Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-22
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Mr.. Purdy Not to Investigate
Coal [ and Frauds.
LEASE GOVERNMENT LANDS
Senator La Toilette to Introduce q
Bill to That Effect.
SOME OHIO APPOINTMENTS.
Important Offices Soon to BE Filled
in the Buckeye State and the
Probable Recommendation.

rrom outward appearances there was no
White Heuse end to the Brownsville affair
today. One OF the men who has been
conspicuous figure In the agitation and
discussion In the Genate-senator Lodge
was with the President for q short tie,
but his talk was probably Retrospective So
far as could be concerned It did not develop
any new features OF the controversy. Part
Of the time the Massachusetts Senator was
with the President Assistant Secretary Ba-
con Of the State Department was also
with him. Admiral Davis. who figured in
the Kingston incident a few days ago with
Governor Swettenham of Jamaica, is a
brother-in law Of Senator Lodge
One small echo Of the Brownsville affair
was visit to the President by Milton d.
Purdy, the assistant attorney general, who
made the last investigation of. the riot and
took testimony. A statement was recently
made that the President proposed to send
him west to investigate charges Of coal
land frauds in which the name of Senator
Warren has, been used at various intervals,
but Mr.. Purdy declared he knew nothing
of any such purpose on the part of the
President, who possesses whatever OF facts
there are in the Interior Department rela-
tive to the alleged frauds and whose person.
al relations with Senator Warren do not in
dictate that he considers there is any foun-
connection with the talk. Senators War
rem and Clark of the same state have seen
the President a number of times in the last
few weeks. the former as chairman of the
up with the chief executive matters asso-
ciated with the military branch Of the gov
eminent.
Leasing Of Coal Lands.
Senator La Toilette will introduce and
urge the enactment of bill providing for
the leasing of coal, asphalt and oil lands be-
longing to the government unde: certain re-
strictions. The Wisconsin senator conferred
with the President about the BILL which
will, in the main. follow lines suggested in
the last message of the chic executive to
Congress In that message the President
referred to the fact that he had temporarily
withdrawn from settlement all the lands
that the geological survey had indicated as
containing. or in all probability containing,
coal. some so 600, 900 acres. He thought that
there should be legislation which would pro-
vide for the withdrawal Of these lands from
entry or sale, except in certain circum-
stances, the ownership to remain In the
United States, which would permit them to
be worked by private individuals under
royalty system. In this way the govern
ment could in the future regulate the price
of coal. He thought 1t would be necessary
for the government to supervise the rates
charged by common carriers for the trans
portation of coal from these properties. He
took the view that coal, like the forests,
should be treated as the property Of the
public.
Some Ohio Appointments.
Two or three important Ohio offices will
soon have to be filled by the President, and
every politician in that state is specializing
on what will be done with them, following
the Brownsville fight, in which Senator
Foraker has taken such a decided part.
The term of Amor Smith, jr.. surveyor of
customs at Cincinnati, Senator Foraker's
home. will shortly expire. Under the divis-
ion of patronage between the two Ohio SEN
ators appointments in that part of the
state go to Senator Foraker, who, it is
understood. will recommend another term
for Mr.. Smith. This recommendation viii
put the question squarely up to the Presi-
dent, who must pass upon It.. The prevail
ing opinion is that the President will con-
tinue to honor the recommendations of
Senator Foraker, and send nominal ions pro-
posed by him to the Senate.
In another part of the state is a fine job
that must soon be disposed of. 1t is the col
lectorship of customs at Cleveland. Charles
Leach holds the place, and he is one Of the
favorites of the old Hanna machine, which
he helped to create. So far he has no OppO-
sitiSl except from John Goldenbogen,
Foraker supporter. AS the position is rec
OgniZeQ AZ DeiHS VI greatest interest 10
Senator Dick. his recommendation will UNI
questionably be for the retention Of Leach.
and in this 1t Is thought Senator Foraker
will join.
Representative DENLY of Michigan called
on the President to introduce NJ H.
O'Brien, who has been named as marshal
Of the United States court at Shanghai.
The Cabinet Meeting.
The cabinet meeting today ives principally
taken up in handling departmental business
the absence of Secretary Root preventing
any diplomatic or international question be-
ing considered. Secretary Taft and the
President again went into the question of
q contract for constructing the Panama
canal, and the advisability of letting the
contract to Oliver & Bangs. the lowest ID
ders