Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-11-14
notes FROM WASHINGTON
Especial Correspondence.)

The question where the constitution OF
the United States applies in criminal
cases in the Panama canal zone is in.
volved in the case of Adolphus Coul.
son. who is under sentence Of death
on the charge of numbering his wife,
His appeal TO the supreme court is
based on the ground that he was de-
MED jury trial. In presenting>a a mo-
tion for dismis sal Solicitor General
Hoyt took the ground that the consti-
tutiona provisions do not extend to
territory possession such status as
that of the canal zone.
Need Naval Bases in lsIands.-At
tention is strongly invited in the an
nual report of Rear Admiral Pillsbury,
chief of the navigation bureau, to the
lack of defended naval base in either
the American insular possessions In
the east or In the Caribbean sea, the
probable theatres of action in any war
in which the navy might be called
upon to engage. SO important is this
question believed to be that, in Admi-
raj Pillsburys opinion, all apPropria-
tions for new improvements at naval
stations or for the defence of the coast
ports should give way to the estab-
lishment and the defence OF naval bas-
es in the Philippines at Pearl barbor
and in Cuba at Guantanamo, for these
bases are vital to our success in war.
Wireless Army Telephone.-It is
probable that the first army wireless
telephone system to be put into opera
tion in the United States will be In
stalled along the New England coast
to connect the artillery districts from
Portland to Boston. Gen. Allen, chief
signal officer, has returned from Eu-
rope with considerable wireless tele-
phone apparatus acquired abroad while
he was attending the international
electrical congress in France. 1t Is
unlikely that the equipment will be
put into operation within six months,
although experiments with 1t will be
conducted Immediately 1t is under
stood that it will be put to its first
practical use at Boston, although moth
ing definite has been decided upon, and
the signal corps is secretive about the
matter. The wireless telephone system
Gen. Allen has obtained can be oper-
ated at distance of 40 miles, much
further than Is possible now in wire
less telephoning between ships of the
navy. This comparative great distance
will enable all of the headquarters
posts In the Boston, Portland and
Portsmouth districts to be connected
and instantaneous communication can
be established between all the strate-
getic points on the New England coast.
Dirt Flying on the lsthmus.-At the
end of October, according to figures
given out at the office of the Isthmian
cana commission, the United States
since beginning to make the dirt fly
had taken So, 3,78S,593 cubic yards Of ma
terial from the canal cut. The keep
ing of records was begun on May l,
1904, at which time it was estimated
the task before the canal builders was
the removal of 142,700,000,000 cubic
yards of earth and rock. At the rate
of progress shown since the keeping
Of records the canal should be finished,
so far as the main cutting is concerned
late in 1918. Lieut.. Col. Goethals, pres
ident of the commission, during his re-
cent visit to Washington, said he ad'
hered to his original estimate which
was that ships would be passing
through the canal on Jan. 1, 1915. He
pointed out that there would be a
good deal Of work to be done even
after the ordinary excavating was fin
ished. Besides, he has always insisted
that a prudent engineer should allow
himself a margin SO that when he met
unexpected obstacles he would not
have to do any explaining. The report
shows that another record was broken
during October by the men who do the
actual digging.
plans For Next cabinet.-Now that
Mr.. Taft has been elected the two
things that most interest Washington
are his cabinet and the revision OF the
tariff, to which Mr.. Taft stands
pledged. So far as the cabinet Is con-
cerned there will be many changes.
Mr.. Root can remain at the head OF
the state department If he cares to,
although il Is generally believed here
that he will leave the state department
and 90 into the senate as the successor
of Mr.. Platt next January, In that
case 1t is the general expectation
that he will be succeeded by Mr.. Mey-
er, who has not only taken an active
part in the campaign, but whom Mr..
Taft personally likes and greatly ad-
mires. Mr.. Meyers linguistic abilities
and his diplomatic knowledge admira-
bly, At him for, the state department
and his appointment would be pleasing
10 the various foreign governments
represented here through their ambas'
sadors and ministers, with all Of whom
Mr.. Meyer is on friendly terms. In the
event that Mr.. Root should not leave
the state department Mr.. Meyer VIII
become secretary Of the treasury, as
Mr.. Cortelyou viii retire after March
4. Mr. Meyers place will In all prob
ability be filed by Mr.. Hitchcock, the
chairman of the national Republican
committee, whose mastery manage
ment Of the campaign so signaliy tusti
fed the wisdom of his appointment
Mr. Hitehcock's appointment as post
master general would be a natural one
as he was first assistant postWastsE
general at the time when ne left the
government service to take charge o.
Mr.. Taft's campaign, and has thor
ouRh knowledge OF the work OF that
department. Secretary Of War Wright
who succeeded Mr.. Taft after the lat
ter's nomination. will, 1t is expected
remain through the next administra
ton; but Mr.. Metcalf, the head Of the
sister branch OF the service, viii re
tire with the present administrator
So will Atty. Gen. Bonaparte.