Secretary Taft announces that the Government’s acquisition of the Panama Railway was not for the purpose of affecting railroad or ocean rates, but for the purpose of acquiring an instrument with which to construct the canal.
Eight thousand men are now employed on the Panama Canal, and this force is being added to at the rate of 800 to 1,000 per month.
The Attorney-General holds that the agreement between the Government and certain railroads for rebates is valid.
It is believed in Washington that reductions must be made in the present tariff schedules to meet the deficit in the Federal Treasury.
April 26.—Negotiations for an immigration treaty between the United States and China have been abandoned.
Postmaster-General Cortelyou notifies the Assistant Postmaster at Louisville that he must resign as postmaster or as a member of the State Republican Committee.
Mr. Bowen, the American Minister to Venezuela, charges that former Minister Loomis, now Assistant Secretary of State, accepted a check from the American Asphalt Company for $10,000 for services rendered. Mr. Bowen has made his charges in writing to the President.
April 27.—Minister Bowen will be ordered to return from Venezuela to substantiate his charges against Assistant Secretary of State Loomis.
April 29.—Mr. Loomis denies charges made by Mr. Bowen against him and files charges against Mr. Bowen.
W. W. Russell, American Minister to Colombia, succeeds Mr. Bowen as Minister to Venezuela.