Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-07
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Present Of Russian Service Rifle
Souvenir of Port Arthur.
OHIO NEGRO APPOINTMENT
Senators and Representatives, Deny
Talking About It.
TALK OF LAND LEGISLATION
Senator Hepburn Thinks There May
Be Some Specific Bill Passed, but
No Comprehensive Act.
TALK OF LAND LEGISLATION

There was presented to President Roose-
welt today by DR.. ]. E. Jones, United States
consul at Dalny, souvenir of the great
fight at 2O3 Meter Hill, outside of Port Ar
thur
The gift was one of the Russian service
rifles In excellent condition and was found
IN one OF the rife pits on the side of the
hill. The pit, like the other rifle
pits. had been rooted over with a steel
plate, but it and the bouIders in front
of it had been. destroyed by shell and
the sharpshooter inside had been shot
through the eye. The skeleton of the SOL
der was still grasping the rifle when it
was found
In speaking of the scene on the hillside,
Dr. Jones said it was one of the most per-
feet military situations Imaginable The
rifle pits overlooked the military road run
ming from point to point of the fortiica-
tons. Each pit was faced at the front
with boulders and was covered with a steel
plate. Here the sharpshooters lived and
died, for they never surrendered There
were little zigzag paths running from pit
to pit. and along these provisions we're
brought under cover of the night. The
m marksmen did their own cooking, and in
the PIT where the gun was found. there was
a. little Russian cooking lamp, pile of
expended shells and another pile of fresh
ammunition ANN The Russians at this point
aged to kill off 1900 Japanese before the
hill was taken and they were forced to fall
back on Port Arthur.
Ohio Negro Appointment.
Senator Dick of Ohio had long talk with
the President today, and the supposition
naturally was that the aiI-absorbing ques-
ton OF the appointment of a colored man to
nigh federal office in the state was under
discussion. Representatives Southland and
Burton also saw the President, possibly on
the same subject. None Of them want the
appointment in their locality and the Presi-
dent was assured the appointment would
be "a grave political mistake" There is not
much doubt felt, however that the appoint
ment will be made in spite of the feelings
Of the whole Ohio delegation, most of whom
have been at the White House fighting the
suggestion for a week past. The coored
vote In Ohio is large and 1t is thought the
President intends to give them recognition
The most remarkable feature of all the
Ohio visits today was that the colored ap-
pointment was not mentioned so said the
callers. Senator Dick came in response to
summons from the President to talk over
the proposed increase Of 20 per cent in the
pay of army officers. The President is in
favor OF the measure and wants to see 1t
made law. The other Ohio callers all
were on matters of s''purely personal i'm
port
Land Legislation. as
Senator Hepburn of Idaho was at the
White House today in connection with the
land bill. He talked over the situation with
the President with view to seeing whether
there could be specific legislation passed at
the present session covering some of the
more important points in conserving the
public lands of the west. He said after the
conference that while the time was too
short for the passage of general and COM
prehensive land bill, he felt sure that some
legislation would be enacted. The President
is particularly interested in the conserva-
ton of coal lands, and there may be some
action looking to the institution of tenn
porary lease measure, but general legisla-
ton will almost certainly have to wait for
the new session.
Land on South Side Of the Avenue.
Senator Hepburn thinks that the chances
are good for the passage of his bill appro-
priating $10,00O,000 for the purchase of the
land south of Pennsylva nia avenue and be-
tween the Treasury and the Capitol. This
is matter that has Of course been mooted
for many years, and there is little doubt
that the title Of the land will eventually
have to pass to the government, as the
ground will be wanted for public buildings
more than for parks, the Mall, lying directly
to the south furnishing all the breathing
space that is needed in the neighborhood.
1t is realized that the ground can be
bought now for a great deal less than 1t will
be held for in a few years, and Senator Hey
burn thinks it will be tn the interests OF
economy to appropriate the money for the
purchase now and to fix the price, giving
the present occupants possession till the
land is wanted for actual government use,
when they would have sufficient notice in
which to select new locations and move
without disarranging their business.
Senator Hepburn said that he felt toll
erably confident that the bill would pass
not he was ready to introduce it again at
the next session. when he was sure it
would be put through.