The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1905-11-24
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
Especial Correspondence

hnal Instructions before returning Ia
ST. Petersburg. holds there is no dan
ger of injury To Americans or Amer
lean interests in St Petersburg at
the present moment. Some time ago.
when the situation at the Russian
capital seemed critical, the navy de
nartmcnt contemplated dispatching
the cruiser Minneapolis 10 Cronstadt
10 be within reach of the American
embassy in case OF need IL was seen,
however. that there might he difficulty
in getting permission To pass the Rus.
sian fortifications, and rs the crisis
appeared 10 disappear. the orders
were never issued. and the Minneap-
oils is now on her way from Lisbon
TO Cherbourg.
Presidents lenieney-A few weeks
ago Walker Eldridge, chauffeur for
the bureau of standards. was dismiss.
ed from the government service for
misconduct. which consisted of driy.
ing his automobile in such manner
rs TO interfere with the passage along
the highway ot the presidents car.
riaee. by direction of the president
Eldridge will be reinstated i'm his old
position nj the end OF two months
from the date of his dismissal. The
exercise of leniCncy by the president
was due TO Eldridge's excellent re-.
cord in the Philippines, TO the fact
that his father was veteran of the
ni iNs1 md 70 hA a IA f,nl fn
that his wife is an invalid. In direct.
ing the young mans reinstatement
the president made it clear that i'm
his opinion the cause of his dismissal
was sufficient.
Room for mprovement-The criti
ciSm of former Engineer Wallace of
the lsthman canal. that he was handi-
capped 10y official red tape. which pre-.
vented the speedy delivery of supplies.
has caused considerable discussion in
the executive department, where the
work is now being looked into by the
Keep commission Wherever the
government is handicapped by useless
and ancient customs we shall modern
ize ii by better business methods"
said Chairman Keep the other day.
I'VE do not find as much duplication
of work as we do a multiplication of
work II is impossible to operate the
business Of the government after the
fashion of private corporations. but
there is room for better methods in
many cases and the effort VIII be
made to bring this about"
A Busy Secretary-Ethan Allen
Hitchcock, secretary of the interior,
is a direct descendant of stout old
Ethan Allen and possesses many of
that horo's characteristics. He is said
to be the humblest member OF the
cabinet. and may we'll be SO, consider
ing his activity in hunting out land
frauds, causing miles on miles of bar
bed wire fence TO be cut, despite the
protest of cattle men. investigating
Indian scandals, and at the same time
giving personal attention to the vast
irrigation projects which the govern
ment has undertaken Secretary
Hitchcock was a member OF the Nc
Kinley cabinet, and still remains at
the head of the interior department.
Notwithstanding frequent reports that
he was about to tender his resigna-
ton. The reports have, of course.
originated with his enemies. He is
not likely to resign-he is too busy.
DENLY Optimistic-"The Chinese
boycott on American goods certainly
cannot be carried TO the extreme OF
seriously affecting our commerce in
the orient" recently declared Charles
Denby, the new chief clerk OF the
state department who has just com
pleted a 20-years' official residence In
China and who has arrived in Wash
ngton to assume his new Office
when | left Pekin there was no ap
parent dissatisfaction over the ex-
cusion law, and there was no talk
If boycott" he said. Mr.. DENLY said
he could not believe the Chinese gov.
,srnment or any Of the progressive in.
.erests Of that country would encour.
age such a movement. AT the time
[ left Pekin." he continued, mo nation
)f the world stood higher in China
among government and people than
the United States Even then China
was looking to President Roosevelt to
bring an end to the war that was be
ing conducted over its head, and per
sonal adyices | have received recent
ly from there indicate great rejoicing
among the Chinese over the results
Of the presidents successful inter
vention for peace"
A New Pension Development.-Pen-
sions for millionaires is one OF the
new developments under the executive
order OF last year making age the only
disability necessary for the granting Of
a service pension. According TO Com.
missioner OF Pensions Warner the ap-
plication Of millionaire for a pension
has been recently favorably passd
upon. He did not want the pension,
according 10 the commissioner, for the
money II carried with II, but simply