The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1912-10-03

the right direction. | am in favor of free
passage for al! vessels flying the Ameri
can flag if it can be done without violat-
ing our treaty obligations.
Mr.. Randolph gave it as his opinion,
that the marvellous work that has been
done on the canal since he last inspected
it, would make the opening of the Big
Ditch possible by August or September
of next year.
So many have been the complaints of
the narrowness of the approach to the
White House since 1902, when the offices
connected with the Presidential mansion
were completed, that it would not be at
all surprising to see a force Of men at
work in the near future widening the
whole front of the White House lawn.
Many rembers of Congress who have
driven through the narrow gate on the
Pennsylvania Avenue side and have run
their machines through the driveway, so
narrow that two machines cannot pass
without marring the lawns, have decid-
ed that money should be appropriated to
make the needed changes.
Mr. Carmi Thompson, secretary to the
President, believes that the complaints
in relation to the narrowness of the
driveway leading to the offices will cul-
inmate IN materially widening the road
way, even if some of the lawn that
fronts the historic structure must give
way to the demands of those who do
business with the executive office.
1t was the late Senator Geo. u. Vest
OF Missouri who took occasion, on one of
the Gull days in the upper branch of Con-
gress, to pay remarkable tribute to the
dog, mans most faithful friend" and
which has since found its way in the
school books and in the books on elo-
quence as one of the finest bits of Eng
lsh eXtant. There is a chance now for
some equally gifted orator to pay fitting
tribute to the horse, justification for this
beng found in the demise of ''Old Bill"
the faithful big bay horse which for %
years drew one of the Postoffice Depart
ment wagons in this city, but for the
past five years has spent his time in
munching grass on farm near Trinidad,
Md, under the watchful eyes of Caleb
Cleveland, his former driver. "Old Bill"
has passed into horse heaven.
When during the administration of
Postmaster General Cortelyou "Old
Bill's' legs failed him, and two other
animals had to be secured to draw the
loads, which he for years had pulled with
out balk, many bids were offered for
the old horse Mr.. Cortleyou, however
touched by Caleb Cleveland's pleas, de-
termined that Bill had earned rest and
placed him on pension to do nothing but
eat and drink until his death. Bill was
IS years old
Owing to legislation by Congress at
the last session, it is now estimated at
the War Department, that more than
900 officers now on detached service will
have to be removed from their present
posts at once and sent back to their regi-
ments. The provision in the Army ap-
preparation bill, which makes this shift
ing Of officers necessary, states that an
army officer cannot remain away from
his command for more than four years.
Many attaches in American embassies
abroad, instructors at military and train
ing schools, and those stationed at the
War Department will be affected by the
enforcement of the law.
A straw investigation made this week
shows that of the first five officers at
tached to six of the largest army schools
of the country, 80 per cent. of them will
have to report back to their command
Immediately, and that 25 per cent. of
the remaining will fall within the letter
of the law within six months.
Among those affected are 30..or 40 in
structors at West Point, nearly $50 Off
GERS in the War Department, and the at
taches at Brussels, Vienna and Berlin.
While he regards the provision as most
excellent, Major General Leonard Wood.
chief of staff, said that to execute the or
der at once would reduce conditions'in the
War nffico IN fa 70 hordorinor m rhaoo