The National tribune., 1906-03-15
y,

HE NAIlONAL TRIBUNE:
In his letter transmitting the report
of the Board to the President, Secre-
tary Taft says that the Board estimates
the cost of completing the defenses at
$5O.879,399, or $22,896,6O6 less than
the sum proposed by the Endicott
Board. The Secretary says the growth
of the country, the improvements Of
the ordnance and the increase Of the
Navy in the past 20 years have brought
about Encouragement of and additions
to the lists of ports made by the Endi-
colt Board. 'The changes that have
taken place in the system of defense
have been so radical" he says, that
the one proposed in 1886 is not COM
parable with the scheme as 1t exists
to-day"
The estimates for the ports added
since the Endicott Board made lis re-
port, in 1885. including Chesapeake
Bay, are as follows:
Sound. including s2,e4S,557 already
expended, $8,021,263; Port Royal, al
ready expended. 1892, 101; Tampa, in
Guiding $7O4,4s7 already expended,
s1,S1O,S77; Puget Sound. including
264; Chesapeake Bay, $6,102.s71.
The amount so far appropriated and
allotted is $72.750,5S3. He estimates
the cost for the defense of the insular
possessions. including the naval bases
and coaling stations. at $19,S73,S95 In
addition to the $2,254.92O already ap-
propriated. The estimated cost for the
defense of the Isthmian Canal ports.
exclusive of the cost of land, is $4,8S7,-
$50.
The report is made by the Taft Board
which was constituted by Presidential
order, and consisted of Secretary Taft
Il hot MTnS pnfn
Rear-Admiral Charles M. Thomas,
Maj. Gen. Story. retired; Gen. Greedy.
Chief Signal Officer; Gen. Crozier. Chief
of Ordnance; Gen. Mackenzie, Chief Of
Engineers; Samuel M. Mills. Chief Of
Artillery: Capt: c; L. sperry United
ais. General Staff. Secretary.
Tulio Larrinaga-doesn't that sound
like name out Of one of Ouida's nov
els?-wants home rule for Porto Rico
Tulio Larrinaga is the Resident Conn
missioner for Porto Rico. He says that
as Porto Rico had home rule under
Spanish rule he cannot see why Il.
should not have it under the American
rule.
1t looks as though women were gain
ing little in the Departments. 1t has
always been the policy that no woman
the Navy Department which drew
salary Of above $1,000. When a woman
got up to that she knew she could climb
no higher SO far as remuneration for
services went. though she might go
right on doing the work that men got
stood in line of promotion with the
highest standing as to ability, for
1900 salary. She was passed over by
the Appointing Clerk, and man below
her in average given the position. The
attention Of Secretary Bonaparte was
called to this. and he Immediately had
the man set back and the woman given
the appointment which her marking
deserved. 1t Is said to be the policy
of the President to gradually let women
out of Department work, and that as
fast as women leave certain place
men shall be assigned by the Civil Ser.
vice Commission. This may not be
it mighty hard to get the laborers'
places now, and men get them without
trouble.
Associate Justice Henry Billings
Brown. of the United States Supreme
Court. intends to retire from the bench,
and has SO notified President Roosevelt.
The President offered to appoint Sem
ator Philander G. Knox. of Pennsyl-
vania, to the vacancy, but the latter
declined.
Justice Brown was 70 years old
March 2. Having reached that age. and
served 10 years as member of the
Supreme Bench, he was privileged to-
retire on full pay. Although strong and
vigorous, both bodily and mentally.
Justice Brown has been troubled with
failing eyesight, and he felt that con-
tinuance of his judicial duties might
cause him to become blind.
He will Sorye thronph the nrpSent
term of the Court. and will probably
retire in the Fall. He expects to travel
in Europe during the Summer. Justice
Brown was appointed to the Supreme
Court Bench by President Harrison in
1890.
Two other members of the Supreme
Court are eligible for retirement, all
being more than 10. and having served
more than 10 years They are Chief
Justice Fuller. who Is 10, and Justice
Harlan. who is ~. Justice Brewer will
be 20 in June. 1907.
The House Committee on Banking
and Currency has ordered a favorable
report on q bill that, il it passes, will
enable National Banks to loan money
on farm property.
The National Bank act was passed In
1863 after a hard struggle. The pri-
vate banks of that day antagOnized the
National Ranking system with
such effectiveness that the law was
finally passed only after the committee
having the matter in charge had agreed
that the new class of banks should not
be permitted to make loans OH real
estate of any character. The reason
for this was because OF the belief that
il permitted to loan money OIL such
security all other banks would be driven
out Of existence.
In recent years efforts have been
made by National Banking interests to
have the law changed. The proposed
does not provide for loans
on real estate generally, but only upon
farm lands, and then only half their
value, improvements not included.
A bin increasing the pensions Of sur
vivors of the Mexican War from $12 to
$50 month has been introduced In
the Senate by Mr.. Stone, OF Missouri
The House Committee ON Post Offices
and Post Roads il up against hard luck.
Chairman Overstreet and the other
members Of the Committee had re-
solved to make reduction Of at least 10
per cent and possibly more I'm the item
for transportation Of the mail by rail
roads But their good resolutions are
being used for pavement in a warmer
than this, according to tradi-