Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-02-16

and Lodge, Forester G ford PinchoI
and DR.. Hills the pastor Of q locsl
church. he has made only one sp'
pointment for this afternoon, that one
being for his conference with the presi-
dent at the White House. MIA. Tat
will leave Tor New York tomorrow morn
ing. Just before going 10 the White
House for his conference with President
Roosevelt, MI. Taft set at rest all doubts
that may have existed az to the question
Of SenatorKno x' entry into the Cabinet.
az offered the portfolio of secretary
Of state to Senstcr Knox snd he accept
ed it. Nothing has occurred to make
him change his deciJiou," said The presi-
dent-elect, Ia conversation with sena-
tors Knox and Lodge earlier in the day
Mr.. TAFT ssid that be had not doubted at
any time that Congress could and would
pass the legislation Necessary to legaiza
the formers acc stance II the portfolio.
President Roosevelt aud Mr.. Taft
met at the executive Cfliees today for the
6rst time since December IS. The
greeting wss Of unusual warmth. Lister
Mr.. Taft announced that be was to meet
the president at $50 this afternoon in
company with the engineers who in
spected the Panama canal with him.
Mr.. Taft took with him to tho White
House al Lao p. m. The report of the
engineers that accompanied him to
Panama, and discussed with President
Roosevelt the charges in construction
that they recommend. The experts sd-
vocate the lock type Of canal, and rec
ommend the lowering OF the top OF the
Ga,un dam by twenty feet. They are
also in favor of decreasing the sizs OF
the core of the g,est dam by about two
6lths.
The crucial moment in the fight for
statehood for Arizona and New Mexico is
at hand. In a roundup of the atehood
forces a. the White House today it Was de-
cided to force the passage OF resolution
directing the Senate committee on terri
tories TO report the statehood bill a.
ready passed by TIE House, out Of the
committee at a certain date. The Gus
tom of the Senate has been opposed to
such a method, but the statehood forces,
headed by Senator Carter, declared that
only II Senators are opposed 10 the
measures and there is talk of all sorts OF
filibusteFiDg if the opponents OF state
hood defeat the resolution. TodaY's
eight in the Senate will determine just
what the future is to bring.
Whether the eighteen pension
agencies, now scattered from one end of
the country to the other, will be abolish
cd aud their work consolidated ia one
ofics in this city, is still a question.
The House, moved by sense of econ
omy, fsvOrs the consolidation, because
it would effect a saving of at least $780,
900 year. The Senate has heretofore
always held out for the individual
agencies and the Senate committee is
disposed to do the same this year. But
A hiut has reached the members Of the
committee thst President Roosevelt IN
tends shortly by executive order to effect
the consolidation of the work IN Wash
ington. Now the Senate committee is
endtavoring to frame provision which
will take this power swsy from the
president without, at the same time,
creating ant0gOnism in either body Of
Congress.
The House committee on foreign af-
fairs today recommended the passage Of
a resolution by Foster inviting the gov.
ernments of France and Great Britain
to participate in the proposed three hun
dredth anniversary of the discovery Of
Lake Ohamplsin by Samuel De Chap
lain. The celebration will be conducted
next July by the States of New YORK
and Vermont.
The White House today authorized
denial of the European reports that
President Roosevelt was to have q meat
ing with The pore while en- route to
British east Africa on his hunting trip.
Secretary Loeb stated that while he was
oct prepared to make public The itenera.
~, the president would be at Naples
only "a hours and that he would not
touch at Rome.
As the result Of a conference at the
White House today, President ROOse-
welt directed Secretary Garfield of the
Interior Department 10 at once iDvesii-
gate the cases of 300 homestead en-
tries recently Withdrawn because Of the
discovery of mineral deposits, aud to is-
sue patents 10 thoss cases in which the
land is proved to be agricultural IN
character. The executive order issued
today is the finale of long fight be-
tween the executive and leg s'a,ive de-
partmeuts of the government over the
policy of Secretary GARFIELD in withhold
ing patents from enterymen II minerals
we're discovered on the lands after the
frat papers were filed, The lands in
question contained phosphates. A bill
to compel the secretary of the interior
to issue patents has been favorsbly rec.
by the House committee on
public lands after several heated hear
ings at which Girdelds policy was
severely criticised.
Maxwell X. Moorhesd, American
Consul at Acapulco, has informed the
S ate Department, in dispatches receiv-
ed today, that no Americans were lost
10 the theatsr FIRE which destroyed the
lives of over 200 people.
A resolution to strengthen the American
National Red Cross, introduced by Mr..
Derby, was recommended for passage by the
House committee on foreign affairs today. 1t
provides that after 1911 the use Of the Red
Cross Of the words Red Cross" or Geneva
Cross" shall not he used except by the Amer
lean Red Gross, its agents and such persons or
corporations rs have heretofore used it as a
trade mark. Persons unlawfully representing |
themselves TO be agents Of the Red Gross are |
10 be su jet to a heavy penalty.
Commissioner w. l Buchanan, who ar