Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-20
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Senator EIkins Talks With the
President.
NO RATE BILL VOTED ON
Dolliver Bill Perfected" and Ready
to Report.
THE SITUATION IN PANAMA
Correspondence Showing Good Health
Conditions iTheree-Petition to
Save the Constitution.
NO RATE BILL VOTED ON
HE SITUATION IN PANAMA

Senator Elkins, chairman OF the Senate
committee that Is considering a rate bill,
talked TO the President today. The COM
mittee has not yet reached a decision upon
any particular bill. 1t has not even voted
upon any bill and is still at work consider
ing the various measures. The committee
will take up today the bill of Senator For
aker and next week will give consideration
to the bill OF Senator Elkins himself The
Dolliver bill has been considered by the
committee and perfected by it. ready to
report IL that bill should receive the sane
ton of the majority. That is however. as
far as it has gone. according to the infor-
nation given the President.
1t is not even known whether the demo-
Gratis will support the Doliiver bill or a re-
publican measure Of any kind. Senator
Tillman. the ranking member of the minor,
ity of the committee. has a bill of his own
before that body. and there are suggestions
that the democrats may unite upon 1t and
leave the republicans to settle their own
differences. Senator Newlands, another
democratic member Of the committee. has
a bill that he wishes to have considered.
The democrats, SO far as known, have
not decided upon the course they will pur-
sue. Should they support the Dollfver bill
1t will, 1t Is certain, become the majority
report and go before the Senate that way,
er they will do that. With the republicans
of the committee split on the matter OF the
bills they will support, some OF the demo-
cratic members Of the committee believe
there Is a good opportunity to get together
and submit bill Of their own.
With the measures of several republicans
to be considered by the committee and the
democrats undermined as to their course,
an actual report by the committee appears
to be some time of, according to the In
formation from best sources.
The Situation in Panama.
Some interesting correspondence relating
to conditions In Panama were made public
at the White House today. They clearly
show that there has been much misrepre-
sentation as to the isthmus and the work
done and doing. One letter was from H.
A. ellis of the Richmond works OF the
American Locomotive Company. Mr.. Gillis
inciosed letter he had received from one
of his men on the fsthmuS Mr.. GllliS stated
that there have been so many lies written
in regard to Panama ard the conditions on
the isthmus." he felt he ought to send
the letter, which went on to tell OF matters.
The writer says, among other things:
There has been only FIVE cases OF yellow
fever in Panama since l came down on DC
toher Is. one in Panama, two In Colon, and
two up in the country, and there is scarcely
any sickness among the clerks in the gem
eral Offices. have been keeping very well.
never felt better in my life, and have not
lost an hour from my desk, though last
week was a little bilious for few days.
Panama has been very much slandered by
the discharged men or those who came
down for a frolic and soon got homesick
and returned. The climate Is excellent, it
is not nearly hot here as in Virginia,
the temperature never goes over ninety and
under sixty. / sleep under blanket every
night. and during the day everybody wears
ordinary summer clothes like they do there,
and the men In the Office wear collars and
cravats all day. One collar does me as long
here as it did in the states so you see it is
all rot about being so hot here and being
so unhealthy. There is less fever here than
there is typhoid in any big city in the
states. Why don't you put In an applica-
ton for position down here as master
mechanic at one of the shops? / don't
know what they pay, but friend of mine
from the navy yard In Washington, D. c.,
came down two weeks ago and told me
they paid machinists IS cents per hour for
eight hours. and time and a half for over
time The cost of living is not much above
that in the states
The other letter was from the Mackay
Engineering Company of New York, saying
they had received a letter from their engf-
neer, Mr.. Fries, at Panama, stating that
II he could be of any assistance to the
President in testifying before the commit
gladly offer his services and pay his own
expenses. He wants to testify that Chief
Engineer Stevens and those associated with
him are entitled to great commentator for
Lie luLeiiiSeIlC anu GIIlclenl manner IN Which
they have handled the affairs intrusted to
them.s
Save the Constitution.
The noted petition of 10000 Massachu-
sets people that the old ship Constitution,
now rotting In the Boston navy yard, be
preserved by the United States, has the
sympathy of the President, and he will do
all In his power to have Congress lend a
willing ear to the appeal He is satisfied
that Congress will provide that the vessel
shall be preserved. and he is personally
favorable to sending 1t to Annapolis or
wherever else it will be an Inspiration to
the American people.
The President today inspected the lannon's
petition in the presence of distinguished
group, including Admiral Dewey Senators
Frye Of Maine. Spooner of Wisconsin. Rem
resentative Mccall of Massachusetts and
others. The petition, which had come to
Washington In huge cedar chest designed
after the seaman's locker of a century ago.
reached the White House In charge of
Eric Pape, the Boston artist who designed
the artistic instrument
Both President Roosevelt and Admiral
Dewey are heartily in favor of restoring
the ship to its original shape and design.
with full rigging. Admiral Dewey him
self spent three years upon the Constft1l-
ton as a cadet.
Senator Spooner made a suggestion that
received the warm approval OF the Presi-
dent This was that great battleship be
1t is not improbable that this name will be
conferred on one OF the monster fighters
of the future.
Senator Frye added the remarks that they
would never be able to build a battleship
that would look as beautiful as the old
Constitution in her fighting days. Senator
Frye has added his Endorsement to that of
others who are urging w. T. Perkins for
governor Of Alaska.
To Speak to Music Makers.
Representatives Meyer and David of Lou
isiana introduced to the President Philip
Merlein. president OF the National Associa-
ton Of Piano Dealers Of America: H. Paul
Mehiin. president of the National Plano
Manufacturers' Association. and Percy y.
Foster Of this city. secretary of the Ma
tiCnal Association of Piano Dealers. The
two associations will meet in this city IN
May next, and an invitation was extended
the President to make an address.
The Louisiana representatives asked the
President to send a battleship to New Or
leans on the occasion of the Mardi Gras
ceremonies next month.
The special committee appointed by the
G. A. r. at its last encampment to talk
with Congress relative to service pensions
k<.<7-