Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1906-03-08
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
Washington, March 5.

occurred In connection with the laws
of the five civilized tribes in the In
dian territory. But for his interfer-
ence indictments against several par
ties alleged to have been engaged In
illegal practices would have been
quashed. Now, however, under his
orders, the interior department Is
pushing it's Investigations with in
creased vigor and 1t is reliably stated
that in the near future number Of
new indictments will be reported
against not only several men already
indicted, but they will also include a
humber of persons whose names have
not heretofore been brought into the
cases, including high government
officials in Washington
1t is known that Secretary Hitch.
cock has submitted to the president
and to Attorney General Moody a
special report dealing with the whole
subject. For obvious reason tile re-
port, for the present at least, viii not
be made public.
] Midshipman John II. Lofland of
Oskaloosa, Ia, and Earl w. Chaffee
of Michigan, two of the three mid
shipmen dismissed from the naval
academy for hazing and reinstated by
special act of congress, last year,
have rendered their designations from
the service. That of Lofland has been
accepted, and the other Is awaiting
action by Secretary Bonaparte. In
both cases the reason given is dis
satisfaction with the service ano a
preference for civil life. They are
now serving on the Minneapolis. Lof-
lands reinstatement was not secured
a year ago until after hard effort by
Congressman Lacey of the Sixth dis
trict. Shortly after his reinstatement,
he rendered his resignation, but 1t
was refused.
The treaty between the United
States and the Dominican republic,
under which the former undertakes
to collect and disburse the customs
revenues of the latter, was reported
to the senate, in executive session,
by Senator Lodge by authority of the
committee on foreign relations. The
committee reached it's agreement all
of the republicans voting for the ia
vorable report and the democrats
voting against it. A number of very
important amendments to the treaty
were made by the committee. Article
was entirely rewritten and as re-
ported is materially shortened. 1t
reads as follows:
"The United States, while this
treaty is being executed, may take
such steps as it may deem proper to
preserve order and facilitate the ac-
complishment of the purposes hereof"
For more than year this article
has been the subject Of disputes in
the committee.
For the first time since May, 1904,
when the government made its pay
ment of $50,OO0,O00 for the Panama
canal property and 100000 loaned to
the Louisiana Purchase company,
the statement issued few days ago
shows for the fiscal year surplus of
receipts over expenditures. The sur
plus amounts to $1,102,003. This is
regarded by the treasury officials as
a remarkably fine showing, especial
ly in view of the fact that the ex-
penditures since July / last on &C
count OF public works, exceed those
for the corresponding period last
year by nearly $12,000,000. A very
large part of this sum was paid out
for Panama canal construction.
IA - h. 20 n
committee in voting not to report the
Philippine tariff bill is regarded as
settling it that this congress will
make no concessions to the Philip
pines in the matter of admitting the
products of the islands at lower rates
of duty. The committees decision
plans defeat for the administration
on one of the great measures advocat-
ed by the president. Defeat for the
president on joint statehood is also
assured. The defeat of the Philip.
pine tariff bill is largely victory for
the standpatters. 1t was due to some
extent to the beet sugar, cane sugar
and other business interests In this
country, but to much larger extent
to the feeling of standpat senator's
that it would not do to make a begin
ming of tariff concessions by lowering
the tariff on products from the Philip
pines.
Under the pressure of the opponents
of rate legislation and to meet the
cry made by them that he Is threat
ening to split the republican party
wide open, President Roosevelt has
decided to compromise on the rate
question. From absolute authority
it has become known that the presi.
dent has repeatedly set forth his
views as to what should be done in
the present situation in the senate.
He would like to see the house rate
bill become law in it's present form
if this can be brought about, rather
than that 1t should be amended by
railroad advocates to provide for such
court review as would lead to inter-
minable litigation. But with Root OPP
posed entirely to government rate
regulation, Taft opposed to any rate
bill without court review provision.
and numerous senators insisting on
the amendment Of the house bill, the
president has let it be known that he
is willing to accept amendments pro-
viding for a court review.
Too often a mans keenness spoils