New-York tribune., 1910-02-01
THE DAWN WASHINGTON

Middle West, information has reacneo mere
from authoritative sources to the erect
that in the selection Of William j Calhouh
for Minister to China the administrator
has very largely, perhaps entirely olssl-
pated the unpleasant impression made in
that selection by the unfortunate crane III
cdent. Those acquainted with the pur-
poses and motives of President Ia1t anu
Secretary Knox know that they were actu-
ated solely by a desire to obtain for this
mission the man best fitted by tempera-
ment and training for the important ana
delicate duties he would be called on TO
perform Despite their singleness Of pur-
pose. however, they were so fortunate as
to make a selection which promptly con-
vinced a great number of inhuenual men
in both parties, and especially IN that sec
ton. OF their sincerity of purpose, ano'
moreover, of their good judgment Even
the loyal friends of Mr.. Crane are loud In
their prasise of Mr. Calhoun, and frankly
say that the administration could nave
made no more judicious selection And so
extensive is this feeling that 1t is a saIe
assertion that practically all the regret
and soreness aroused by the demand ior
Mr.. Cranes resignation have given place
to admiration for the wisdom displayed III
choosing his successor.
Senator Hepburn has introduced two joint
resolutions which arouse considerable inter
est. One provides for the employment of
two expert geologists to make an extensive
investigation and an exhaustive report on
the geological formation Of the Isthnus of
Panama, especially along the line Of the
canal, before the closing of the locks snail
flood the greater portion Of the great cut.
he
two expert "botanists naturalists and ar
borists,' who shall make an exhaustive IN
vestigation and report on the flora ana
fauna of the Canal Zone before Its appear
ance shall be altered by the creation of
Gatun Lake. The resolutions provide for
the payment to these scientists of salaries
of $4,000 year The Senator from Idaho
IS convinced that a great opportunity for
increasing scientific knowledge will be lost
if these Investigations are not conducted
before the closing of the canal gates hooo
the major portion of the excavation Both
resolutions were referred to the Committee
on Interoceanic Canals.
A decision handed down by the Supreme
Court to-day recalls a probably unique ex-
perience in the annals of that tribunal.
The court decided to-day against the claim
of an Indian woman, a member of the
Wyandotte tribe, who sought to have an
act Of Congress providing for the sale of a
Wyandotte burial ground set aside. The
interesting feature of the case was the
fact that the woman appeared recently
before the court and argued her own
case She maintained that, although the
law provides that the proceeds from the
sale of the cemetery should be divided
among the members of the tribe, 1t would
be impossible to appraise at any monetary
value the injury to her feelings which
must result from the disturbance of her
dead Officers of the court sought to
check her flow of oratory, but without
avail. She pleaded her constitutional
right to argue her own case, and the
highest court in the land was compelled
to Weld to the logic of her contention ana
permit her to finish her argument
Senator Dillingham;, acting for Senator
Beyeridge to-day introduced the state
hood bill approved by the President and
announced that as soon as the senator
from Indiana returned to washington ne
would use all possible energy to OBTAIN the
massage of the measure, which IS part Oh
the Taft legislative programme. AS pre-
d;cted in this column, Senator Carter is
,,sing every opportunity to press the postal
savings bank bill, and it Is the expectation
of the leaders that both measures VIII pe
disnosed of by the time the interstate
commerce bill is ready to be made the un-
finished business before the Senate. Inc
Alaskan bill is being considered daily.
G. G. H.