Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-30
TALKING ABOUT CALIFORNIA
Several Plans for Rebuilding the City
Talked Over.
A PORTO R1cAN JuDGEsHR
Tulio Larrinaga Talks About the Sue
cessor to Judge McKenna and
Urges That He Be Named Soon.


sideration of the railroad rate measures
and other bills which have not yet been
passed upon. the records show that more
general and special legislation than is usual
at this period of the session has been en-
acted into law.
In the five months of the session the Con-
gress has passed 1870 public laws-bills of
general nature-and about $3.50 pension
bills. This promises to be q record session
for many years, so far as pension legisia-
ton Is concerned. At the long session OF
Congress two years ago practically 1,SO
pension bills were enacted, and 1t has been
a good many years since that record was
exceeded. Already at the present session
that number has been passed by more
than 400, and many more pension measures
are in sight Most OF these have been
signed by the President and now are laws.
1t Is likely he will sign 800 or 400 more this
week. 1t Is expected that the number or
pension bills enacted at the present session
will approximate 3,000.
The President has not vetoed more than
half dozen bills at this session. and most
of these dealt with new judicial districts.
created for the purpose of getting new
judges district attorneys and marshals. On
the recommendation OF the Department OF
Justice that not many of these court bills
were necessary to the transaction of public
business the President vetoed them. NO
pension bills have been vetoed. although the
President has scrutinized each one with
care as he does all bills.
Talking About California.
Senator Flint of California conferred with
the President about some phases Of the
San Francisco situation. The California
senator is receiving hundreds OF letters
from his state, making all sorts of sug-
gestions as to furnishing money to enable
Sy,,, %zs.
latest suggestions Is that the United States
government guarantee an issue of san
Francisco bonds running number or
years, the money to be used in rebuilding
destroyed city buildings, badly damaged
waterworks and other public utilities be-
longing to the city. The question of ask
ing Congress to do this Is under considera-
ton. the belief being that this would en-
able San Francisco to get what money she
needs far below the regular interest rate.
In addition to what the city needs, a prop
osition is also under consideration to have
Congress tndorse bond issue that Will
enable the rebuilding of the city
Among members of Congress who have
talked to the President none of these plans
are considered practicable. The govern
ment has never entered into any schemes
of this kind, and Is not likely to do so. In
the case of some Philippine bond issues the
government has partially given its indorse-
ment 1t likewise did the same thing IN
Hawaiian bond issue. but 1t has never
the case of American city or state al
least not in the last 100 years.
Col. Hepburn Sanguine.
Representative Hepburn of Iowa. one of
the Presidents visitors today is sanguine
that the Hepburn railroad rate bill will be
passed by the Senate. THE outlook ap-
pears to grow more favorable every day."
said Col. Hepburn. IT do not believe there
will be any substantial amendments"
AS to the pure food bill, pending In the
House. Col. Hepburn did not know when a
vote could be gotten. 1.-The bill is upon
the calendar but has not special privilege"
There are indications, from what Col Hep
burn said, that the bill Is not to have the
easy path 1t did in the Senate Forty or
fifty great business interets are opposed
to It.
A Porto Rican Judgeship.
Tulio Larrinaga, resident commissioner
from Porto Rico. conferred with the Presi-
dent about the appointment of successor
to Judge Charles f. McKenna who re-
signed as United States district judge of
Porto Rico recently. 1t is represented to
the President that there is much pressing
business in the federal court heretofore
presided over by Judge McKenna, and that
an appointment to I'LL the vacancy ought to
be made as quickly as possible. 1t is
thought the President takes this view and
will name a man shortly. Before he does
so he Is to receive small delegation of
Porto Ricans who want to confer with
him about the appointment. Mr.. Larrinaga
says the Porto Ricans are interested In two
ways. They want an early appointment
and they want an acceptable man.
Gen. Corbin paid his respects to the Pres
ident before leaving for the west, where
he will take charge of the Department of
Missouri.
Secretary Wilson. who had a talk with
the President today about some routine
matters in the Department of Agriculture.
said that reports from all parts OF the
country indicated good crops.
THE spring is late this year" said the
Secretary. mot only In Washington, but
throughout the country. This is fine corn
weather, however. and everywhere the
crops are In excellent condition. In the
dry parts of the west there is plenty Of
moisture and all of the spring crops are
doing finely You see, farming In these
days has been reduced to a science, and
there is not the danger now OF an apso-
lutte failure of crops In any section that
used to prevail Throughout the middle
west and west I expect to see bountifui
crops this year. That will be good for
the people and good for the government
We are all right
Return of the President.
The United States naval yacht Sylph, the
Presidents Yacht with the President and
Mrs Roosevelt aboard, returned last night
from a two-day trip to the lower river.
The yacht passed into Eastern branch on
her way to the navy yard about o'clock
Yesterday evening, flying the spread-eagle
flag of the President at her mainmast head
AS she came up the river yesterday even
ing she was saluted by all the excursion
steamers carrying parties down the river.