The National tribune., 1907-02-07

III
Every. action taken by Rear-Admira
Charles H Davis in his recent efforts to
aid in the relief work in Kingston,
which resulted in Z row between the
ceived the hearty commendation and
approval of President Roosevelt. the
Navy Department, tllru Secretary Met
calf and of Rear-AGn2iral Evans, COM
manding the Atlantic feet, and Admiral
Davis's superior o!ficer. A letter OF
commendation was sent from the Nav!
Department to Admiral Davis. 1t was
based upon note from the PreSiuei'
to Secretary Metcaf. who had sent tt
the White House the mailed report re-
ceived at the Department from Admiral
Davis.
Whatever question there might have
been about the propYiety of the various
steps Admiral Davis took IN his efforts
to aid the people Of Kingston has now
been settled, at least to the satisfaction
of this Government, ana II is not at all
likely that the British Government will
care to take issue with the United
States on the rather lender subject OF
American relief in Kingston. The mail
report from Admiral Davis has been
awaited with considerable interest. Ii
was not made public last week. and IL
has not been decided that it will, fol
the Government here is ANXIOUS that the
whole matter be 0ropt entirely. Per
haps the only reason for making public
the letters of communication for AG-
miral Davis and the officers who We're
with him in Kingston is to clear the at
mosphere of the yumors and intima-
lions that maybe admiral Davis con-
Quoted himself and his forces in such
a way as to warrant Gov. Swettenham
ordering him off The sand.
The President makes no reference in
his letter to the circumstances which
ended Admiral Davis's services at King
ston. In the letter from Mr.. Metcalf
to the Admiral there is an indirect ref
erence, and Admiral Evans. in his in
dorsement of approval of the report oi
Admiral Davis, got so far as to men,
ton the situation, which was, to say
the least, somewhat embarrassing
Secretary Metcalrs letter, in part
says:
1.-THE Department has carefully con.
Eidered your report, and the President
directs that the Department express to
you his heartiest commentator of all
you did at Kingston. In his note to the
Department he states that you upheld
the best traditions of our Navy in thus
rendering distinguished service to hui
manity, and approves your entire ac-
tions.'
The Endorsement of Admiral Evans
as Commander-in-Ch Chief of the fleet, on
Admiral Davis's report was also made
public.
More than 100000 men in the
United States are available for military
service, according to the report of the
military Secretary of the Army con.
cerning the militia, which has just beer
made public. OF that number 1890
men are organized in State militia
ready for Immediate military duty.
New York leads the list in the mum
ber of men available for duty. having
d,S94,G00 such citizens. Ohio is second
with 1.0S5.1I0; Illinois comes third
with 1,0S4,55s, and Pennsylvania
fourth, with 1,017,20o.
In the aggregate strength of Its or
ganized militia New York leads, with
14,71l, and Pennsylvania is next, with
1886. Illinois is third, with 6,613.
In practise firing of soldiers with the
rifle or pistol in the future the Wal
Department will insist that 1t be undel
conditions similar to those which obtain
an battle. 1t will not do for the mer
to do their firing from sheds or shelters
but it shall be conducted tin the open,
and with the weapons with which eacf
arm of the service is regularly equipped
Infantry and artillery, except field bat
teries, are required TO practise with th
rife, cavalry with the rife and the pis
tol, and field artillery with the pistol.
In general orders issued by the Wa
Department 1t is declared that the OBJ
feet of all instruction, Of which rang
Hiring merely forms one of the fina
steps, is to increase the soldiers accu
racy of fire with the small arm as h
Till take it into action. 1t Is therefore
held to be requisite that his practis'
should be conducted with the rifle O.
pistol exactly as 1t is supplied by tn
department having charge of the fab
rication of arms, except that the sight
may be blackened if desired.
Brig. Gen. William P. Rogers. q.
a., retired, has been appointed Deput.
Governor of the Soldiers Home a
Washington, to succeed Gen. Edwar'
3. Williston, retired.
The Rev. Henry ". Couden, the blint
Chaplain of the House of Representa-
tives, had an idea a time ago that h
would prefer to be Chaplain of the Sen
ate and went to Speaker Cannon abou
1t. "What do you want to go over ther
1OT! StOImeU CnCle Joe. Inc 1OuS
ts q flower garden and the Senate is
graveyard" 81 KNOW" replied tn
chaplain gently, hut one stays longe
fn a graveyard than in a flower gar
den"
The guillotine of the Treasury De
partment hangs meDacingly over tn
necks of any of the employees who ac
cept presents or other tokens of gratui
ty from any financial institution.
Samuel 3. Terry, paying teller of tn
Subtreasury in New York, and Edga
+. Lee, his assistant, II is learned fron
an authentic source, failed to heed tn
prohibition. Assistant Treasurer Ham
ilton Fish, when he learned of the fac
asked for their designations. couple
with the promise 10 hand them bot
over to the discipline of the Secretar
of the Treasury if his demands wer
not Immediately complied with The
both wrote out their designations, whic
their superior accepted at once.
Somebody seems to want 10 get SCI
retary Loeb out of the White Hous
for they are continually telling storie
Of how he has resigned and is going int
dhe employ of some firm in New YorI
and is to get a tremendous great bi
salary, reports which he has continual
to deny. Now, while the Secretary I
the President does not get such yer
large salary, the fact that he is s
trusted helps a whole lot, for when ths
presidents time expires his Secretav