The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1907-05-09

were absent from the National Capital
all of last week, and the Government
went right on doing things in just the
same old way. number of the Cab
met members accompanied the Presi-
dent to the jamestown Exposition open
ing. Secretary Wilson went to Pitts
burg: Secretary Root to Clinton, n. ";
SECRETARY Taft to Cincinnati, Postmaster
General Meyer to New York and Boston
and Acknowledgement onaparte to Bos-
ton. The only other occasions upon
which there have been similar with
drawals from Washington of the PreSi-
dent and all of the heads of the EXecu-
tive Departments within many years was
in connection with the funeral of Secre-
tary Gresham, when President Cleve-
land and all of the colleagues of the
deceased Cabinet officer left Washington
for Indiana on a special funeral train,
and again at the time of the death of
President Mckinley at Buffalo.
There was even a notable absence of
Assistant Secretaries of the various De-
partments. many of them being at
jamestown or away from Washington
on official and private business.
James R. Foraker, brother of Senator
Joseph B. Foraker, died at his residence
in Cleveland last week, after linger-
ing illness, aged 50 years. He leaves a
cessful attorney. For several weeks last
Winter he was at the University Hospi-
tal Philadelphia, undergoing surgical
treatment for a cancerouS growth on
the jaw. He was not veteran, having
been but nine years old when the war
broke out.
Word was received here last week
of the death at Lincoln, Neb., of former
Representative in Congress from Ne
braska, Gilbert Lafayette Laws. De-
ceased was born March IL, 1888, near
Olney. Richland County, Ill. He at
tended the public schools, Haskell Uni
versity and Milton College, Wis. He
taught school until 1861, when he en-
listed in the 5th Wis. He was wounded
at the battle of Williamsburg, Va, and
returned to Wisconsin and located in
Richland County. He was editor of the
Richland Observer, and also engaged
in the manufacturing business. After
filling several civic offices he moved to
Orleans, Neb., and became editor of the
Republican Valley Sentinel. He served
in several official capacities, including
Secretary of the State of Nebraska. He
was elected to the 51st Congress as a
Republican, to fill the vacancy occa-
stoned by the death of Representative
James Laird. He was a consistent Re-
publican, and worked earnestly for the
success Of his party.
A party of Congressman and their
families left San Francisco for the Ha-
waiian Islands last week to study con-
ditionS in Honolulu and other Sandwich
Island cities.
The party sailed from San Francisco
on the United States transport Buford.
They will familiarize themselves with
the general conditions in the Territory.
The party includes among others w.
P. Hepburn, A. F. Capron, E. L. Ham
flton. A. L. Prick, Joseph v. Graf,
Chas. E. Littlefeld, P. P. Campbell. Ed
ward Y. Webb and James McLachlan.
They will be the guests while on the
island of Delegate Kalaninaole, of Ha-
wall, at his palatial home.
As was brought out last year at the
time of the naval review at Oyster Bay,
the firing of salutes by naval vessels on
occasions such as the review by the
President on Friday Of the foreign war
ships and the United States Atlantic
fleet in Hampton Roads, is not as costly
as generally supposed. There were pres
ent in the roads on that occasion nine
foreign warships and 25 American ves-
sells which fired salutes, the torpedo
vessels and auxiliaries present not par
tcipating In the salutes; that is. about
"a vessels saluted on each occasion re-
quired. If the previously arranged pro-
gram was followed, each vessel fired a
Presidential salute Of 81 guns on the
approach of the Mayfower, bearing the
president, on Friday morning, each YES
sci fired salute of 81 guns as the May
flower past along the line of warships,
and each fired II guns when the Presi-
dent took his departure on Saturday
This makes SO saluting rounds for each
ship, or about 2,200 rounds for the en-
tire fleet. Six-pounder guns are used
nj he of 1.,S; M
round for such gun is about 55 cents
1t Will thus be seen, on liberal esti-
mate, that the cost OF performing the
saluting courtesies prescribed by the
naval regulations, by even SO large an
assemblage of naval vessels as that now
gathered in Hampton Roads, on occasion
of visits by the President, would not
amount to more than $4,000.
After July 1 next the clothing allow.
ance given enlisted men upon entering
the Navy will be increased from s45 Il
SOS. with the exception of those in the
messman branch. In the case of Orien.
tails on the Asiatic Station the allowance
is $50, to represent their lesser need ir
this respect, while for the Fita Fitas, al
Samoa, the allowance is 500, since the
latter have an economy of attire which
comes well within that reduced allow
ance.
"A young art student named Roosevelt
who is said to be near relative of the
President OF the United States, sent q
picture to the Spring Salon, Paris, Just
as did thousands Of other aspiring
painters.
The jury rejected Artist Roosevelt.
Offering. Then the American Embassy
took an Interest in the case, and asked
that the decision be reconsidered on ac.
count OF the young mans kinship tt
the American President, urging that the
picture be accepted as almost a matter
Of official courtesy.
But the jury refused with polite re
gfets. holding that the salon must main
tain its standard Of artistic excellence.
Proposals will shortly be called fo
by Elliot Woods, Superintendent of tn,
Capitol, for the construction of tunnel.
from the Senate Office Building to tn.
Senate end Of the Capitol, and from the
House Office Building to the House enc
of the Capitol. When these are com
pleted Senators and Representatives will
be enabled to go from their respectiv,
Offices to the chambers without goini
outside. The tunnels will be sufficient,
wide, and will be well lighted by cleo
tricity.
1t is announced that the House Ofic,
Building Wall be completed and read,
for occupancy by Dec. 1, and that tn,