Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-07-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(FRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT

(FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON, D. c., JULY 18TH.
The report that the government has
been considering the purchase OF
Magdalena Bay on the southern Sec
ton of lower California for naval
station in the Pacific continues to re-
ceive credence, and it is believed that
certain overtures have been made to
Mexico on that subject. The nccess-
ity of such naval base is obvious to
anyone who will study the problem
that the English have so successfully
solved with regard to Suez. When
the Panama Canal is finished we will
stand in the same relation to the
Pacific that England does to the East
ern Hemisphere. Great Britain con-
trolls Gibralter, Alden and Malta as
approaches to the Suez Canal, and it
easily appears to be the part OF pru-
dence on our part to guard the west
ern end of the Panama Canal. On
the east it is already protected by our
control in the West Indies, but it is
important that on the west we should
have within striking distance at least
one great naval base. Probably it
would be better to have two, one of
which might be near the northern
part of South America, but so far
none has been suggested that would
better fill the general necessity than
the one proposed at Magdalena Bay.
Itisnot only in building and equip
ping powerful battleships that the
Navy of the United States is to be
strengthened. Information.of an i'm
proved curriculum to be introduced
at the Naval Academy at Annapolis
cutting out Bellies lettres and much
that is merely erudite in the course,
and substituting therefor more phys
les, mechanics and especially thor
ough electrical course, points to the
greater efficiency of the men who will
in the future command our ships at
sea. The Administration is also TAX
ing steps to shelve or retire the older
Naval officers. The traditions OF
Farragut and Porter Of Perry and
Decatur are good for inspiration, but
the conditions of Naval warfare have
even more completely changed than
those on land. Young, vigorous,
ambitious men are to be placed in
command of the ships and in this re-
spect our Navy is to be brought near
er to the models of England, Germany
and Japan.
The impression that the Presidents
salary is too small and that the dig
nifty of the office demands a salary
that will bear comparison with that
of the rulers of European countries,
is so generally prevalent that it scarce
ly needs discussion, but when the
actual amount that he receives is
placed beside the expenditures of the
White House it will be seen that it
is really a pin money allowance for
him while in fact all his expenses are
paid, and literally too. For instance,
the report of the Superintendent of
Public Buildings and Grounds just
published contains the following
items: The salaries of employees Of
the White House last year amounted
to $84, $40. The care of the White
House grounds, which means the
planting of trees and shrubs as well,
cost this country $12, 400. The con-
servatories of the White House are
among it's most attractive features.
Before the remodeling of the execu-
tive mansion they were connected
with the house and occupied part of
the ground now used for the Presi-
dents offices. One of Dolly Madi-
sons bills was for three hundred dol