The Lamar register., 1909-12-15
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.

William J. Calhoun Of Chicago has
been appointed minister to China and
has signified his acceptance OF the
office. .H
Senator J. c. s. Blackburn has re-
signed as a member of the Isthmian
Canal Commission and his resignation
has been accepted by the President.
On the opening of Congress. Foun-
tain l.. Thompson. Democrat. was
sworn in as senator from North Da-
kota. He succeeds the late Martin
Johnson.
At caucus OF Democratic senators
Senator II. ID. Money OF Mississippi
was chosen as minority leader in the
Senate to succeed Senator Culberson
of Texas. who resigned.
The navy year book for 1909 shows
the race for second place among the
navies Of the world to be still very
close as between the United States
and Germany. The United States has
greater tonnage of battleships and
armored cruisers, but Germany has a
larger number OF small vessels.
Taking a square hit at the annual
Roosevelt physical tests for army Of
ficers. Surgeon General Torney in his
annual report says that the present
test not only fails in the object 1t
sought to attain-"a physical condi-
ton which would enable them to be
always fit for active field service
but may result in serious damage to
elderly officers.
The Department of Agriculture on
the 18th inst. estimated that the newly
seeded area of winter wheat Is 10 per
cent greater than the revised estimat-
ed area sown in the fall OF 1908,
equivalent to an increase of 2,449,0O0
acres. the indicated total area being
33.4S3,000 acres. The condition of
winter wheat Dec. list was 95.S,
against s5.3 the same day year ago.
The Supreme Court of the United
States has granted the petition for a
writ of certiorari in the contempt
cases of Samuel Gompers. Frank Nor
rison and John Mitchell. officers of the
American Federation of Labor. The
effect will be to bring the entire rec
ord in the Bucks Stove & Range case
against these men to the Supreme
Court for review, and for decision
as to whether or not the federation
boycott of the Bucks Stove & Range
Company in its official organ. the Fed
eratlonist. was lawful procedure.
Endorsement of Clifford Pinchot,
chief forester. and plea for appro-
priations that will permit the drain
age of swamp lands were features Of
the last big open meeting of the Ma
tional Rivers and Harbors Congress
at Washington.
Assurances that steps of an import
ant character toward the development
OF a system of waterways improve
ments in the heart of the country
would be taken by the present Con-
gress were given by President Taft to
delegations of the National Rivers and
Forest Congress.
Representative Taylor has secured
the issuance of an order from the
commissioner of the general land of.
flee which will result in expediting
action upon the rights of way applica-
ton of the Plateau Valley railroad in
Western Colorado. The application
has been tied up for nearly two years.
Representative Taylor, who has
been working to secure modern field
guns for the Colorado militia, has re-
ceived notice from the War Depart
ment that four modern three-inch
rifled guns will be placed at the dis
posal of the militia Immediately. The
four guns, with their equipment, are
valued at $4,000.