Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-06-15
WASHINGTON LETTER
ESPECIAL coRREsPoNDESoE. !

Rice of Albany and ex-Postmaster
Harlow Of st. Louis, Mo-. are gradu-
ally getting into the harness, and are
showing II lively interest in their
work, While there is much technical
detail about tue work Of the commits
sion, and there Is always much to be
learned regarding the methods OF re-
form, 1t does not require such a long
apprenticeship as if it constituted
science i'll itself, like that of finance
or some other branches Of the govern
ment work. Col Rice and Mr. Har-
low, moreover, have not come to the
work without previous knowledge of
it, for Col. Rice was Il supporter Of
the reform while private secretary to
Gov. Hill, and Mr.. Harlow has had
practical experience Of its workings
and methods in the St. Louis Post
office.
BlcYcLISG A FAp-Tf any proof
were needed that bicycling as fad
has arrived, it would be found in the
iact that it has penetrated even the
exclusive Oriental circle dominated
by Mayroyeni Pey, the Turkish Minis
ter. The little fellow is just learning
and he hasn't appeared in public
yet, but when he shows up he cuts
killing figure, He disports OCCASION
ally on the White Lot, when his fire.
quent tumbles and determined re-
mounts afford infinite amusement
to the Washington small boy,
but usually he continues his eXhibi-
tlons to the less conspicuous arena OF
l4th street riding school, and there
he may tip over and bob around in the
presence Of attendants who are paid
to he sympathetic and helpful. Bicy-
cling has become quite the thing
among the diplomats, and every lega.
ton is now represented in the cult,
either by an nttnche or BY the Minis
ter III person. The women III the
diplomatic set seem to find more zest
IN the sport than the men.
A MEMoRAL--NIrs. Mary F. Liv-
tngston of New York has presented to
the United States Naval Academy,
through Secretary Herbert, the cutter
yacht Medusa rs n memorial of her
son, Robert Center, who was killed
while riding his bicycle ON the Boule-
ward in New York. This vessel is
keel cutter of 2S. ~ tons, length "a
feet inches, beam II feet 4 inches,
and 10 feet draught. The offer has
been accepted and when the yacht is
delivered at Annapolis with her com
plete equipment she will be used by
the cadets for short practice drills.
Mr. Center was an enthusiastic friend
Of the Annapolis Academy, ami for
many years was one of the few civilian
members of the naval institution that
has its headquarters there.
The WAY OF IT-A good deal has
been said about Justice Harlan's ag-
gressiye manner toward the other JUS
tices on the bench, when he delivered
himself OF that extraordinary ha-
rangue in favor of the income tax.
The way of it was this: After he was
fairly under way, Gray turned to
Field and made contemptuous re-
mark, which reached Harlan's ear, al
though it was not loud enough to be
distinguished at any distance from
the bench. Harlan resented it, and
in his anger he turned his batteries
directly upon the offending justices,
much to the scandal of the court.
| recall onl ly one other instance in the
recent history of the court where any
one of the justices has INDUCED in
such direct personal reference. That
was several years ago. Field was de-
livering dissenting opinion, and in
the midst OF 1t Gray began to indulge
in sotto voce derisive remarks. The
sturdy old California Justice stopped
short. Gray didn't take the hint, but
kept on mumbling. Finally Field
said, with cutting severity; II will
continue my opinion as soon as l can
get the attention of the court. And
there was an awed hush all along tho
the line, while Grays bald head grew
purple.
DUTIES on IMPORTS - sweeping
reform in the manner of checking
msnifests and the liquidation of en-.
tries OF imported goods will be inau-
gurated by Auditor Baldwin of the
treasury department with the opening
Of the new fiscal year on July l. The
auditor has been increasing his force
and picking the best men he could
ind in the war department, the CEN
sus office and other bureaus where re-
ductions are to be made, in order to
carry ont the requirements of Gee. 8 of
the Legislative appropriation bill, re-
luiring duplicate manifests of the car
goes of vessels for examination. Never
before has any system been in force,
except at the six large ports where
there are naval officers, for check
ing the contents of vessels to deter
mine whether they were fully coy
cred by the invoices and went forward
to the uses and destinations named in
their reports to the customs officers.
The new system will afford COM
plete check upon all vessels arriving
lp the United States and all oars al,
irving with foreign goods from Can
ada or Mexico.
MosT ALL TALK The secretary of
agriculture doesn't seem to be taking
much stock in the reports from yari,
ms parts OF the country a. to the seri-
ms damage done by the frosts to the
ruit crop. Some damage has doubt
ess been DONE" says the secretary,
'but when | hear these walls coming
rom all parts of the country | am re.
minded of n boy | used to go to school
With. He had about dozen sores on
litfcrent parts of his body, and he
vas never SO happy as when showing
hem. Why, | used TO be late at scho,
bout three mornings week ona,
cunt of stopping to look at that boy
ores The moral of this parab
GEMS obvious.
John W. Gotf receives $4,000 Tor his
iN months work before the LeXow
ommittee, to say nothing of the Re-
ordership. Even at the present low
rice of high-class entertainments, he