The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-01-19

army posts ana there could he no grave
objection to il. senator Proctor in-
tends to lay the bill before the commit
tee at its next meeting and an effort
will be made to secure a favorable re-
port.
Postmaster General Wynne has iesued
an order transferring the entire corps Of
postoffice inspectors from the jurlsdic-
ton of the fourth assistant postmaster
general and placing them Immediately
under the postmaster general The act.
ion Is taken on the ground of subscribing
the best interests of the government,
and also 10 based on the fact that the in
spectors of the other executive depart
ments OF the government are directly
under the head of the department.
The funds available under the current
appropriation for the estimate of rural
free delivery postal service has been ex-
hausted and the Postoffice Department
expects to discontinue early the estab
lishment of new routes during the re.
mainder of the present fiscal year, unless
an emergency appropriation that has
been asked for is provided in Congress
Senator Fairbanks and Secretary Hay
had long conference the 18th inst. con
corning Canadian reciprocity and other
subjects which were to have come be-
fore the joint high commission. After
the conference, Senator Fairbanks made
the following statement: THE subject
of re isembing the joint high commits
sion will be considered after the proro-
CATION of the Canadian parliament The
matter will rest in allegiance until then .
Senator Hale has been largely identi-
fled with Statehood proceedings in the
Senate and is believer in the two-state
bill, so called. This is because the four
south west territories are sparsely popu-
lated, comparatively, ana will be 80 for
many years On the other hand, Sena
tor Hale thinks two splendid States
could be created out of the domain and
thus the statehood question would be
settled for long time in this country
The adoption of the two-statehood bill
would put into States All the remaining
territory on the mainland, but now com
prised in States, except Alaska.
Senator Frye and Senator Fairbanks
are social rivals here this winter As
Mr.. Frye has virtually been the vice
president ever since the assassination
of President Mckinley, he has received
all the social and other attentions that
usually fall to vice president That
is also true this winter, but Senator
Fairbanks also shares many of the same
honors, because he ia the prospective
vice president.
The Senate, on Friday, passed the
legislative, executive and judicial appro-
priation bill and also a number of pri.
vate pension bills. The question of
granting pensions for service in the In
dian police and of allowing gratuities
for injuries received by workmen while
in the employ of the government were
debated at length.
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Joseph l. Bristow has resigned, to take
feet Jan goth Late Friday afternoon
President Roosevelt issued an order that
Mr. Bristow should be appointed a spec
ial commissioner 10 visit the ports on
he Atlantic coast of the United States,
he Pacific coast and the Isthmus of
Panama, for the purpose of examining
into trade conditions with view of ia
cilitating the transportation trace across
the isthmus via the Panama railroad.
There is no doubt about the four
Maine members of the House standing
with the Speaker in his effort to staye
of tariff revision. The present tariff Is
very satisfactory to Maine In fact, one
could not be made that would better
fit the entire State. While, under a
modification of schedules, the State
might not suffer severely, it could be 10
better off than at present, which is the
reason why no one of the Maine delega-
ton wants the tariff disturbed in the
slightest degree If revision comes the
delegation will simply take it's stand to
protect the interests of the State in
every possible way.
Mr. Frye was cordially welcomed
back TO the senate the other day, after
his brief spell of illness He di not at
| tempt To preside the first day of his re-
turn, but introduced couple of bills.
Although we'll advanced in years. Mr..
Frye does not show it in outward ap
pearances.
James j. Hill, president Of the Great
Northern Railroad who has declared
that the creation of a tribunal to fix
rates, in case of dispute, would amount
to confscaton, and Secretary Morton.
the father of the plan for railroad
court, which is being urged by the Pres
ident, took luncheon at the White House
Saturday, and discussed railroad legisla-
ton with Mr. Roosevelt for two hours
Mr. Hill agrees with the President and
Mr.. Morton as to the necessity for a law
to prohibit rebates, and told them il
could not be passed too soon to please
the railroad interests
Mr.. Takahira, the japanese minister,
had long talk with Mr.. Looms. the
acting secretary of state saturday about
Chinese neutrality and Russias circular
note to the powers on the subject. II
can be stated that the attitude of Japan
regarding China's neutrality remains I'M
changed The japanese government
was quick to respond to sec Hays note
to the powers urging the respecting Of
the neutrality aud administrative en-
tiety' of China and it is believed that
Japan will be greatly opposed To the sus
pension of the agreement OF the bellig-
erents TO limit the zone of operations in
the fort to adhere to Sec Hays re-
quest In the event, however that Rus
STA determines to withdraw her adher-
ence 10 this principle, ii will be neees
sary for Japan AS the other belligerent
to follow suit and she will probably do il
quickly if Russia reaches this decision
There is already an abundance of evi-
dence in diplomatic circles that the
powers proposed 10 urge upon Russia in
formally possibly, but not less strongly,
the universal menace that will be con-
sttuted by the upheaval in China that
will certainly follow violation of her
neutrality by either Of the belligerents.
President Roosevelt, in brief mess