Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-21
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Reduction of Rates on Tele-
graphic Messages, &c.
HEARINGS IN THE HOUSE
Representative Smith Proposes to
Push the Matter.
DIR. CHANCELLOR PRESENTED
Meets the President for the First
Time-Nevada Pleased With
an Appointment.

an Appointment.
| Representative S. w. Smith of Michigan
| declares that the reduction of rates on
Geographic messages, express packages
and on charges made by the railroads for
carrying the mails of the United States
are most important subjects which he
proposes to push at the next long session
of Congress.
81 shall ask for and insist on hearings
before the House committee on post Of
fees and post roads, he said, "and feel
confident that facts will be brought out
that will result in the passage of bills
lowering the rates on Geographic mes
sages in all parts Of the country and re-
ducing the pay given by the Post Office
Department for the transportation of
mails.
There Is no question that the. people,
are required to pay entirely too much
for Geographic messages and that ex-
press charges in every direction are far
beyond the limit Of fairness and Justice
In my opinion the high express charges
will ultimately result in the establish
ment of post parcels service by the
government. which will practically put
the express companies out of business
| Nobody doubts that the express COM
rates that suit them. but they do not re-
alize how strong they are making the
| sentiment for post parcels
| II think that hearings before the
House committee named will bring out
sufficient facts to make certain some
legislation by Congress correcting the
| evils complained Of" -.s
Dr. Chancellor Meets President.
DR.. Chancellor superi 1tendent of the pub
lie schools of the District. was presented to
the President today by Representative Fos-
| ter. and was cordially greeted. The visit
was the first Dr. Chancellor has paid to the
| White House since he took charge of the
| local schools.
Senator Carter of Montana who will re-
| main in Washington for the Christmas holi-
| days, presented some constituents from his
state. The President and the visitors got to
| talking about forest reserves in the west,
| some Of the visitors telling the President
| that much land had been included in re-
serves that had no business there. The
President outlined his policy as to land
! matters by saying that he desired to help
| out the small homeseeker rather than the
! migratory sheep men,.
You know that is the result of the Presi-
dents Old antipa thy to the sheep men, said
| Senator Clark with wink at his friends
and all joined in the laugh on the Presi-
dent, who was once a catteman in the
| west, and never could grow to like the
| sheep men.
| y
| President Roosevelt has received the fol-
lowing telegram from John Sparks, gov
ernor of Nevada, as to his appointment a
few days ago of a circuit judge for the
| circuit in which Nevada is placed. you
| have pleased the people of this common
! wealth by appointing Judge E. s. Earring
| ton circuit judge. 1 thank you"
Rhodes Scholarship Students.
President Roosevelt had a brief talk with
Rev. V. A. Whittenham of Worcester Col
lege, Oxford about American students in
Oxford University, who are enjoying the
educational benefits of that institution by
virtue of the Rhodes scholarships. Mr..
Whittenham was accompanied by H. S.
| Bowen formerly an oxford man, who is
| spending the winter in New York city,
and by Samuel l.. Slater of New York
| city, an acquaintance OF the President,
| and who was a member of the New York
senate while Mr.. Roosevelt was governor.
Special immigration Message.
T. " Powderly, former commissioner
general of immigration, is working upon
report he will make to the President as
to immigration to this country. He has
returned from a special trip through Eu-
rope in which he visited all the countries
that furnish the principal immigration to
the United States He has devoted con-
siderable time to attempting to ascertain
the reasons that actuate immigrants in
coming to the United States Besides this
data, the President will have reports from
Charles P. Neill, commissioner of labor,
and James B. Reynolds as to various
phases of immigration, gathered in this
country.
1t is regarded as probable that the Pres
ident will make use Of this material for
| a special message to Congress in which
| he Wi
| the number of immigrants and improve II
possible, the class of those coming in. Just
what sort of a message will be sent, II any
at all, has not been determined by the
| President.
John Mitchell Accepts.
John Mitchell, president of the United
Mine Workers of America, and Marvin
Hughitt, president of the Chicago and
Northwestern railroad, representing labor
and capital, respectively, have accepted ap-
| continents offered by President Roosevelt
as trustees of the Nobel peace prize fund,
which will be devoted to the maintenance OF
commission to settle disputes between la
Dor and capital The other members of the
commission will be the chief justice of the
| Supreme Court, the Secretary of Agricul-
ture and the Secretary of Commerce and
Labor. The fund amounts to something
| over S37 900 and will be invested, together
| with any contributions that may be re-
| ceived to go with it, in such a way that
the income will be used for the purposes set
| forth by the President.
The President has not yet been advised
| whether any large private contributions
will be made to swell the fund, but 1t Is
presumed at the White House that the COM
mission will shortly organize and will make
| an announcement Of it's plans. at the same
| time expressing willingness to receive any
money that may be offered
The President Going to Virginia.
President and Mrs. Roosevelt and their
children will probably spend four or five
days of the Christmas season at "Pine
Knot" their Virginia home.
President Roosevelt today gave his
| cabinet advisers to understand that there
would not be another meeting of the cab
| met for about two weeks, as he expects to
be out of the city Friday of next week.
| and the Tuesday after that will be New
| Year daY when the President will hold his