The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1906-05-31
washington CHAT

Although the Senate commitsee on
oceanic canals has voted in favor OF a
sea-level waterway, thequestion.as to
which style of canal is to be CON
stEucted is !; just as Tar from being
settled las Lever. When the time afor
vofing comes up in the Senate. THE
fight promises to be.a big one, as the
President is-strongly committed to "a
lock. canal.and his friends an that body
willsbep sure to stand by him. Even ID
greater struggle is expected in the
House. If the4Senate votes for sea-
level ditch, the-ehances axe that the
House will resrse to join land will
stand .for the lock type. This would
delay any favoaable action at this
sessiousand the entire question would
lay over until the next ons, or the
President would he compelled to go
ahead AID act onsais own response
,hiaity.
Every preparation has been made
for a lock canal. Every drawing, every
plan, the purchases Of machinery and
supplies have. had in view lockscanal
and now If the Senate committees
plan is not pat through. and agreed to
by both Houses, all the work Sc far
will he for naught. The leaders in
the House have made it plain to she
President that they are in favor of the
lock type canal as it is their belief
that a sea level waterway could not be
concluded in the lifetime of most
people NOW living.
If one OF the big battleships had
been blown up, there would hardly
have been greater surprise aroEnd the
Navy Department than that created by
the news that Congress had cut off
$12, 0O0, 600 frona the appropriations for
purchasing naval equipment and
supplies. 1t is declared now that as a
result of this big cut, there will be 40
reserve ammunition for any of the
guns; that it May be neces-
sary to stop target practice that new
ships will have to be sent into service
without ammunition; that there will
be no reserve guns or torpedOes and
that there are no range-finders and no
money to buy them.
Although Congress is providing new
warships it makes no allowance for
the acquisition of ordnance or
ordnance stores. Already the
Ordnance Bureau is feeling the effect
of the cut as it has been obliged to
drop several thousand men from the
pay rolls of the Bureau in the different
parts of the country. So fearful are
officials over the result that will come
from this unlocked for action on the
part of Congress-, that one competent
to Judge OF the outcome has said, $50
crippled will be our Navy that should
war break out within the next few
years, the condition of the Navy would
be such as to lead to DISASTER
Secretary Taft attended the circus in
Washington the other day. That he
was favorably impressed with the
manner in which the elephants were
stabbed and the monkeys fed was
evidenced by his action upon return
ing to the War Department when he
made out an order detailing two army
officers to accompany the show, direct
ing them to keep their eyes open and
profit thereby. The two lucky fellows
selected were envied above all others
by their fellow officers. They will
have nothing to do but attend every
performance, afternoon and evening.
Occasionally they are asked to inspect
the methods used by the circus in
transporting and feeding the numerous
employees, horses and other animals
with a view to the adoption by the
army transport and commissary
services of any worthy ideas. Much
good is expected to result from this
innovation and the Secretary is being
complimented on the unique plan
resulting from his search for a little
recreation.
The Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General has issued an order providing
that after July l next, rural delivery
carriers, when making their trips,
will visit and examine only those
boxes for which they have mail for
delivery and those on which the
signals are displayed to indicate that
there is mail for dispatch. Those
patrons who are now maintaining
mail boxes on which there are no
signals will be required to procure
some sort of device which will serve as
signal to carriers. By this new
arrangement it is expected that the
delivery and collection of mail along
rural free delivery routes will be
greatly facilitated.
AS vet President Roosevelt has not