The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-07-04
WASHINGTON
From our Regular Correspondent.

dicate that the President is enjoy.
ing his vacation. But the theory
that it was to be a workless season
has already disappeared as it was
well known in the first place that
it would do. Secretary Taft has
just been up there to talk over his
western trip with his chief. He
said after returning to Oyster Bay
that it was purely personal visi,
and that politics were not discussed.
But everyone knows that visitors
are not supposed to divulge the
exact nature of their conversations
with the President. So it is posi-
BILE that the subject of Ohio was
mentioned in the conversation.
The other members of the Cabi.
net are always running up to
Oyster Bay on one pretext or
another. Secretary Metcalf will be
the next visitor, having a number
of naval matters to present inclu-
ding the final disposition of the
contract for submarine boats for
which Congress appropriated $500,
900 at the last session. The tests
of these submarines at Newport
have recently been concluded and
while one type Of boat seemed TO
have all the best of the competi-
ton, there were points OF excel
lence about both of them and it is
possible that the contract may be
split and part of it go to each
firm.
After Secretary Metcalf gets
through with the President Secre-
tary Root has arranged 10 have a
conference with him One of the
most important points he will dis.
cuss will be the consummation of
commercial arrangement" with
France. 1t will be noted that this
is nothing so formal as treaty or
even a convention. 1t is Just an
arrangement. The President has
become tired of sending treaties to
the Senate and having them pigeon
holed and the result is that the
most of our commercial relations
with other powers are being made
by documents that do not have to
go to Congress for approval. This
is executive usurpation of the legis-
lative function of course. But it
has worked so far and the country
has been the better off for it. The
Senate deliberates and deliberates
until the crack OF doom or adjourn
ment which is the same thing.
France has been very anxious to
conclude some commercial arrange
with this country that will be as
satisfactory as that recently enter
ed into by the United States with
Germany. Ambassador Jusserand,
the French representative in Wash
ington, has gone over the subject
carefully with Secretary Root and
the plan that has been decided On
between them is believed to be as
good one as can be secured under
present tariff conditions.
**4
Army and navy officers do not
often confess any interest in the
performances of a mere "show-
man." but there is deal of talk in
both Departments over the perform
ances of Lincoln Beachy, the young
aeronaut who this week sailed in
an airship over Fort Wadsworth
outside of New York City and
dropped some paper BOMBS"
among the big guns, enough, had
they been cans Of dynamite to have
blown the whole fort out into the
Narrows. 1t was merely a show
ascent from one Of the summer
parks near by. Beachy
did not even take the management
into his confidence as to what he
Intended to do. But he carried
along with him several big paper
balls weighted just enough to fall
straight. His course took him over
Fort Wadsworth and he tossed the
bombs into the fort from a safe
elevation of nearly 5000 feet. It
Just showed what an air ship could
do to fort or a fleet under service
conditions and has set the whole of
the War Department talking dirigi-
BILE balloons in a way that they
have not been talked since Santos
Dumont made his first successful
flight. The War Department has
balloon corps and now has accumu-
lated 10 ordinary spherical balloons
that are merely intended to be
used for observation. But the field
OF usefulness of the steerable bal
loon is such that it is receiving con-
siderable attention.