The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-12-08
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
Favors PhiIlppines-One or the m
Especial Correspondence.)

practically free trade should be ac-
corded to the Philippines In their
dealing with this country. The
specific legislation which the
president is prepared to urge is that
the statutes be SO amended that after
April 8, 1909, when the treaty agree
ment with Spain will expire, all i'm
ports from the Philippines be admit
ted free, and that the extension OF
the coastwise laws to the Philippines,
which under existing law, will go in
until April 8, 1909. The leaders OF
both houses of congress have already
been consulted on this subject, and
they regard the enactment OF the
legislation advocated by the president
and Secretary Taft as entirely prob
able.
Expense Of Inauguration-To inau-
gurate Theodore Roosevelt president
of the United States last March cost
$145,4 5,491, a greater sum than was ev-
er spent for any previous Inaugural
ton. The details of this cost has
just been made public in a report by
General John M. Wilson, chairman OF
the inaugural committee. Notwith-
standing the large expense the com
mittee has turned over balance of
$4730 to the Auditorium association,
an organization formed to erect a
building in which to hold future in
augural balls. General Wilson strong
ly urges the erection OF such struc-
ture. II cost $17,999 TO decorate the
pension building for the inaugural
ball, which was the largest item of
expense. The committee raised
$150,221, more by $4,000 than by
any previous inaugural fund.
Menace American Shipping-Chair-
man Charles III. Grosvenor OF the
House committee on merchant marine
and fisheries believes Japan Is menac-
ing what American shipping there Is
upon the Pacific He was one Of the
Taft party the past summer and dur
ing his journeys says he saw evid-
ence OF a determination In the flowery
kingdom to control the carrying trade
on the greatest OF all the oceans. He
predicts that the Panama canal will
cost $4,000 900 but that no section
except the south will be materially
benefited, unless this country has
ships to bear American cargOes.
There can be no reasonable doubt"
said General Grosvenor, that follow
ing the close of the war there Is to
be an immense revival OF trade and
business OF all kinds in the Philippine
islands, and elsewhere in the Orient.
Manila is well situated to become the
great distributing point Of the com
merce of that section of the world.
Illiteracy Fisures-According to the
census bureau, about loo persons out
of 1000 i'm the United States. over 10
years old, are unable to write. or
the native population only 46 out of
every 1000. Of the foreign born whites
12S out of every 1000. and Of the
negroesa445 out of every 1000 are IL
literate. International comparison,
while indicating that In most Eu-
ropean countries, illiteracy is much
more prevalent than it is here, still
proves the United States far behind
Germany. Sweden, Norway, Denmark
and Switzerland. There is ground
for satisfaction in the statistical evid-
ence that illiteracy is steadily being
reduced In 1890 the number OF IL
literates per 1000 was 1873 for the
total population, 62 for the native
white population, 130 for the foreign
born white, and SOS for negroes, In
dians and Mongolians. The female
sex Is shown TO be more illiterate
than the male. the illiteracy for
females being l12 per 1000, and for
males l01. But the contrast is less
marked than it was in 1890, when the
illitera"y for the two sexes was l44
and l23. respectively. In the country
the illiteracy among children is 30
per 1000 in the city, using this term
to designate collectively cities of ov-
er 25.000 inhabitants, it is only 10 per
1000
Official Entertaining-ThC president
has already given out the official
program for entertaining for the win
ter. which differs but little from that
of the past four years. Following a
long established custom, the first inn
portant function will be a dinner TO
the members of the cabinet. which is
set for Dec. 2l After this date moth
ing is arranged for until the New
Years reception, which is far away
the most interesting and characterist.
ic entertainment of the year. On that
occasion the president and MIS-.
Roosevelt are reinforced by their en-
tire official family, and back of the
line" meaning the receiving line, in
the blue room, reserved for these as
sistants and the distinguished guests.
the spectacle is a brilliant one. for on
this occasion the women wear their
smartest gowns. and uniforms are de
rigeur for all those entitled TO them
sf,l.. - a. lf,Nl.