Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-13
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Conference With Mr.. Gardner
on Jamestown Exposition.
TALKING OF BATTLE SHIPS
Congressman to Urge One Warship to
Be Built at Brooklyn Yard.
PREFERENCE FOR A VETERAN
Other Things Being Equal, He is to
Be Preferred for oface-Iowans
in Town.
PREFERENCE FOR A VETERAN

The Presidents deep interest In fau
and square deal for the jamestown expo
sition was shown today in a conference ne
had with Representative Gardner OF Massa-
chusetts, chairman of the House commit
tee on industrial arts and expositions. inc
President asked Mr.. Gardner who Is strong
ly opposed to help for the exposition, TO
visit him. and told Mr.. Gardner that Wfiie
1t was understood that he entertained lar
from liberal intentions to the exposition
1t was hoped he would be as liberal as
possible. The President is said to feel that
the country has committed itself to the
exposition; that the object is a most worthy
one and that when the great powers of the
world send their navies to Norfolk In 1907
they will expect to see something and not
look for parsmonious entertainment.
While 1 am opposed to making any fur
Their appropriation for the jamestown ex-
position" said Mr.. Gardner. with good ma
ture, Il would not be surprised II the COM
mittee should vote against my views. L
can not say what will be done. but ! am
inclined to the opinion that the committee
will favorably report suitable approprla-
tons. l should like to do something. but
l am opposed to expositions of this kind.
Talking of Battle Ship Construction.
y strong delegation of Manhattan and
Brooklyn representatives in Congress are
to call on the President tomorrow to urge
that the government construct one of the
new battleshlps provided for at the last
session of Congress in the Brooklyn navy
yard. which is now finishing the battleship
Connecticut The visit was arranged for
today by Represen tative Calder of Brook
Ign. In the party will be Representatives
Parsons. Olcott and Bennett OF Manhattan,
and Representatives Cocks Dunwell, Wal
do, Law and Calder of Brooklyn. These
men some time ago made an appeal to the
Navy Department to continue shipbuiding
at the Brooklyn yard, even II the cost of
construction should be somewhat greater
than by private shipyards.
We maintain said Mr.. Calder today
that at least one shipyard of the govern
ment should be kept in constant condition
for battleship construction, and that a big
mistake will be made If this policy is not
followed. We admit that the cost of con-
structlon of the battleshfp Connecticut has
been some larger than the louisiana build
ing at Newport News but we claim that
the work done in the Brooklyn yards is SUI
perlor to the private shipyards and that
the extra cost Is more than made up by the
superiority of construction and the wisdom
of having one shipyard fitted I'D at all
times for business Despite the apparently
intentional delays in the delivery of armor
plate for the Connecticut, il is demon
strated that a battleship can be built as
quickly at Brooklyn as in any private yard;
in fact much quicker, the force on the
Connecticut has often been taken off that
woTk TO do repair work to ships coming
into dock. | think it possible that we will
be given the construction of the big collier
that is soon to be built, but we want bar
tleshtp in addition"
The President has received a letter on
the same subject from Bird Coler, presi-
dent OF the borough of Brooklyn and has
written an answer to Mr. Coler
prefaronca fo,
President Roosevelt has again con-
Veyed the Information that in a contest
between a veteran OF the civil war and
a citizen not so fortunate for postmaster
of city. he prefers the veteran. eyery-
thing else being equal The question
came up again this morning In a. Visit
of Representative Needham of California
who has a post office appointment at Pa
oiilc Grove. The local organization of
republicans Endorsed J. A Pell for the
post office. but another applicant Is M
r, Stansbury, veteran of the civil war
AS between the two. despite the backing
of the local organization for Pell, the
President prefers Stansbury who will
probably be nominated.
The United Veterans of the Civil
War of Poplar Bluff, Mo. recently elect
ed the President an honorary member of
their organization, which Is composed of
men who wore the blue and men who
wore the gray. A beautifully engrossed
copy Of the resolutions by which he was
elected was presented today by Senator
Warner of Missouri. The old soldiers
mingle together in brotherly love in the
new organization, which is said to be
growing fast.
Iowans in Town
Secretary Shaw and Secretary Wilson. be-
fore the cabinet met this morning. intro
duced to the President party of Des
Moines citizens. They are returning 70
their home town from Boston, where they
went to present beautiful bell to the
cruiser Des Sdones. The bell was the gift
of the people of Des Moines, and was pre-
scented by Mayor George w. Matter. CHER
OF Police j. W. Jones, Alderman e. r,
Whitney. Secretary Milo Ward of the Com
mercial Club. and S. B. Allan. first vice
, president of the club. The President re-
celved the visitors cordially.
Senator Taliaferro of Florida presented
State Senator w. Hunt Harris and Alfred
Hutchinson OF Key West
s. w. Eckman, who has been a teacher
In Porto Rico for several years. called on
the President this morning with Commits
sIoner LaIrluga to ask for the pardon of
Rafael Rodriguez. a young man who Is
serving a sentence in prison for postal r.
regularities. Mr.. Eekman believes the
young man Is innocent. Il was the only
American in Coame. where Rodriguez
lives" said Mr.. Eckman and he and his
family did all they could TO help me. My
personal knowledge OF the boy makes me
sure he Is innocent. Besides that he Is In
bad health" The President said he would
give the case his consideration.
Senator Spooner conferred with the Prest-
dent today about the Tfllman-Gillespie reso-
luton, which the President criticses as
not reaching the mark and which drew
forth rejoinder from Senator Tillman yes
terday.