The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-05-31
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspoudence.1

somebody while waiting for an audi.
ence with the secretary ut the war de.
partment recently, and the man to
whom it was made fell to discussing
the causes Of Taft's particular promi.
nence at this time. He recognized that
the president had left nearly all impor-
tant matters in his charge and that he
was not only secretary of war, but
practically secretary of state, and was
at this particular time managing the
preliminaries for the construction of
the isthmian canal.
Secretary Taft certainly has a very
effective method Of disposing Of bust
ness, and he also has made a great hit
with the newspaper men because he
talks very frankly with them. and none
Of them goes to him seeking informa-
ton on questions that have been agitat-
ing the public without getting a straight
story Of what has been done.
Retired List Top Heavy.
Through recent legislation and rapid
/ HAOAAOAAOA SAHS NtlACO lac Va OOtu UIIuy
and navy has become top heavy.
There are now 3 lieutenant generals,
20 major generals and $50 brigadier
generals on the retired list Of the army.
In the navy Of the three highest
grades there are 1913 rear admirals, Is
commodores and 81 captains. The act
Of congress two years ago raised many
men OF the retired list one rank IL they
had seen service in the civil war and
had not been advanced q grade on re-
tirement. This swelled the list Of brig
adler generals a great deal, but $50
brigadier generals on the retired list is
entirely out Of proportion to the size Of
the army either now or what it has
been during the past forty years, since
the close of the civil war.
Probably fifty Of these men saw dis
tinguished service during the civil war,
and others acquitted themselves equal
ly we'll during the Spanish war and
earned promotion. OF course q great
many men We're made brigadier gem
erals and retired in order to get rid Of
them.
usucullucO SOutnern FLAGS.
The return of the southern flags. dis
cussion of which aroused a flame Of
wrath over the north eighteen years
ago, has been practically completed
without arousing a ripple of protest.
Every flag taken from Confederate
troops which it is possible to return
has been sent back. There are still Il
| v,,1,,1np 10 Hor y x,,0>;ol, oor,ok 10 ll~o
tilted. and General Ainsworth, the mil
itary secretary, Is In a quandary. It
has not been decided whether they
should be retained In the war depart
ment or placed in some depository of
Confederate relics.
Supreme Court Printing.
The supreme court does not facilitate
the work Of the press in it's internal ar
rangements. Note taking is not allow.
ed in the court except by the repre-.
sentatives Of the press associations.
Even their facilities are poor. The JUS.
tice who delivers an opinion reads ii
from n proof, which Is usually the only
M in existence. This, often with mum
berless emendations, Is sent to the
| ~ AAAlNl 10 SoOu uo IL nuS Dccu IVlu-
not the public printer. but the propri,
etor Of n small private establishment
which has always done the business of
the court. Secrecy is In the highest de-
gree essential, and the court doubtless
feels that it al control the employees
Of a private concern much better than
1t could those Of the national estab-
| 1ich,,npt vyhn c1,n,1l1 <hox- rok }nko ~
trouble on this account, might have to
90 to see their senators to save them
selves from dismissal. The great court
wants Il better control ovcr things than
that, and so 1t has its own printer.
New Attorney General of Porto Rico
Frank Feuillc. who has been up
pointed attorney general of Porto Rice
in place Of Mr.. Stewart, resigned, is
from Texas and has been in Porto Rice
ever since the American occupation
At one time he was assistant attorney
general there. He speaks Spanish flu
emily and has a wide knowledge OF
Spanish law.
Mr.. Feuille was recommended by
Governor Winthrop and the entire eX
ecutive council.
CHIEF Wilkes Trip.
John l.. Wilkic. chief of the sccre'
service. has started on Il three months
trip to Hawaii and the Philippines
He goes abroad to preach the goSpe
Of good money rs regards the coin o.
the realm in the dependencies or Cncl'
Sam and to Impress upon the people
of those lands the futility Of trying Il
compete with the government i'll tn
production Of gvccnbacks and coin.
Chief Wilkes first stop will be l.
olulu. where he will establish an agen
cy of his division. Tho authority o
the secret service division of the treas
ury department does not extend to tn
Philippines, and consequently Chief
Wilkie will not establish one OF hi
men in Manila. but he will organize
secret service for the island govern
ment and get it started on the RICH