This is done in all cases. no matter
what the contract may call for, and
regardless Of the wishes or policy of
the naval administration. II is an old
law which requires this and no one
is able to understand why there
should be any such requirement un-
less IL is TO preserve in one place a
duplicate copy of all contracts. It
serves purpose to those who wish
to look at the contracts and examine
the plans and specifications which are
not accessible to them elsewhere and
applications for which would be
promptly and properly denied. This
Is the case with the warships, and
especially with the submarines. The
contracts for the latter vessels are
made with the stipulation that the
specifications and designs will not at
any time become public property, and
that they will be held in the s;rictest
confidence by the navy department.
With all the machinery for keeping
warship designs away from the public
IL seems ridiculous that there should
be a depository where they are acceg-
sible TO all who may take the trouble
to go after them. II is possible that
this inconsistency will be corrected,
Sd far as confidential information is
concerned. by legislation as soon as
Congress meets.
Court Martial orsered-Secretary
Bonaparte, in his action upon the find.
ings of the court of inquiry in the
case Of the Bennington explosion, Sc
verely arraigns some officers of the
vessel for failure TO look after the
safety valves; orders Commander Luz
c!en Young before a court martial TO
clear himself of the charge of neg
lect OF official duty" directs the court
martial of Ensign Wade on the charge
of neglect of duty and disapproyes
the court of inquirys finding that the
Bennington was 'in an excellent state
of discipline and in good and efficient
condition" He adds: THE proof
tends strongly to show that the enlist
ed force of tie engineering division
hsd been permitted TO fall into habits
OF laxity and inattention to duty" Of
fccrs discussing this matter privately
disspprove of the action OF the secre-
tary on the ground that there was
HOtHlHS HI Nne eNltenCe before the
court of inquiry 10 show that the COM
nanding officer was blamed for the
dcplorable accident. II the command.
Ing officer of a slip Is to be tried for
tie acts OF subordlnates and held ac-
countable for mishaps occurring when
he Is not aboard, a new precedent.
naval officers say. will be established
'or the American navy. Secretary
3onaparte disapproves OF that portion
of the finding of tie court OF inquiry
stating that the ship was In an excel
lent state OF discipline on the day Of
the accident and in good and efficient
condition with the exception of the
boilers. He holds that IL there had
been an excellent state OF discipline
the commanding officer would have
seen to- II that hIs subordinates wero
doing their duty. and that II they had