Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-12
CAPITAL JO1TlNGS.

The secretary of the navy has ac-
cented the RESIGNATION of his son. hid
shipman Victor n. Metcalf, because CT
ill health.
Government receipts Tuesday: From
internal revenue. S551,o9'; customs
ss1S,2sS; miscellaneous, $554si. Expen-
ditures, s2,o7e,ooo.
The bill appropriating s3"c,Otc for
participation by the United states III
and international exposition To De held
at Toxic, japan, in 1912. was passed
BY the Senate Tuesday.
Senator Aldrch purposes to have the
office of general appraiser OF mercnah-
disc removed from politics SO far as
the making of appointments Is con-
cerned. He introduced a Dill TUESDAY
amending the act to simplify the laws
in relation to the collection OF revenues
by adding a new section providing tha'
all general appraisers of merchandise
shall hold office during good behavior,
but permitting the President to re-
move officers because OF lncapacllE
or similar deficiency.
The House of Representatives Tues
day passed & resolution requesting the
secretary of the navy to 1ufnlsh IN
formation las to what reduction mas
been made in the skilled labor force
employed in the Washington and other
navy yards
Extending the application of the pro-
visions of the eight hour law to watch
men. transfers, firemen and STABLE
men under the Quartermaster's de-
partment, in accordance with recent
decisions. will mean an extra cost OF
5000 a year to the war department.
The force of employees VIII have TO De
increased to meet the needs of the SER
vice.
In order to remedy what appeared
to be discrimination against the
enlisted pcrsOnel of the army, navy
and marine corps, Mr.. OHVer. acting
secretary of war, has issued an order
extending to the wives OF "ll such
men the privilege of interment in
national cemetery. Heretofore sucn
privilege was limited to the wives OF
officers of the military services.
Estimates ut the war department are
that the total cost of the heavy fur
niture which it is proposed to supply
to army officers quarters Will amount
to s946,S54, or approximately $500 per
set The contracts to be awarded this
fiscal year contemplate an expenditure
of about one third the total cost and
will furnish each building with a dim
ing room table. eight dining chairs, 4
desk and a sideboard. Later on other
supplies will be contracted for.
Proposals have been invited for the
construction of new cable steamer
and mine planter, plans for which
have been completed. The war depart
ment wants one of these vessels on the
Pacific coast for coast artillerists
there. If the work cannot be done
there, it is probable that one of the
mine planters or the Atlantic will be
sent to the Pacific. Next year it is
hoped that one or two will be availa-
biz for tie Philippine service.
Splendid progress has been made at
the naval station Of Guantanamo to-
wards repairing that place for target
practice since the ships of the Attain
tic fleet We're last there A camp
ground accommodating $4,000 men.
new barracks with all of the accom-
modationS of clubhouse, electric ligh:
facilities, pistol targets. etc, are now
in evidence and a skrmish field. has
been established. The station is in an
excellent condition and Is model of
its type, surprising anything of its
kind in the world
Miss Maud Ashford Of Washington
Tuesday announced that she was no
longer engaged to Former United
States Senator Henry G.. Davis. the
Democratic candidate for Vice Presi-
dent in the last national campaign
She said she broke the engagement
Monday night She said she and the
former senator discussed the matter
and Miss Ashford referred to the de-
tcrmined opposition of some of the
members Of Mr.. Davis family to the
proposed marriage She said that she
had no desire to Cstranse the senator
at his age from his family. Mr.. Davis
declined to talk