Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-17
At THE WHITE HOUSE
President Favors Two New
Battle Ships.
ALASK A DELEGATE BILL
FAVORED BY THE SENATORS
WHO VISITED THE TERRITORY.
May Be Another Judge in South Caro-
lima and There Are Many
Candidates.
ALASKA DELEGATE BILL

Appointments to be made IN the near fu-
ture by President Roosevelt were under
consideration today by the cabinet. Men
rather than measures, as one member
phrased 1t, formed the principal subject or
discussion at the meeting. Such measures
as were considered are not in such shape AT
present as to warrant cabinet members
publicly to discuss them.
President Roosevelt today approved of
the measure passed by Congress making
an appropriation for clearing the Potomac
river of ice.
Favors Two Battle Ships.
Several members of the House who called
on thes President today talked with him
about the naval appropriation bill. They
wanted to ascertain his views. They quick
ly found that he believes there should be
provision for two battle ships, as provided
by the naval affairs committee. The Pres
ident Is of the opinion that the curtailment
of the plans for larger navy would De
step backward. If there must be a cutting
down of expenses there are other branches
of the government which could stand re-
duction as we'll as the navy. The Pres
ident's views met with the appreciation OF
most of those who discussed the question
with him.
Among the visitors who talked with the
President during the day were Speaker
Cannon, Senator Allison, Senator Beverage.
Representatives Tawney. Cromer. Wads-
worth, Bates, CuShman, Dovenner ana
Goldfogle. Some of them presented friends.
A South Carolina Judgeship.
The House has passed bill providing for
a new judicial district in South Carolina, and
the Senate committee on judiciary has IA
vorably reported the same bill. with some
amendments. If the bill passes the Senate
and is accepted in the House President
Roosevelt will have a judgeship appoint
ment. There is alreadysa lively fight for the
place. The logical candidate for the honor,
by reason of his legal attachments and po-
litical leadership, Is Capt. John c. Capers,
United States attorney of the present dis
trict in the state, but he Is a resident of
what will be the old district. and the Presi-
dent is inclined to make the appointment
from the new district. If he should con-
clude, though, that Mr.. Capers belongs suf-
fciently to all parts OF the state to identity
him with the new district, the latter may
get the place. The chances, however, are
understood. to be in favor of Ernest Coch-
ran of Anderson, s. c., assistant United
States attorney Of South Carolina. Cochran
is republican to whose appointment no
objection can be made by the democrats Of
the state. The President has said that II
he cannot find a suitable republican In the
district he will appoint a democrat who Is
satisfactory to the judiciary and bar of the
state. Several prominent democrats are In
the field In case the appointment should go
to man of their faith. B. A. Morgan,
prominent member of the legislature from
Greenville county, has been Endorsed by a
resolution Of the state Legislature, a most
unusual and complimentary method. Jo-
seph Mccullough of Greenville has impor-
tant backing from members of the bar and
judges of the state. Included In his back
ing is Circuit Judge Pritchard and District
Judge Brawley Both of them regard him
as about the best equipped man in the state
for the place. Cochran is a clean man and
a good lawyer, and the President appears
inclined to give him the place.
Mr.. Knox is Much Better.
Senator Knox called at the White House
just before noon today. The cabinet was
in session, and he did not remain. II for
got all about this being cabinet day." he
said.
And yet you were a member of the
cabinet for a number of years?"
Mr.. Knox pleaded guilty to losing track
of the days for a short time, at least.
This is the first day he has been outdoors
since his attack of grip. He is much i'm
proved.
Alaska Delegate Bill.
Senator Beveridge had nothing to say
about the object of his visit to the White
House. but 1t was presumed that he
wished to talk with the President about
the Alaska delegate bill now pending in
the Senate. A bill providing for the cleo
ton of delegate from Alaska to the
House of Representatives was passed by
the House last winter. The author Of the
measure was Representative Cushman of
Washington, and he has worked in sea-
son and out of season for the success of
the bill. At the last meeting of the Sen
ate committee on territories, of which
Senator Beveridge is chairman, a hear
ing was given on the Cushman bill, sew
eral representatives of the Alaskan peo-
pie who are now in Washington appear
ing in favor of the measure.
The committee is believed to be unani-
nous in the opinion that Alaska should
be allowed a delegate in Congress, and
among those who are especially favor
able to the plan are the four senators
who formed a subcommittee to visit the
territory in the summer of 1908. The only
question is to the form of the bill and
the method of electing the delegate.
Representative Cushman, who also call
ed at the White House this morning, pre-
sumably in regard to the delegate BILL is
willing to accept almost any reasonable
compromise from the Senate committee,
and there is a strong belief that some
kind of a delegate measure will be put
through the Senate between now and the
4th of March. The President strongly rec
ommends legislation of this kind in his
annual message to Congress.