Middletown transcript., 1907-11-09
WASHINGTON LETTER

AN atmosphere of satisfaction permeate:
~ the Treasury Department over the
financial situation. The plan arranged
by the Secretary of the Treasury and the
Comptroller OF the Currency for increas
| ing the circulation of the national banks
| is working os, rapidly, with the prospect
that man, .nllnons in currency will be
thrown into the volume already in circu-
| lation requested, so far, ranges from $2,-
000, 900 in the case Of the case ofthe Com
mereial National Bank of Chicago, OF
which the former Director OF the Mint,
George E. Roberts, is president The
plan is to promote the issue of additional
bank currency by permitting national
banks to substitute minor securities for
the government bonds now lying in the
Treasury as security for Federal deposits,
provided the government bonds thus re-
leased are used to secure new issues of
bank notes. It is believed that through
cooperation among bankers vast amount
of good may be accomplished by swelling
the volume of money in actual circulation.
The scheme of cooperation has found ex-
preston, in some instances, in loans of
government bonds among the various
large national banks, Many of the bank
ing associations have among their hold
ings large amounts of bonds which they
do not care to use as, a basis for new cur
rency, but are willing to lend them to
other banks which may be making plans
to take advantage of the offer OF the Sec
retary of the Treasury.
-
Gen. Oliver, acting Secretary of War,
acting through the State Department, has
extended cordial invitation to visit the
Gettysburg National Military Park, at
Gettysburg, Pa, to Sir Wilfrid Laurier,
Prime Minister of the Dominion of Cam
ada; Sir Frederick Borden, Minister of
Militia, and to such other officers of the
Dominion Of Canada as may be interested
in the project for tie establishment of a
battle field park ON tile Plains OF Abraham,
near Quebec This invitation was based
upon information received at the War De-
partment that the Dominion government
cantemplates the establishment of such
battle field park near Quebec and with
the general idea that an inspection OF the
Gettysburg battle field would be of inter-
est and value in that connection.
The State Department has been advised
by the American consul general at Teguci-
galpa Of the recent ar rest and imprison-
ment at San Pedroj Honduras, of an
American citizen, Dr. O. B. Hunter, on
charges OF trivial nature, connected with
the transfer of a piece iof property. The
consul general has beg Instructed to re-
port all the facts oIth5 State Department
and upon this infer }nation instructions
will be given to the American Minister at
Honduras to intervene b in the case.
~
Capt. Roald Amuhdsen, the famons
Norwegian explorer, who definitely To-
Gated the magnetic north pole, is in
Washington on ten-d)ay yisit aud be ex-
b4gsses himself of thMppfnIoff stisss. tbs.
north pole will be real sd in the not dis
tant future ara that it will be reached by
means of ship and sled, as he has no
faith in the aerial ventures. His opinion
of the people OF this country was summed
up in the fol ing" You Americans have
the money, the ability and the energy;
some day you. will have the finest cities
of the world, and Washington will be the
premier.
*.:*
Twelve officers, ranging in grade from
major to colonel, have been ordered to
appear before retiring board for exami-
nation as to whether they should be re-
tired on account Of physical disability, as
an indirect result of the equestrian test
ordered recently by the President. None
OF these officers took part in the riding
ties. because army surgeons reported that
their participation might result seriously
for them. The reports of the medical Of
fcers have not all been received at the
War Department and undoubtedly the
list recently made public will be increased.
OF course it does not follow necessarily
that these officers will be found physically
for further active service or
that they need be retired, inevitably,
even though found disabled, as it lies
within the discretion Of the President to
continue them on the active list.
-
Secretary Metcalf has referred the mat
Ter of the widening OF the locks of the
Panama Canal to the General Board OF
he Navy and it has made a recommends
ion that their width be increased from
100 to 10 feet. The original plans pro-
pided for locks 95 feet wide, subsequently
to 100 feet and the length ex-
iended from 900 to / 200 against the pro-
iests ofsome of the engineers. Congress
lionai action in the matter is not neces-
'ary, but the House Committee on Ap-
now en- route to the
[sthmus, viii include the subject in the
hearings which the members intend to
conduct there. Ifiti is decided to increase
he width Of the locks, the cost will be
slightly increased also.
10 NAME DELEGATEs