Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-27


OF ship subsidy, which eventually re-
suited In the Endorsement OF modi-
fed form Of subsidies for vessels in
the shape of postal subvention. It is
doubtful whether the ship subsidy
measure will pass at this session Of
congress. one Of the delegates to the
recent convention is hopeful that some
thing can be done, and Il Is understood
that a conference on the matter Is to
be held at the Homestead hotel at Hot
Springs, Va, where a number OF promi-
nent business men who have been at
tending the meeting here will spend a
few days before returning to their
homes. AS one member of the party
expressed Il, Just before taking the
C. & o. train for the Virginia noun
tain resort, ut was altogether appro-
pirate that they should seek a water
ing place in which to discuss a dues-
tion that had so much to do with
water"
Congress is being bombarded with re-
quests from persons in high places to
provide funds for the construction of
two great fighting craft. President
Roosevelt in a letter adressed to Chair
man Foss of the naval committee of
the house has urged in the strongest
language the necessity for building
two big battleships and an adequate
number" of submarines. Secretary
Metcalf and Attorney General Bona
parte, former secretary of the navy,
appeared this week before the com
mittee and lent their strongest in
dorsement to the presidents recon-
mendations. Mr.. Bonaparte declared
that large battleships were the crying
need of the navy Just what action
will be taken remains to be seen.
If a bill introduced in the house this
week by Representative Shartel of
Missouri is acted upon favorably Pc
ter Mcmillan of Pierce City, Mo-. will
be the richer by s50OO,0O0 The bill
calls upon the secretary of the treasury
to pay that sum to Mr.. Mcmillan in
settlement of the claim he has filed
against the government for royalties
for the use of an invention. Some years
ago the Missourian patented a device
for locking armor plate to warships
by means of a key or keys. The United
States navy has utilized this method
in putting armor on the United States
steamship Oregon and every battle
ship and armored cruiser built since
then is said to have had her plates
fitted with the Mcmillan patent. Not
only the navy of this country has
adopted the device, but the battleships
of the japanese and Russian navies
also are said to have taken it up. There
does not seem to be any question as
to the validity of Mr. McMillan's claim,
but it is doubtful if the Shartel meas
ure will pass at this session because of
the rush of business.
In studying strategy, the military es-
of the United States might
we'll send it's officers to the capitol.
After spirited debates in both the
house and senate members of congress
refused to vote themselves more salary
and bills carrying the increase were
killed amidst an air of general gloom,
for which each member endeavored to
evade responsibility. None of them
desired to go on record as championing
an increase for fear of the effect it
would have upon their constituents at
home. Representative Littauer of New
York has appeared as the Moses to
lead the halting hosts out of the polit-
ical land of Egypt By the introduce
ton of an innocent and simply word
ed amendment placed in the legislative
bill passed by the house
this week, he has provided that each
of congress shall receive
salary of $7500 year after March 4,
instead of the $4,000 he now receives.
In addition the salaries of the vice
presidents, speakers of the house and
members of the cabinet are to be in
creased to $4,000 annually. All that
remains now is the concurrence of the
senate, and Senator Cullom will move
that this action be taken by the upper
chamber as soon as the bill is present.
ed there. 1t is not at all unlikely that
the senate will let the measure go
through, and thus congressman have
lNn,o nj att 10
did not dare to attempt by direct as
sualt It's hats off to the strategists in
the big house on the hill.