The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1909-01-22
Notes FROM WASHINGTON
Especial Correspondence.)


"a
es received from Special Commission.
er Buchanan, that he will reach a sat
| isfactory agreement with President
| Gomez of Venezuela for the settle
ment of the disputed questions be-
tween the United States and that
country. Following this, diplomatic
| relations, which have been broken off
for a long time, will be resumed. The
| principal issues between the coun-
| tries are the five claims OF American
| citizens and interests --against Vene-
Zuela which Pres. Castro refused to
| submit TO arbitration, the judgment OF
| the Venezuelan courts uniformly hav-
| ing been adverse TO the claims pre-.
sented.
Water Ways" Treaty-After long.
hard patient work which, on some fea-
lures ran into years, Secretary OF
State Root and Ambassador James
Bryce of Great Britain have signed a
treaty for the settlement of interna-
tional differences between the United
States and Canada. The signatures
were attached to the instrument at
the home of Secretary Root. This is
the agreement which has been popu-
larly alluded to as the waterways
treaty" but it's scope is broader than
that designation implies, because it
contemplates "A disposition of every
thing in the nature OF differences be-
tween the two countries. and machin-
cry for questions which may arise
along certain lines in the future. Pro
vision is made for a joint high com
mission, to be made permanent in
character.
Against Crowded Jails.-Sweeping
reforms OF more or less national inter
est, affecting the criminal classes in
the District OF Columbia. are recon-
mended in a report recently transmit
ted to congress by President Roosevelt
by the commission appointed under the
act of congress of May 20 last TO in
vestigate the subject. Justice Stat
ford of the supreme court of the Dis
trict of Columbia is chairman of the
commission, which is unsparing in its
condemnation of the conditions in
the federal jail, the workhouse and
other penal and correctional institu.
tions in this city. The overcrowding
of the Jail and the workhouse, the
commission declares to be disgrace.
II is stated that in most cases two or
three inmates are confined i'm single
cell not large enough for one, and that
%
bars in tin can.
Civil Service Report.-The twenty
fifth annual report of the civil service
commission is of especial interest, con-
tanning as II does a resume of the COM
missions work during the first quarter
OF century of its existence, together
with more detailed statement of the
changes brought about during Presi-
dent Roosevelt's terms of office. The
report shows that since it's establish
ment in 1883 the growth of the merit
system has been continuous, and APP
probation of its advantages over the
patronage system which preceded 1t,
has become practically universal. Both
forms TO indorse the principles of the
system and the commission enjoys
the support and sympathy of admins
trative officers and the federal courts.
In this connection il is interesting TO
note that six states and nearly one
hundred cities of the country have
adopted competitive systems for civil
appointments. AS the report says:
THE end of a quarter century of en-.
forcement finds the system firmly es-
tablished and faithfully supported 1t
is justified as a practicable method
OF obtaining economy and efficiency
in the service, and as a remedy for
many abuses
A New Forest Reserve Plan.-What
may prove to be the solution of the
problem Of establishing national for
est reserves in those sections of the
country here there are no public lands
remaining is now being discussed by
members of the house committee on
appropriations. Representative Weeks
and others have been working on the
plan for some time, with the result
that the present outlook is that a bill
will be reported favorably from the
committee. This measure will provide
for a permanent annual appropriation
country where there are no public lands
for forest reserve purposes. The mon.
ey will be expended from SAe fund
formed by the receipts of the forest
service. II can only be spent, the
bill will provide, in buying lands on
the watersheds of navigable streams.
Expenditures will be further limited
to states which maintain fire patrol
service in their forest areas. The bill
creates commission. composed OF
the. secretary OF agriculture. the Sec
retary of the interior, one senator and
one representative, to select the lands
to be bought and supervise the &: pen.
ditures of the appropriation. 1t is