Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-19
WOODSTOCK ausIness cards
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
Especial Correspondence.)

Arbitration Treaty signed.-Secre-
tary OF State Root and Mr. Pardo,
Perviau minister to the United States
a few days ago signed an arbitration
treaty between the United States and
Peru. This is the first arbitration
treaty signed between the United
States and any South American coun-
try.
Evacuation Of Cuba.-secretary Of
War Wright, with whom Governor
Magoon of Cuba has been comforting,
has announced that the first Amerl.
can troops will leave Cuba on Jan. l,
and the movement will continue grad
ually. Instead of the movement term
mating Jan 28, when the new presl-
dent of Cuba will be inaugurated, as
heretofore announced by Secretary
Wright, the withdrawal will be more
gradual, and, according to the present
program, will run into April. The
change was announced after the last
cabinet meeting. American troops will
be available for service in the island
during the transition from the prOvl.
sional to the regular government and
for a reasonable time subsequent
thereto, so that if disorders arise they
will be on hand for duty. This change,
1t is said, is entirely agreeable to the
Cuban authorities.
In Favor of Bond lssue.-President
Roosevelt and President-elect Taft
have publicly put themselves on rec
ord in advocacy of the issue of gov
ernment bonds for the construction of
permanent public improvements to
conserve natural resources Presi-
dent-elect Taft presided at the joint
consultation meeting at the Belasco
theatre in this city, at which Presi-
dent Roosevelt made the principal ad-
dress, giving his unqualified approval
for the carrying out of expert plans
for the conservation of the nations
resources. The coming president Sec
onded Mr.. Roosevelt's assertions with
hearty accord. Governor Chamber
lain of Oregon voiced what seemed
the advanced ground of the Democra-
tic party, in advocacy of federal juris.
diction, and an audience which filled
the theatre and which included An
drew Carnegie, James ]. Hill, John
Mitchell, senators, congressman and
the governors of several states, ap-
plauded every sentiment expressed.
Hale Leader of Senate.-The con-
ference of senate Republicans form
ally selected Senator Eugene Hale of
Maine as the leader in that legisla-
tive body. The selection, however,
was as caucus chairman, which car
ries with it the honor of senate lead
er. The caucus chairman is always
chairman of the steering committee,
which is the governing body of the
Senate He also names the commit
tee which fixes upon the committee
assignments for senators-a very i'm
portant matter in the organization OF
the Senate. In all these functions
Mr.. Hale succeeds the late Senator
Allison of Iowa, who had been the
Senate leader for many years. In
due season Mr.. Hale will be formally
elected as chairman. of the appropri-
ations committee to succeed Mr.. AL
lisoR. 1t will be through the agency
of the committee on committees,
which he will himself name. For
two or three years, during Mr.. ALI
sons illness, Mr.. Hale was acting
chairman of appropriations most OF
the time. That arrangement may be
continued this winter. At the begin
ming of the next Congress quite a
reorganization of Senate committees
will be necessary, and 1t may be con-
tinued this winter At the beginning
of the next Congress quite a reor-
ganization of Senate committees WIN
be necessary, and 1t may be decided
to do all the work then, allowing con-
ditions to remain as they are during
the short session. The leader Of the
Senate is expected to be an easy
boss" Senators resent any promin-
ent show of authority. But the Sen
ate leadership is a place OF very
great power. Mr.. Allison was al
most an ideal man for the position.
The Senate's processes are very de-
Lucrative, but in the last analysis,
after given program had been talk
ed over in cloak rooms or committee
rooms, his judgment was final.
Real Tariff ReVision.--William H.
Taft said 1t was his belief that the
house Of representatives would make
an honest and thorough revision Of
the tariff" at the extra session which
he is to call for that purpose upon his
Inauguration. This belief he bases
ON a conference he had the other
day with Speaker Joseph G.. Cannon
and at a meeting with the republican
members of the ways and means COM
mittee of the house of representa-
tives. Mr. Taft said he had not as
yet consulted members OF the senate
on the subject, indicating at the same
time that the great pressure upon his
time since he has been in Washing
ton is the reason. When the sug-
gestion was made that the senate
would undoubtedly have something
to do with the tariff bill after the
house had passed it, he replied, with
no uncertainty in his demeanor, that
there was some one else who also
would have something TO do with the
bill. This, interpreted by previous
utterances, indicates clearly that
Mr.. Taft is determined, IL necessary,
even to exercise the veto power, to
prosecute the pledges of the party
Mr.. Taft dictated statement which
covers his interview with all the
republican members of the committee
except Representative Mccall ol
Massachusetts and Crumpacker of In
diana. With the latter member he
had satisfactory interview at Hot
Springs. After he had finished his
statement he was asked the substance
OF the Interview he had with the
speaker. His reply was that Mr.
Cannon said that he was in favor ol
an honest and thorough revision ol
the tarint.