Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-22
American Steamship Company
to Renew Its Service
TO AUSTRALIA AND RETURN
Oceanic Line Assured of Contract Be-
ginning Next July.
rLANS FOR THE NEW STATES
Proclamation to Be Issued as Soon
as Proper Papers Are Filed
With President.

BY July / next American steamers will
be carrying the mails Of this country to
Australia and return. according to an
agreement reached at the White House
today.
The Oceanic Steamship Company Of San
Francisco, which withdrew it's vessels
five years ago. owing to inability to make
returns. has decided to restore the service
if it can secure contracts for carrying the
mails. President Taft, Postmaster Gen.
eraI Hitchcock and Secretary Meyer have
assured the company that it will obtain
these contracts under the law of 1891.
The Oceanic company formerly ran
three steamers between San Francisco
and Sydney. They were operated with
coal. 1t has been ascertained that by
converting them into oil burners a big
saving in expense can be made, and
probable profit to the stockholders Sc
now operated between San Francisco and
Honolulu. AS proposed. two steamers
will run between San Francisco and Sgd
ney. stopping at Honolulu and Page
Page, where the United States has an
important naval station. The Navy De-
partment is DESTROYS of having this serv-
ice restored. the steamers would be-
come auxiliary cruisers in the event OF
The mails are being carried at this time
by an English-AuStralian line, which
runs between Sydney and Vancouver.
This arrangement will be Cancelled and
contract made with the Oceanic line.
The matter was settled at the White
House today after conference the
President had with Mr.. Hitchcock, AS
sistant Secretary Meyer, Solicitor Cen
eral Lehman, representatives of the
steamship company. Senator Perkins
and Representative Kahn.
Statehood for Territories.
New Mexico and Arizona people are
getting ready to have President Taft
issue the proclamation that will con-
vert these two territories, the last
within the limits of the United States.
into sovereign commemorative. The
President will take this action when
ever there have been submitted to him
the election figures and other data re-
quired in the enabling act. New Mex
leo will be prepared for the proclama-
tion within few weeks, but Arizona
seems to be delayed in getting her data
certified by the proper authorities. The
proposition under discussion now is
to have the two territories admitted
to statehood at the same time, and one
enthusiast proposes that Congress
make that day a national holiday.
President Taft, by request has sent the
pen with which he signed the resolution
abrogating the Russian treaty of 1882 to
Secretary Seelenfreund of the B'Nai
Birth, and it will be preserved in the
archives of that organization.
The Yale Glee Club will be received by
President Taft January 1, the day of the
public reception.
White House Christmas Program.
The White House Christmas will. as
heretofore. be quiet family affair, no
visitors being expected. President and
Mrs Taft will go to church in the
morning and in the afternoon the Presi-
dent will take some outdoor exercise.
The Taft boys. Charlie and Robert. will
be at home with their parents. Charlie
having arrived. Miss Helen Taft is at
home. completing the family circle. Pres
ents are arriving by express from diff
ferent parts of the country and the
Tafts will make some presents to init
mate friends. The President went shop
ping on street yesterday afternoon,
visiting several stores. He was recog-
nized by shoppers, who stood aside and
watched while he made his purchases.
1t is the custom Of the President to give
books and pieces Of jewelry to intimate
friends.
Tomorrow the steward of the White
Hoese will give to every married man
employed around the White House a
big. fat turkey, with the compliments Of
the President There are over 100 men
on tna list, including pOl1cemen, each or
whom will get turkey.
Representative Gardner's Troubles.
Representative Gardner of Massachu-
sets is having one large bunch of
troubles for Christmas. He represents
about the largest G. A. r. district in
the country, and yet he voted against
the Sherwood one-dollar-a-day pension
bill He admits that he at once became
member of what some of the congress
sional contingent call the Suicide Club"
composed of those who voted against
this bill But that's not all Mr.. Gardner
has to worry about The term of Will
liam II. Jordan. as collector of customs
at Gloucester, is about to expire. He
has been twelve years collector there.
Some time ago Mr.. Gardner told a
mass meeting of Gloucester republicans
that he would recommend whoever a ma
jority of the people wanted. Instantly
the G.oucesterites agreed upon a postal
card primary. Mr.. Jordan got a decided
majority in this primary. but the opposi-
ton yelled fraud. claiming that some of
the cards had peen signed in the same
hand. The Jordan people denied that
there had been fraud. but claimed that
even if every questionable card was elm
mated there would still be a large, clear
majority for the collector. Mr.. Gardner
proceeded to ignore the primary on the
ground Of fraud, and nominated Walter
+. Osborne, man who was not a candi-
date In the primary.
All Gloucester is lighting, and Collector
Jordan has carried the matter to the
White House. He was there today. fling
affidavits and otherwise purging himself
and his supporters OF the charge ofsfraud.
The President has Mr.. Gardeners recon-
ing.