The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1905-01-05
OUR. WASHINGTON
NEWS NOTES.
TIE FIRST OFFICIAL FIGURES IS
NOW GIVEN.
n. 0. MINT MAY RESUME.
director Eoberss of the Mint Bureau
Gives Some Encouragement. The
Philippine Tariff is to be Reduced.
According to Official Information.

erations at the New Orleans mint. IT
is my opinion that by March 1st suf-
iclent quantity Of uncurrent fraction
silver will have been collected to en-
able the department to issue the or
der, though it may be possible for it
to do SO by Feb. L.
This is the statement which was
made by Director Roberts of the mint
bureau.
Uncurrent silver as worn and
abraided dimes, quarters and halves
are termed by the department, is only
slowly accommodating, though great
quantity Ct it is expected to reach the
various subtreasrries after the holt
days. 1t will require large volume
OF this sort of material to start the
New Orleans mint and to keep it in
operation for several months, and the
department is unable to order the re-
sumption Of work until the necessary
quantity Of silver has been obtained.
There is little over nine million dol
lars Of fractional silver in the treas
airy, buS it is becoming more and more
evident that a commercial scarcity
Of this form of currency is one Of the
possibilities of the near future unless
the secretary of the treasury buys
bullion or coin up into subsidiary
pieces the silver dollars now in the
treasury. The situation has become
SO serious that material reduction
Of the force at the Philadel phia mint
will have to be made with the begin
uing Of the new year.
Conditions in Morocco apparently
have entered upon a critical stage,
according to cable advices received
at the state department from Hoffman
Phillip, the acting American consular
general at Tangier After reciting
the postponement Of the French mis-
sion, the recalling of the military
missions, the French consul and the
warning of all French subjects away
from Fee, Phillip added that the for
eign ministers, including himself, were
awaiting instructions. Mr.. Pierce, the
third assistant secretary of state,
promptly cabled Mr.. Phillip directing
him in the event that serious trouble
should appear imminent to advise
American citizens in Morocco TO come
in to Tangier.
Rear Admiral Walker, head Of the
Isthmian Canal Commission, has
come out squarely against the plan to
cut down the size of the Commission
and place Chief Engineer Wallace in
charge of the work His attitude
points to a sharp contest in congress
over the measure to reduce the COM
mission, which Chairman Hepburn Of
the House Committee on Interstate
and Foreign Commerce is backing.
Col. T. w. Symons Of the Erie Canal
Advisory Board declares the present
large Isthmian Canal Commission
cumbrous. He considers the demand
for a sea level canal sentimental and
thinks if high level canal were built
no serious demand for sea-level struc-
ture would ever arise.
Further correspondence regarding
government statistics of cotton have
been given ont for publication. Rep
resentative BuTleson, of Texas, ex-
tended his inquiries to the agricul
tural department and in letter rcceiv
ed by him from John Hyde, chief of
the bureau of statistics Of the depart
ment Of agriculture, figures are given
showing the slight percentage Of diff
ferences between the government esti-
mates and the actual commercial
crops. The ginners' reports of the
census bureau are referred to as of
the utmoss value and the continuance
Of their publication is regarded abso-
autely essential to an effectual cotton
system.
Secretary Taft, who is engrossed
just now with matters pertaining to
the Philippines, had conference with
tie president regarding questions re-
lating to the archipelago. The secre-
tary desires that the proposed reduc-
ton in the tariff on Philippine sugar
and tobacco should be provided for at
this session Of congress, and he is urg-
ing his views strongly with all mem
bers Of congress to whom he has an
opportunity to talk. lie hopes to OBJ
tain rate on sugar and tobacco I'M
ported from the Philippines of % per
cent Of the regular Dingley rate.
Members of the congressional COM
mittees which will formulate 18th
milan canal legislation have been con-
sidering the various questions relating
to the government Of the canal zone.
A bill for this purpose passed the