Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-22
lat THE WHITE HOUSE
President Still Bent on Having
Four BattIeships.
coNFERs WITH SENATORS
All From the Pacific cosst With tho
Chief Executive
GEN. GRosvENoR NAMES TAFT


ton and Election "Nailed"-Em-
ployers' Liability Bill.
The fight between the President and the
Senate for four new battleships In this
years naval bill Is now In full swing.
There is no indication that the President
is discouraged by the action Of the House
in running counter to his recommends
tons for a rapid increase in the navy,
but the signs seem to be that the defeat
of the administration program In the
lower branch Of Congress has made Pres
ident Roosevelt still more determined to
win out by An amendment to the naval
appropriation bill in the Senate. There
were several senator's in conference with
the President this morning and one OF
them, Senator Flint of California. assured
the chief executive that no missionary
work was necessary to make him appre-
ciate the necessity for four battleships
IT presume the President will talk to
some senator's on this subject said the
California senator afterward, but told
him, before he had mentioned the SUD.
ject to me, that was willing to do al
the work could for four ships. I think
too. the prospects are good for an amend
coast ssenators-six in number-are indus
triously working for the administration
program. They have an idea that they
are better informed as to the intentions
Of japan than others, and, without excep-
ton, they hold that trouble with Japan
is not SO remote as eastern senator's ap.
pear to think. Senators Warren and Hop
kins. who are generally known as warm
supporters Of administration plans and
policies. were with the President in the
morning, but they said afterward he did
not talk battleships with them.
The President and Mr. Hale.
1t is doubted II the President will send
another message on the subject to Con.
gress. Senator Hale, chairman Of the
Senate naval affairs committee, is under
stood to be pressing for an early vote in
| the Senate. Delays. 1t is claimed, might
| mean the success Of the President. In
the private letter which the President
wrote to Speaker Cannon for the informa-
| ton Of leading members of the House,
| the text of which has never been made
public. there were hints OF the danger OF
foreign war. but. beyond this, the Pres
| ident does not seem to have put himself
In the position Of further using this
powerful weapon. It is declared that in
this letter the President furnished some
immediate special reasons why more than
two battleships should be provided for.
The Information which he gave in that
letter is at his disposal should he care to
use it in the Senate, where 1t would have
weight.
Senator Hale paid q call Of respect at
the White House at the beginning OF the
session OF Congress. but ..e has not been
time. The President has not invited Sem
ator Hale to visit him to discuss legisla-
ton relating to the navy or other sub.
jects. So far as the public knows there
was never any serious difference between
the two. each appearing to feel able to at
tend to his own affairs without assistance
or advice from the other. Senator Hale
Is one of the few republican senators who
has devoted little time to the White
House. During the rate legislation fight
and other contests in which the admins
tration was deeply concerned Senator
Hale was not consulted, as was the case
with other men of equal influence in the
Senate. The Maine senator has always
been tenacious Of the me-honored view
that 1t Is the business OF the President
to recommend and Of Congress to legislate
without pressure from the White House.
That IL said to account for the fact that
he has not sought the favor OF the exec
utive mansion.
Senator Frye il not q frequent visitor
to the executive Offices, but Is known to
entertain q high regard for the President
In patronage questions arising IN Name
the President has deferred to the recon-
mendations Of the two senator's, who have
never pressed their claims by personal
visits.
Sailors Will Bs safe.
Surgeon General Wyman OF the marine
hospital service. who called at tho White
House today. predicted that the officers
and men OF the big Pacific feet would be
safe from the dangers OF plague when
they 90 to San Francisco. There has not
been a case of plague in the big city since
February. and the officials Of the marine
hospital service and the citizens are
conditions. 1.-THE warfare on rats Is 60
ing right on" DR.. Wyman said. land az
the pests carry the disease, the impor.
| lance of this work is evident. Cement
cellars are being built in residences to
keep rats out. and other precautions are
being taken to prevent them spreading
the disease. The number Of rats recently
killed show q smaller percentage Of plague
injection than at any time since the dis
ease appeared. In the cities surrounding
San Francisco there have been no cases
Of plague for many months" Surgeon
Blue OF the marine hospital service. who
was assigned to plague eradication Ut the
inception Of the outbreak Of the diGease
last summer, is still on duty In San Fran
cisco. y
Ship Subsidy Bill.
Representative overstrsst OF Indiana.
chairman Of the House committee on post
Offices and post roads, was asked at the
White House today about the status OF
A.