The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-02-23
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
Especial CorrespondeEce.)

OU'P oi'' lAt OIL
ate on Feb IA passed the subsidy ship
ing bill by cote of IS to 27. All the
votes for the bill were by Republican
Senators, and five Republican Sena-
tors voted with the Democrats in oppo-
siton. AS passed, the bill estab-
fishes 13 new contract mail lines and
increases the subvention 10 the Ocean
ic line running from the Pacific coast
10 Australia. OF the 13 new lines
three leave Atlantic coast ports, six
from ports on the Gulf of Mexico, four
from Pacific coast ports. The bill also
grants a subvention at the rate of s.
per gross ton per year TO cargo YES
sells engaged In the foreign trade OF
the United States and at the rate Of
Sc 80 per ton TO vessels engaged in
the Philippine trade, the Philippine
coastwise law being postponed until
1909. Another feature creates a naval
reserve force of 10000 officers and
men, who are to receive retainers af
ter the British practice.
Joint Statehood BiII-The joint state
hood bill will be passed. but also with
a senate amendment. 1t will be the
Foraker amendment submitting the
question Of joint statehood of Arizona
and New Mexico to be voted upon by
the people OF the two territories. III
they are willing 10 accept joint state
hood the senate is willing that they
.I,l &, linn 10
blessedness the senate will make no
attempt to force them into a hateful
union. The house will accept the SEN
ate amendment, because the house,
like the President, must. Either the
house will take the amended senate
bill or there will be no statehood leg
islation. The house, whether house
of representatives or White House,
cannot stand out against the senate.
Aged Government Employes-More
than TOO employees in the departments
here admit that they are 20 years of
age or over. Assuming that some have
failed to recall the exact date of their
birth, in the opinion Of the heads Of
departments there arc really more
than 500 who have lived beyond the
span Of three score and ten. Recently
congress adopted a resolution calling
upon the president to submit infOr-
nation as TO the number of employees
in the classified service in each of the
departments who have reached the age
of 20 or more. Investigation showed
that the treasury leads in the number
of old employees. as ii has PA. The
smallest number is in the state depart
ment, which has only 3. The ages Of
the clerks range from 20 to So The
salaries range from $4,000 a year TO 81
a day.
Wants to Be Prcpared-Prcsiden
Roosevelt is anxious TO send another
regiment to the Philippines, as part of
the programme of preparation against
an uprising in China. The authority
rests with him, as commander-in-chief
of the army. but the refusal of Con-
grcss to appropriate funds for barracks
and other purposes makes some embar-
rassment. Secretary Taft is in hearty
accord with the President Secretary
Root still thinks the situation serious,
but he has been saying that the re-
ports of the conditions in China have
been exaggerated. 1t is likely that
both he and Secretary Taft will have
opportunity Within a few days of fur
ther testifyinG before committees OF
Congress on the subject. The war de.
partment finds the troops already or
dered to the Philippines can be COM
fortably maintained there on the ap-
propriations now available.
The Fortifcations Bill--IncidCntal
to the passage of the fortifications ap-
preparation bill there was a lively de-
bate involving the differences between
the republican and democratic policy
with reference to the Philippines and
also the difference between army and
navy officers as to the place where a
naval station and fortiications shall
be established in the archipelago The
debate availed nothing so far as the
legislation was concerned rs the two
amendments on the propoSition-firSt.
not to appropriate anything for forti-
fcations in the Philippines. and sec
ond. To forbid the expenditure of any
money in Subig bay-were defeated.
As 10 the question Of the location of
naval station, army experts were
quoted literally against having il at
,Subig bay and naval authorities were
put on record in favor of station
at that place. II was pointed out that
wherever the navy went with its sta
tion there the army would have to 60
with its fortihCations The bill does
not specify where these defenCes shall
be placed but appropriatcs $500 900 to
be divided between the Philippines and
Hawaii. The bill carries total of
si.3S3.99 for for,ifcat;ons and their
armament.
Whipping Post Joke-The House
has refused To take seriously the bill