The National tribune., 1907-10-17

up Minor defects in the rate law may
be remedied. That there will be any
legislation in regard to the trusts | do
not believe, as it will be best to see
how present legislation works out. Re-
bates helped trusts, and I understand
that the railroads have been so we'll
spanked that they have promised to
be good. and not grant rebates to trusts
or anybody else any more"
AS to tariff revision he said: Il have
not been shouting revision from the
houSetopS. / see no need of it just
now, nor do / hear any great demand
for it The average man is not bother
ing himself about the question of
whether the tariff should be revised.
There is talk in favor of it in spots. but
I do not by any means think the de-
mand is general. What that demand
may be by next Summer, when the Re-
publican Convention meets. is another
matter, however. i do not know that
a plank III favor of revision will be
placed in the platform. but it may.
Whether the tariff will be the promi-
nent issue in the next campaign l am
unable to say at this early day. Eleven
years ago everybody thought the tariff
would be the issue. but at the last
minute the silver issue was substituted.
Mr.. Bryan may bring on some new is
sues that may claim the public atten-
ton. There is the issue of Government
ownership, which he says is only post
poned. And the initiative and refer
endum may not be far behind. At any
rate, L am not losing sleep worrying
about Republican defeat"
To the question, DO you believe Mr..
Roosevelt will be renominated?" he re-
piled:
Il take the President at his word.
He said he would not take another
nomination under any circumstances"
Sessions of the Army War College
will begin about Nov 1, when the new
building erected for the college at
Washington Barracks will be occupied.
The names of the student officers for
the coming session have not been an
nounced. but it is probable that there
will be about 16 of them.
Very little remains to be done to put
the new building into proper shape for
the regular college work. The library
has been -rearranged and the books
have been catalogued and put in shape
for ready reference. The correspond
ing room is located on the east of the
map room, which latter will be fitted
out for the safe-keeping and conven-
lent handling of the maps used at the
college. The acoustic properties of the
lecture room are poor, and efforts are
being made to overcome this defect.
1t seems a little strange that il is
impossible to arrive at the exact science
of acoustics. The new Marine Band
Hall was a thing of beauty and joy
to sit in, but for hearing it was pande-
monium let loose! You could not dis
unguisn one sound from another. and
you got them all in one grand crash
when the instruments got right down
to business. The whole interior had to
be turned out and new contrivance
put in, and the acoustics are not any
too good now. In the great tabernacle
in Salt Lake, in a circular audience
chamber of such prodigious dimensions
as to make it difficult to see the preach
er in the pulpit. you can hear his light
est whisper. and the dropping of a pin
in the room when quiet can be heard
to the very edge of the room. 1t is
wonderful. And yet the duplicate of
this chamber has never been made 1t
has beeh tried, but has resulted in fail
ure.
That Virginia might be thrown into
the Republican column of States is the
opinion of Representative Slemp, the
only Republican Congressman from
that State. For this to be accomplished,
however, would necessitate the renomi-
nation Of President Roosevelt. Repre-
sentative Slemp was in Washington last
week and said:
Il am not exaggerating things a bit
when I say that Virginia might go Re-
publican if Roosevelt were nominated
for President There is not much DOUBT
in my mind that Taft will receive the
support of our delegation"
Tests which have been made aboard
ship of the sanitary scuttle-but, de-
r.tev h.,C l. 81
Navy, have demonstrated its value and
it is likely that it will be adopted for
the service. The experimental use of
the device was had on the cruiser
Charleston. This system of serving
drinking water to individuals is intend
ed to prevent contamination. The tank
containing the drinking water is con-
nected with individual miniature foun-
tains, which are placed in operation by
respective faucets. enabling person to
obtain a drink without the use of a
cup or placing his lips in contact with
the outlet.
The German Foreign Office, taking
cogniZance of the renewal of the re-
ports that the German ambassador at
Washington, Baron Won Sternburg, is
shortly to retire, has authorized the
statement that Emperor William and
Chancellor Won Buelow have the fullest
confidence in the Embassador and de-
sire him to remain at washington so
long as he desires to do so.
No change in the Enthusiastically. it
was said, has been considered.
There will be installed on battleships
to go to the Pacific a new system of
fire control by which the fire from
the gins is directed from central sta
ton. The system includes the deter
mination Of ranges, direction OF fire.
concentration of guns and extensive
electrical communication. 1t has been
under test on board the battlesh!p Nir-
ginia, and proved its value for the ser
vice. The equipment of the battleships
with the new system will entail an ex-
penditure of something like 100000.
During the coming session of Con-
gress another attempt will be made to
secure legislation for the Filipinos in
the way Of granting them free trade
with this country on their tobacco and
sugar" declared Representative John
DalZell. of the Pittsburg district. who
is here Strengthening out some odds and
ends of Departmental business.
This Legislation is much needed by
the F'ilip4Hos, and should have been
enacted long ago. 1t passed the House.
but was held up in the Senate Commit
tee on the Philippines 1 am not in
favor of giving the islands complete
free trade on all articles with the MAIN
land of the United SfateS at the nreSept