The Laclede blade. (Laclede, Mo.) 1890-1945, 1905-06-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Our Regular Correspondent Writes From the
National Capitol.

:anese plenipotentiaries and if, as the
president confidently believes they
will, they negotiate convention pro-
viding for lasting peace in the far
east it will be known as the treaty Of
Washington, taking its place in history
with those important international
conventions known as the ''treaty of
.Ghent," the "treaty of Berlin" the
the "treaty of Paris" and many others.
The selection of Washington as the
meeting place of the commissioners of
the belligerents was the natural out
come of the differences which had
developed between the two nations.
Japan steadfastly declined to send
representatives to any meeting place
in Europe, other than London, fear
ing that they would be more or less
influenced by the hostile sentiment
with which they would be surrounded
in Paris, Geneva and perhaps even
at the Hague. Russia was, on the
other hand, entirely opposed to
meeting in Asia and the United
States seemed the natural ground of
compromise, being too more nearly
half way between the two nations
than any other country suggested.
President Roosevelt, although he had
personally favored the Hague, was
not loath to have the conference held
here for it must emhasize the diplo-
matte importance of the capitol of
"the new world"
1t is authoritatively stated that ifI
the climate in Washington proves too
warm for the comfort of the plenipo-
tentaries every facility will be afforded
them to meet elsewhere for a time.
That is, they may meet and organize
in Washington, then adjourn to some
northern summer resort and return
to the national capitol for their clos
ing sessions. If the commissioners
determine to adjourn to some northern
point the president will place at their
disposal two small naval vessals, pre-
sumably the sylph or the Dolphin.
He will himself return from Oyster
Bay to welcome them to America
but expects to remain but a short
time, after which he will again retire
to his summer home.
With the question of place of
meeting disposed Of, the president and
the diplomatic representatives of the
belligerents have now turned their
attention to the question of the date
for convening the conference and an
announcement on this subject may
be looked for daily. 1t is recalled
that when commissioners from the
United States and Spain met In Paris
it required from October l to Decem-
ber 10 to complete their work, although
the problems which confronted them
were simple by those which will con-
front the Russian and japanese dip
lomats.
The president hasi taken a.sstep
which does not meet with the entire
approval of some members of the
cabinet but which is likely to be COM
mended by the public at large. He
has created committee, consisting of
his most trusted friends in the gov
ernment service and placed Charles
81. Keep, assistant secretary of the
treasury, at its head. To this COM
mittee he has confded the duty of
making a thorough investigation of
the business methods of every execu-
tive department in Washington with b
two purposes in view, first, to sscer- o
tain il lax methods of handling finan. v
ces exist and if 90 to make recommen- b
dations for their remedy, second, to v
discover. if possible, what if any "a
methods can be adopted to contribute u
20 economical administration. Such s.
overhsuling of their affairs is not a
generally welcomed by the heads of e