The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1895-05-11
WASHINGTON NOTES.
Soma Matters Of Interest from the
National Capital.
Certain Birds Not So BLACK - They Have
Bssu Psintsd-Incoms Tax Rshssr-
tng-Inportsut Pension Ne.
clsioa-Othsr Nswa

ng-Importnut Pension De-
cisioa-Othsr Nswa
Not 80 Black - Painted.
WASHINGTON, May 7.--Dr. C. Hart
Merriam. chief Of the division of orni-
tholo9y of the agricultural depart
ment, has for several years been en-.
gagged in examining and analyzing the
contents of the stomachs Of hawks,
crows, owls and other birds Of North
America which are supposed to be
strikingly beneficial or injurious to
the crops of farmers The stomachs
of over 1000 birds taken 1t different
seasons Of the year have been already
analysed and the contents determined.
The results in some cases have been
remarkable. showing In several notable
instances that popular ideas regard.
ing the injurious effects of certain
birds were wholly mistaken, and that
they have been the victims of an un-
just prosecution. This has been found
to be especially the case with hawks
and owls, for the slaughter Of which
many states give bountiea Pennsyl-
In hawk and owl bountieA Examina-
tious Of the stomachs of these birds
prove conclusively that 0s per cent Of
their food was field mice, grasshoppers,
crickets. ETC., which were infinitely
more injurious to farm crops than
they. II was found that only Ave
kinds Of hawks and owls ever touched
poultry, and then only to very linn
tied extent.
A bulletin now about going to the
press on the crow also shows that bird
not SO black Is he has been painted by
the farmers The charges against the
crow were that he ate corn and de-
stroyed the eggs and poultry and wild
birds. Examinations of their stomachs
showed that they eat noxious insects
and other animals. and that only es
per cent. Of their food Is corn. With
regard to eggs. It was found that the
shells were eaten to q very limited ex.
tent for the lime. They eat ants,
beetles. caterpillars. bugs, dies, etc.,
which do much damage.
Income Tax Rshsarlng.
WASHINGTON, May THE supreme
court, with its full mem mbership of nine
justices ON the bench for the Arst time
In many months, began the hearing
yesterday Of the income tax suits.
Justice Jackson, of Tennessee. who
has been absent from washington the
greater part of the past year seeking
restoration to health. took his seat
Extraordinary interest was attached
to his presence, since he assumes prac
ticslly the position of umpire upon the
vital question of the principle upor
which the law Is based, which divide.
the other justices into equal factions
lie did not appear to bs feeble, but I,
was plainly evident that he was fal
from being . well man, and that only
by q strong effort he sat throughout
the hearing.
But two arguments are TO be made
for each side-by Attorney-Genera
Olney and Assistant Attorney Genera
Whitney for the government and b.
w. ID. Guthrie and Joseph Choate fol
the appellants, Messrs. Hyde and Pol
lock. Yesterday Mr.. Guthrie delivsret
his speech and and Mr.. Whitney begaI
his, which he will finish to-day. A
the time assigned is Eve hours TO ssol
side, the arguments will be closes
Wednesday afternoon.
lmportass Psasioa Rsliag.
WASHINGTON. May THE action o
the pension bureau In construing tn,
legal meaning of dependence unde
the act of June 81, 1890, has been re
versed by Assistant Secretary of III,
Interior Reynolds In . decision OF
q dependent mothers case. The rul
ing provides where the property pos
sessed by mother having no othe
means Of support Ii 50 small that I
will not yield an income sufficient h
support her during her life. II shoult
not deprive her Of the right to pen
| sion. by adequate means OF sup
port" the law Is interpreted to meal
not merely enough 10 supply the neoes
saries of life for . limited period O
years, but q comfortable maintenanc
of the pensioner during the remainde
of her life.
Gsa. Casey to He Retired.
WAsHINaroN, May 7.-On Frida,
next brig. ten. Thomas L. Casey will
be put on the retired list on account o
age, and then, when Col. Henry L
Abbott is retired for the same cause ol
August 10, there will be only an eve,
half hundred left on active duty VIII
were commissioned officers In the reg
ular service when the civil war opened
or when the bombsrdment of For
sumter began, on April IL. 1861.
A-.sAa~ aN-ns
WASHINGTON, May a-The month";,
public debt statement issued by tn
treasury department yesterday show
the debt of the United States, less casl
in the treasury, to be ssi7, s39, 900, u
increase for the month of %, i09, IS,
The cash balance In the treasury
sIsO. ST., ,9i6. decrease during the las
month of s7.O99.3i5.