The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-04-08
WASHINGTON
From our REGULAR Corresnsndent.

| thC pJllCellleH OH uutN ABOUT the
Executive grounds, THE First
Cow in the Land, is receiving a
full share of the attention bestowed
upon the new administration. The
COW is certainly an innovation and
has been purchased by Mrs. Taft
in order that the Presidents family
may be provided with milk strictly
sanitary under all conditions.
Hygienic conditions will receive
the most scrupulous consideration
at the White House and Mrs. Taft
believes that pure milk is one of
the first and most important es-
sentials.
~
The leaders in the House of
Representatives have decided to
amend the Payne bill by increas-
ing materially the authorization of
Panama Canal bends and providing
for sinking fund to pay these
bonds at maturity. The Secretary
of the Treasury believes he can
dispose of a larger issue to greater
advantage than he could the issue
of $40, 900, 900 authorized by the
bill as reported, and the first step
will be taken on his recommenda-
ton. Secretary McVeagh has sug-
gested to the leaders, also, that he
be given authority to defray the
expenses of the canal from the
general revenues as long as he
deems desirable, but that he be
empowered to sell the larger issue
whenever he finds conditions for
such sale most favorable. The
sinking fund provision will set
apart potion of the receipts of the
canal as a fund to redeem the
issue. One object in taking this
step so early is to check the agita-
ton in favor of making passage
through the canal free. The claim
is made that this agitation eman-
ates from those interests which
have always opposed the canal,
and which, now that its compile
ton is assured, seek to make it as
unpopular as possible by making it
a heavy expense with no compen-
sating return, to the government.
While the Panama Canal will cost
i'll the neighborhood of $500. 900,
900, it is believed that it will yield
a verv large percentage ou the in
vestment, if proper tonnage is
charged, and the leaders of the
House desire to insure the devo-
tion of that income to the payment |
of tie bonds which t1e construc-
ton of the canal makes necessary. |
~
The Democratic Secretary of |
War will not tolerate the "exclu-
sive" clubs which have sprung up |
among officers detailed at various
army posts and barracks through |
the United States, and in an order, |
issued through the chief of staff,
Gen. J. Franklin Bell, Mr.. Dick
inson has sounded the death knell |
of these organizations. The custom
has grown up at number of army |
posts throughout the country, but |
particularly in the Department of |
the East, OF establishing exclusive |
clubs formed entirely of officers of
a single organization, or of equal
rank, equal wealth, or equal social |
position. For instance at Fort
Myer where both cavalry and artil-
lery are stationed, the officers of
the former maintained club and
the officers of the artillery were
held not eligible for membership.
Those officers who worked their
way up from the ranks and had not
the good fortune to be appointed
from West Point were seldom, if
ever, taken into these exclusive"
clubs. Secretary Dickinson believes
that the purpose of army clubs Is
to foster a feeling of comradeship
between officers of all branches Of
the service, and believes that these
particular kind of clubs have oper-
ated against this fundamental prin-
ciple.
***
The tariff situation in the House
of Representatives shows little or
no improvement and efforts made
recently to obtain some unanimity
of sentiment only revealed wider
disaffection than has been apparent
heretofore. AT conference this
week at the White House between
the President and the House lead
ers, it was suggested to Mr.. Taft
by the latter that in view of the
disaffection in the Republican
ranks, he could assist them greatly
by reasoning with recalcitrant
ReDublicans who Dlace their indi-