The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-07-06

WASHINGTON, July 5.--first AS
sistant Postmaster General Hitchcock,
who Il becoming known as the political
pathfinder for the Administration. isI
having In two or three days for an ex-
tended western tour His trip this
time win really begin In Ohio and will
70 as far west as the Pacific Coast. The
postoiiice Department official Is now at
Oyster Bay, where he " receiving final
instructions from the President, II is|
believed by some that Mr., Hitchcock Is
Icing sent 10 make careful analysis
Of the Taft sentiment. while others are
oi the opinion that he Is under secret
orders from President Roosevelt him.
self TO ascertain just how deep and ear
nest Is the third term idea SO far as
Mr.. Hitchcock Is concerned, there Is no
hope Of getting any information from
him. He protests against the newspa-
pers Of the country designating these
frequent trips as political tours. II is
fact, nevertheless, that there Ia good
deal more politics in these flying jour
rcys than there Is posto1ice business.
On his recent tour OF the Southern
states, for instance. he rounded up the
chairman Of the Republican committees,
the patronage referees" and got In
touch with Republicans generally. The
newspapers, without regard to the poll
tieal complexion, insist that he saw
these men not altogether on behalf Of
the postal service but more largely on
strictly party political business. There
fore, Mr.. Hitchcock's forthcoming wes-
tern trip Is exciting considerable specu-
lation.
DIR. Richard u. Harlan. soa OF Justice
Harlan Of the Supreme Bench, and spc-
cial representative OF the George Wash
lngton University, left Washington this
week for tour OF investigation abroad,
lie goes TO Paris and London principally,
10 make a close study Of the schools of
the political sciences In those cities. The
French institution is one OF the most
noted OF its kind in the world. Accord
ing to Ambassador Jusserand, for the
last ten years all appointments made
by the French government to the Dip
lomatic or consular service have been,
with three exceptions, from graduates
oi the school, Through following this
policy, French commerce has been built
up more rapidly in the last decade than
ever before In the history OF the republic.
The school at present has more than
1000 students, II is the intention of
the George Washington University trus-
tees, who have launched movement for
the naturalization OF the University, toI
adopt the most valuable features found
in this Paris school and in the one sit
uated in London. 1t is the hope of the
University authorities to make their
new College Of the Political Sciences,
which is reorganized this year, the train
ing school for representatives of the
United States in foreign countries. This
ambition has been applauded by Secre-
tary Root and by John Barrett, director
of the Bureau Of American Republics,
While he Is abroad, DR.. Harlan expects
to lay the matter before leading mem-
bers OF the American colonies in both thel
French ana English capitals, and be-
lieyes that he viii obtain considerable
financial assistance from those who hope
to see the commercial and political pres
tige of the United States strengthened
in foreign lands.
Western forts and army posts are to
benefit as the result OF the approval by
the War Department OF recommended
tions for new buildings made by Quar-
termaster General Humphrey. This isl
the first installment of large build
ing program Secretary Taft has in view,
The forts at which these buildings are
to be erected, and the cost entailed, are;
Fort Bayard, N. NJ, $S9,35o; Fort Lin
coin. N, D., $4,000; Fort Mackenzie,
Wyo., $4S,5O0; and Fort Yellowstone,
Wyo., $4,000; Preside of Monterey, CAL
fornia, $s,795; and Fort Wright, Wash,
Si3,35O. In addition to these amounts,
A large number of smaller appropriations
nave been made for store houses, stables
md paint shope.
Lovers Of the big trees OF the West
are highly pleased with the action OF
Garfield in withdrawing from
III forms of entry certain lands in Ore
yon. These lands surround Mnltnomah
Falls and include the Siskiyou big trees
II is intended to create national parks
or +ha nrotantiou both of the falls and