Omaha daily bee., 1905-10-28

officers named being of the corps Of en-
gineers. Colonel Black and Lieutenant
Brooke were in Panama at the time of the
transfer of the property from the French
company to the United States. Colonel Ed
wards is chief of the insular bureau,
through which the administrative affairs
of the canal have been transacted. w. w.
Michler, assistant private secretary to
Secretary Taft will accompany the party.
Secretary Taft at the earnest request Of
officials of Panama and the United States,
has timed his visit so as to be in Panama
November 8, the second anniversary of the
independence of the republic of Panama.
The republicans believe his presence on this
occasion will do much to strengthen the
relations between this government and the
isthmus republic. Secretary Taft will board
the United States cruiser Columbia at
Hampton Roads Saturday morning. The
Columbia has been prepared for the voyage
and will at once sail for Colon with the
Taft party. Mr.. Taft expects to remain
on the isthmus a week or ten days, and
will return to Washington by November is.
To Inspect Atlantic Defenses.
Members of the Taft Iortihcation board
who do not accompany the secretary of
war to Panama have arranged for a trip
of investigation TO include the entire Allan
tic coast from Narragansett in Rhode Is
land to Galveston Tex. These officers have
already made an investigation of the coast
from the Canadian boundary to Narragah-
sett, and the contemplated tour will AFFORD
them an opportunity to ascertain what is
necessary in the way Of additional fortifica-
tons for the remainder OF the Atlantic
coast, so that a complete report can be
made for the use of congress The officers
will travel mostly by rail, but will use
such vessels as are available along the
coast to take them from point to point
necessary for their investigation.
Estimate for Army Expenses.
Secretary Taft has transmitted to tn,
treasury department his estimates OF tn,
appropriations for the War department fo
1907. These aggregate slOi. sSS, 267.75 beinl
50, NJ. 922.52 less that the total appropria
/ lions made by congress for the use of tn,
/ War department for the current fiscal yea
ending June 80. 1905.
The amount estimated as necessary 70
the military establishment, which embrace
the cost OF maintenance Of the army and o
| the military academy at West Point is $40.
17o,us being $sss.7Si less than the appropria
ton the present year and S. 4s7 less thai
the estimates made a year ago.
Under the head OF public works, militar
and civil, which includes the construction
OF seacoast fortihcations, military posts
etc, and the improvement OF rivers an
harbors, OF various national parks through
out the country and OF certain public build
ings and grounds in and around Washing
| ton the estimates call for appropriation
amounting in the aggregate to S27.Ols,i29
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1907, a
compared with $sS,s92 545.25, which is IN
amount OF current appropriations 10
similar appropriations This is a reduction
OF SS.s75, 4lL27.
The estimates submitted for the civ
establishments which includes the pay o
the clerical force, rent OF buildings an
other running expenses OF the department
in Washington are tls7OO76 This Is an in
crease Of $3.50, the current appropriation
under this head aggregating Sl,s6s,T66.
The amounts estimated for miscellaneou
objects aggregate S5Ssl.s4S, a net decreas
Of ts.OS627 from the appropriations for tn
current fiscal year.
I Under this head Is included the estimat
for the National home for disabled volur
teer soldiers. which is submitted by IN
secretary OF war as required by law. Tn
War department, however, has no super
vision over the expenditure OF these fund