Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1911-01-26
MISSED IT BY MILE AND A HALF,
SAYS CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEES.
TAFT PLANS TO FORTlFY PANAMA
So Declares in Speech at New York
Senatorial Popular Election Bill
Strikes Hard
Snag.

Washington, Jan. 23.-That Captain
Robert E. Peary came within 1.6 miles
of the north pole-near enough to es.
tabiish his claim of having been at
the exact spots the decision of the
house committee on naval affairs
which has been considering the bill to
retire Captain Peary with the rank OF
rear admiral.
The basis of the committees finding
Is the chart prepared by Hugh G.
Mitchell and C. R Duvall of the Unit
ed States coast and geodetic survey and
based on Peary's observations. This
chart shows that Peary went to the
left on nearing the pole, due to an
error in his instruments. Later he
crossed toward the pole, his nearest
point being 1.6 miles. Representative
Bates of Tennessee presented the ma
jority report of the committee recon-
mending that Peary be retired with
the rank Of rear admiral
A minority report submitted by Rep
Fesentative Roberts of Massachusetts
does not question Captain Peary's per-
Torrance, but arraigns the National
Geographic sOciety's committee, which
he claims, announced it's findings after
only cursory examination of Peary's
proofs.
A fight is certain to develop in the
house over the proposed legislation.
representative Macon of Arkansas has
indicated that he would oppose it's pas-
sage on the floor.
The report pointed out that Captain
reary was acting under orders from
the navy department when he made
the polar dash. The charges that have
been made that his expedition was q
private one are not borne out, the re-
port stated. by the facts disclosed in
the committees hearings.
The committee made the point also
that Captain Pearys trip was taken
With the express Endorsement of his
ecmmander-inchlef President Roose-
volt.
{ TAFT Determined to Fortify Canal.
President Taft has begun in earnest
his campaign for the fertilization of
the Panama canal. His entire speech
at the annual banquet of the Pennsyl-
vania society in New York was devot-
ed to this subject. He has high hopes
that congress at this session will de-
clare in his favor and appropriate $5,-
100000 to begin the work.
In the senate, the president has been
told, the sentiment for fortification is
almost two to one. The house seems
evenly divided, but not on partisan
lines. Most of the members appear,
however, to be willing to be convinced
by the side that makes the better pre-
sentation of its case.
In his speech Mr. Taft said that
there were absolutely no treaty obliga-
tons in the way of fortifying the can
al; that the United States had every
right and reason to protect what was
purely an American waterway.
Medal for Mr.. Carnegie.
The Pennsylvania dinner was
marked by the presentation to An
drew Carnegie of the society's gold
medal, awarded annually for "distin
guished achievement"
Other speakers were Joseph Choate
former ambassador to Great Britain
and Governor Dix. Among those at
the presidents table were Captain
Robert E. Peary, Attorney General
Wickersham, Governor Tener, of Penn
sylyania, Secretary Knox and Charles
D. Norton, secretary to the president.
Opposition to Senatorial Election Bill
All rteresting situation has devel
aHa wth respect to the bill pending
81 IT. aenate providing for the const1
lu&lonal amendment authorizing the
election of the senators by the people
Although majority Of the senate
is now in favor Of this proposition, in
response to the demands Of the PEG
pie in many states, there is every indi
cation that the bill will fail In thu
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