The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-04-07
Washington LETTER
Nv CARL scHoFIELD. Special Core
spondent.

ton in honor of the opening Of the
Panama canal In 1915 is growing, and
the Washington chamber of commerce
will take the matter up and push II
hard. it Is said. Since the plan was
first suggested several weeks ago the
adherents to the plan have greatly IN
creased.
Panama Canal Exposition.
That such a celebration and exposi-
ton would be a great benefit to the
national capital from business stand
point is the belief Of many. 1t is also
believed that it would be far more
economical for the United States gov
eminent to hold the celebration ana
exposition here at the time OF the ca
nal opening, for wherever tie expo
sttion is held congress will be called
upon to appropriate large sums to aid
in the construction Of buildings for
the exposition. The government could
erect handsome structures here Tor
such use with the understanding that
after the exposition was completed
they should be used by the govern
ment departments. The plan, 1t Is
said. should certainly appeal to the
economists In congress.
Cities In Composition.
There are many cities in the run
ming for the celebration and the at
tendant exposition. Among them are
New Orleans, San Francisco. Calves
ton, Tex; San Diego, CAL, and St
Louis. With so many in the field 1t IL
beginning to be apparent that the east
est way in which to settle the con-
troversy will be to FIX upon the ma
tional capital, which. after all, many
members of congress believe, is the
logical place for the celebration OF
the completion of the greatest work
which the country has ever under
taken.
Freedmen's Saving Institution.
After considering the proposition
through several congresses favorable
action has been taken In the senate
committee looking to the reimburse
ment of the depositors of the old
Freedmen's Saving and Trust COM
pany. A favorable report was ordered
ON a bill that will affect 81, 131 depos-
itors and carries an appropriation OF
81, POI, 744.5O The money must be
claimed within one year from the pas
sage of the act. The proposed law
prevents the employment Of legal
representative to assist in collecting
the money.
Authorized by Congress.
This institution was authorized by
act of congress In 1866. Its object was
to receive the earnings of thousands
Of poor persons. the report explains,
who were just emerging from slavery.
The committee took the view that the
government lent its credit to the insti-
tuition and that because Of that credit
the money of the depositors was OBJ
tanned The reimbursement is justified
by the committee on the ground that
the government created the institu-
ton and through Its uniformed and
commissioned officers operated It and
urged many to become depositors. For
that reason. it is held, the government
was morally il not legally liable. The
liabilities at the time Of the failure
aggregated $2,939,925, but dividends
previously paid have reduced the
amount to that appropriated by the
bill.
indicates Humane Society.
That the laws for the humane treat
ment of animals in the District of Co
luInbia will not be weakened and the
powers of the Washington Humane
society will not be destroyed is as
sured by the action of the senate Dis
trict committee In making an adverse
report on the bill introduced with that
object in view.
Senator Gallinger, who made the re-
port on behalf of the District commit
tee. is. as usual. in line with the most
advanced thought on the humanita-
rian movements of the day.
Society Enforced Law.
The chairman of the District COM
mittee is OF the opinion that 1t would
be extremity unwise to take away the
powers Of the Washington Humane So
ciety and place them in the hands Of
the police. as the latter body, having
sufficient duties already. would not be
able to give the same attention and
special knowledge TO the work. He
points out that the chief argument
made in favor Of transferring the ar-
th0rtty to enforce the law to the po-
lice is that the Humane society has
been .stoo active" in Its efforts to en-
force the law and plainly indicates
that this is better reason for con-
tinutng sthe present system than for
making change.
Ancient Raptismal Basin.
A silver baptismal basin which was
sent from Holland III 1894 to the first
Dutch church on Manhattan Island has
been deposited In the United States
National museum through the courtesy
Of the Colonial Danes OF New York
state. The basin measures nearly eleVS
en- inches in diameter and is about
three Inches deep 1t is said that