The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-08-01
PAYING TAFT'S
TRAVEL BILLS.
Difference Of Opinion Whether
Country Should Do Il.
ATTITUDE OF SOUTHERN men.

ing Sum For Purpose-Improveme
of Waterways Ursed-Not the Rich
MRS. Hetty Green-cabinet Changes
Rumcred.
Washington, July 30.-[Special.I BE
fore the session ends congress undoubt-
eddy viii appropriate $4,000 as the
amount to be fixed for the travelling
expenses Of President Taft. In the
last year Of his administration Presi-
dent Roosevelt did not spend half of
the money allowed for his travelling
expenses and, as it was not voted by
congress in Mr.. Roosevelt's name.
President Taft had the use Of that ap-
preparation, or what was left of it, up
to July /. So. after all. President Taft
has played in big luck. His salary
was increased from $4,000 to $75.00O
In the closing session Of the last con-
gress large majority Of the members
of the house thought that was enough
without allowing the expense account
1t was supposed by those who voted
that way that the matter was ended
and that no further effort would be
made to have a $4,000 expense item
included in any of the appropriation
bills. but it seems they were mistaken.
JustifiabIe if True.
Whether they are justified or not,
some Of the southern members of the
house have an idea that President Taft
has eliminated from his tour next fall
several cities in their section that he
practically promised to visit, and they
have suspicion that he has taken
this action because nearly all the
southern members of the house voted
against the item allowing him the
$4,000 for travelling expenses In
deed, one of the congressman from
down in Dixie who voted that way
himself is candid enough to admit
privately that Mr. Taft would be only
human to take that view. IF we vote
not to pay his expenses" said this
member. 81 am not surprised that he
has decided to skip most of the south
ern cities when he makes that trip
Urges Improvement of Waterways.
Senator Stone of Missouri says that
in the days of his youth when he
would make trips on the Missouri
river it was no uncommon thing for
him to pass in single day more than
twenty palatial steamers in going
from the central part of the state
down TO st. Louis. About a quarter
of a century later. when he was gov
ernor. it was a rare thing to observe
one little dinkey steamer in year
passing Jefferson City. The railroads.
he says, have changed all this. He
thinks congress ought to improve the
waterways and that if liberal appro-
priations are made it will net be many
more years before the steamers will be
thick on all of the big rivers in the
United States. II want to see the
Missouri navigable from its mouth to
Fort Benton in Montana" remarked
the senator, II want to see the Ohio
harnessed by locks and dams its en-
tire length. / want to see the Co
lumbia improved and the intercoastal
canals built, and the only way to ac-
complish this is the adoption of
comprehensive plan on the part of the
government looking TO these improve
ments and yearly appropriations made
In order that the work may be carried
to successful finish"
Possible Cabinet Change.
Rumors of changes in the cabinet
are constantly in the air. Talk about
the possible retirement of Secretary
Wilson was rife at one time, but OF
late gossip has turned upon other
members of the cabinet, and the most
persistent rumor is that there win be
q new head to the navy department
before long. The reason for the pos
sible retirement OF Secretary Meyer is
not quite clear, but the impression
prevails that he viii not remain.
Not the Same.
Mrs. Hetty Green is the name as
It appears among the assistant plate
printers over at the bureau OF engrav-
Ing and printing People who were
the list began to ask If it
could be possible that the woman with
the reputation of being the richest of
her sex In this or any other country
was working here for Uncle Sam
Some were disposed to think it was
true. since they had read so many ac-
counts of how little money the famous
Mrs. Hetty is willing to part with
But investigation proved that the Mrs.
Hetty Green employed at the bureau
is a negress who formerly went by the
name of Ross and lately changed her
name to that of her husband.
Slow Change of offieehoIders.
It is a noteworthy fact that the bulk
of the appointments made so far by
President Taft relate to the army and
navy, the marine corps and the rev
enue cutter service He has taken up
only a small percentage of the offices
IN which Republican congressman are
deeply interested, such as postmasters,
collectors Of internal revenue, United
States marshals. district attorneys, ete.
The terms of a great many of these
officers already have expired or sce