Morris tribune., 1906-12-29

- TafN OF Tie navy
- and Bonaparte as
attorney general.
Mr. Straus had Civ
en- up all his business connections be-
fore taking office.
Americans to Build Canal.
Secretary Taft and the isthmian ca
nal commission have decided to ignore
foreign competition for the Panama
canal contract. The opening Of bids
has been postponed to Jan. II in view
of certain changes in the form of the
contract The bond is to be reduced to
$4,000, 900 and the total liability Of the
contractor is to be limited to the loss
Of the percentage and premiums other
wise payable, plus 100000. The con-
tractor is also to be relieved of respOn-
sfbiIity for defective material if he has
requested the chief engineer for def
mite approval Of the same. In general
the changes favor the contractor.
To Try Officers of the Twenty fifth.
The war department has ordered the
court martial Of Major Charles W. Pen
rose and Captain E. A. Macklin of the
Twenty fifth negro) regiment, from
which three companies were discharged
on account Of the Brownsville riot be-
lieving that something was wrong with
their conduct on the night of the trou-
BILE The failure to inspect the arm
racks and the rifles of the men until
the morning after the riot will be ia
vestigated.
For Philippine Bank.
Secretary Of War Taft IN his report
on the Philippines asks congress to
support an agricultural bank by au
thorizug the Philippine government to
guarantee dividend Of per cent OH
$10,0UNU, this being the plan which
proved SO successful under Lord Gro
mer in Egypt. He says the business
conditions in the islands, especially IN
the sugar and tobacco industries, con
tinue and that the storm OF last year
destroyed $4O0OO00 worth OF the hemp
crop. Work is proceeding on sys-
tenn of water supply for Manila and
ON the sewerage system. The complete
pacificatiOu Of the island OF LuzOn IS
reported with the capture or surren-
der Of the Ladroue leaders, the only
disorder now being in Leyte and Sa-
Inar. A's @""1'a.sa. A....aazssa.....1s '1s~F
Uncle Sam In Coal Business.
A plan for holding and developing
coal lands il Indian Territory belong
ing to the government has been made
public by Secretary Hitchcock, 4
large corporation is 10 be formed In
which the Indian tribes and the gov
eminent are to control the stock, the
mines to be operated by employees or
leased on a royalty It will be the first
time in our history that the govern
ment becomes q stakeholder in pri-
vate corporation. The life Of the com
pany is to be twenty-five years, with
,antl6n Of Continuance or sale at the
end of that period the . a!reees2srs e 6e
the president OF the United States, sec
retaries Of the interior, treasury and
commerce and labor, commissioner OF
Indian affairs and a member Of each
IF the Choctaw and ChickasaT tribes.
Roosevelt on Negro Troops.
The presidents message In reply to
The Penrose- Foraker resolution calling
for information regarding the dismissal
Of the coiored battalion went to the
senate, and as soon as it was read
Senator Foraker moved that the COM
mittee on military affairs be authorized
to investigate the entire affair OF the
dismissal and it's causes.
The president says he ordered the
discharge of hese troops because Of
The murderousR conduct OF certain mem
beers and the conspiracy Of others to
save the criminals from justice, crimes
for which the punishment administered
S inadequate. He insists that white
soldiers would have been treated in ex
actIy the same manner He wanted It
understood also that he would refuse
10 consider the fact Of the birthplace
2f either Of the officers concerned, it
having been pointed ont that Inspector
General Darlington was southern