Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-10-12
WASHINGTON LETTER
SPECIAL CoRREsPoNDENcE.l

Admiral Misunderstanding Her
berts reprimand OF Rear Admiral
Kirkland, commanding the European
squadron, it is understood, hns been
approved by President Cleveland.
Admiral Kirkland is an old personal
friend Of the chief executive Of France
and when VI. Faure was elected to the
presidency Of that republic the former
wrote him congratulatory letter,
signed in his official capacity. When
knowledge OF this fact transplred e2-
ception was tnkeu to it by the navy de-
partment and Secretary Herbert called
for All explanation. Admiral Kirkland
made no effort to conceal the author
ship Of the letter, and reprimand
was administered by the secretary.
From this the officer appealed to the
president. 1t is said that the presi-
dent in his letter to the admiral went
further than merely upholding the
course Of he secretary, aud informed
Admiral Kirkland that in his official
capacity OF commander of the Euro
peun squadron he had no right to
write u communication to the presl-
dent OF France congratulatilg him on
his election. Admiral Kirkland did
not refuse to furnish the department
with copy Of his letter to Mr., Faure,
but 50 far it has not been received.
A SHORT SESSION PRoBABLE-Seu-
ator Burrows of Michigan, was in
Washington recently He says he is
inclined to think there will be short
session of Congress this winter. He
does not see now anything in the way
Of legislation, and he thinks that the
best thing is to dispose Of the appro.
priation bills and such other plain
business matters Ms can be attended
to, and then adjourn. The House
might pass protective tariff bill, but
the chances are that it could not be
got through the Senate without silver
being tied on to it, and it could not
get the approval OF the President
anyhow. He, therefore, did not think
that any such legislation would be at
tempted. Nor did he think that the
retirement of the greenbacks could be
secured at this season.
FINEST MARKsMEN- The finest sol
der marksmen III the world are those
of the United States. Their skill has
been developed under system of
competitions wherein medals and
other badges Of honor are awarded to
the yictors In this branch OF the
military art the militia is actually
ahead Of the regular army. Only the
other day al Sea Girt, n, j., the Ma
tional Guard team of the District of
Columbia broke the worlds record at
200, 800 and 600 yards, only three of
the men falling below 80 ont Of pos
Bible 105. Gen. Miles said it was the
most marvellous exhibition Of long
distance firing that he ever saw. The
War Department distributes l76
medals annually. OF these twenty-five
are gold, siXty-one silver and ninety
bronze. There are six kinds of gold
medals for various grades of achieve
ment, five kinds of silver medals and
three kinds of bronze medals. All of
them are made at the mint in Phlla-
delphio. The gold ones are very
handsome. OF all OF them, the finest
bears the design OF an Indian shoot
ing buffalo with II bow and arrow,
with the legend, 'First-Class Prize
Distinguished Marksman. 1t con-
tains 500 worth of gold. However,
u change is to be made, and the
medals are not to be made of precious
metals in the future. The reason is
simply that the soldier, when hard up
is tempted to pawn mis- hard earned
decoration of honor.
HASDHoLDs AND GRABIRoNs-The
action of the executive committee of
the Master Car Builders Association
in regard to compliance with the new
law regarding handholds and grab
irons on freight cars has been an
nounccd to the interstate commerce
commission, and is regarded rs evil
dence that the law will be in full force
on the lst OF next December.
The commission extended the time
from July to December l,
in accordance with authority con-
ferred upon them by the law, under the
belief thNt better results would ap-
secured by the delay. The railways be
peared before the commission, through
their representatives., and showed that
uniformity in the placing of the hand
holds was of almost rs much lmpor-
tance as having them placed at all, as
the cars of different railways are used
interchangeable y over every route. and
the trainmcn of one road would have
to deal with the cars of every road.
The representatives Of the Master Car
Builders Association promised that a
serious effort for uniformity would
be made if delay were granted. They
kept their promise by the appoint
ment of special committee of eleven,
which reported on August Il, and
whose instructions were issued under
date OF August -,
SET WITH JEwELs-The Sultan of
Turkey has conferred upon Mrs. Pen
field, wife of United States Consul
General Frederic C. Pentield of Con.
necticut, who is the diplomatic agent
of the United States at Carlo, Egypt,
the condor of the Cheticat, set with
small Jewels. This decoration, says
Vice Consul General Washington in
his report to the department, is of
very high rank, and the feeling mani
tested at Cairo by Egyptian officials
at the intelligence is such as to be ex-
tremely gratifying
PACIFIC COAST GETS ONE--Secre-
tary Herbert has awarded the con.
tract for building one of the new tor
pedo boats to Moran Bros. of Seattle,
Wash. at their bid of 100000. This
boat is the last to be contracted for