Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-09-14
WASHINGTON LETTER
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE. !

outstanding has dwindled lately to
about $47, 900, 900, and it is believed
at the treasury that the suspension of
their issue after the reduction of the
gold reserve in 1898 and the
gradual reduction of the amount
have rendered some assistance
in maintaining the reserve.
The fact that the certificates are priced
for this purpose now that they are no
longer issued is inferred from the fact
that the amount outstanding has been
reduced very slowly during the past
year or more. The amount outstand-
ing on Dec. 81, 1894, was $53, 1851,
9O9, and part of the reduction since
that dateis due to certificates covered
into the treasury by the bond syndi-
cate for strengthening the gold re-
serve. large part of the certificates
are in the hands of the banks, and the
last statement of the national banks
on July IL last showed holdings of
certificates payable to bearer of Sll,
425, 800, in addition to others covered
by gold clearing house certificates.
The present policy OF the treasury is
to issue no new certificates, and the
small excess Of the gold reserve above
500, 600, 600 is regarded as sufficient
Justification for this course.
SIR HENRY 1RvNd-"Hitching a
title to his name seems to have made
very great difference with Henry
Irving" said Logan Carlisle, chief
clerk of the treasury department.
"Looking over my mail / find u re-
quest made that the collector of the
port of New York shall extend unusu-
al courtesies to Sir Henry Irving,
with view to facilitating the entry Of
his baggage into the United States.
To do this would establisha n precedent,
which would be the source Of endless
annoyance and Inconvenience to the
treasury department. Why an excep-
ton should be made III favor of Sir
Henry Irving is something | cannot
understand, unless it be an inorlinate
desire to cater to him because Hes
English, you know.
LETTER CARRIERs-P Postmaster Gen
eral Wilson can always be depended
upon to make good speech, and his
address at the national convention of
letter carriers WAS no exception to the
rule. Speaking of the condition of
the service, he said to the letter car
riers
"No one rejoices more than I do,
both on principle and on the lower
plane of selfish convenience, that every
free delivery postotfice OF the country
is now under civil service rules; that
the gateway to employment therein is
no longer PARTISAN influence, political
or other pulls but the free and open
road of personal merit, and that the
tenure of that employment no longer
depends upon anything less than in
dividual merit and individual fidelity"
That is well said, and the beauty of
it is that it is literally true.
To PROTECT THE FORESTS. 1t is
said that Congress will be asked at its
next session to pass laws which will
more amply protect forests from fires.
The total forest area of the country is
now estimated at 375, 900, 900 acres;
but twenty years ago 1t was believed
to have been twice as great; and much
of the reduced area is due to the de-
structiveness of fires that have been
permitted to ruin vast forests in all
sections of the country. 1t is esti-
mated the loss by fire in the state of
Michigan alone to be million dol
lars worth of timber year. The idea
of securing the passage of national
laws relating to the protection of the
forests was brought forward for con-
sideration at the meeting of tho
American Forestry Association at
Springfield, Mass,
GOING BAcKwARD-Two training
ships, for the use of the cadets at An
napolis and perhaps also for that of
enlisted men, will doubtless be rec
commended by Secretary Herbert for
construction. The Bancroft was fin
ished not many years ago; but even
she was too small for her purpose.
Besides, it is said that the motive
power of the new vessels will be
wholly or chiefly sails. That may
look, at first, like rctrogression, as if
we should drill with flint locks; but
in reality it is believed that such yes
sells will be of high value in giving
good groundwork OF instruction in
seamanship.
No FEDERAL LAw-It appears to be
clear that no Federal law exists under
which the people who killed the blind
old Bannock Timega and wounded the
lad Nimits can be tried The United
States District Attorney for Wyoming
has expressed the opinion in an official
report, that the killing of the Indian
was "coldblooded murder" The
United States deputy marshal asserts
that the Wyoming constable and his
posse of settlers did all they could
to tempt the prisoners to escape" SO
as to have II justification for killing
some of them. Now We shall see what
The Wyoming courts and juries will do
about the case.
LETTER CARRIERS SCARED - The
secret investigation as to the conduct
md efficiency of letter carriers through
,ut the country has resulted in a re-
luctlon of 235 liz ,he total force thus
making saving of over $4,000 in
salaries. Even more important than
he saving by reduction is the benefit
derived from increased efficiency,
which is reckoned to amount to at
least five per cent for the whole coun-
ry, although as yet not half the coua.
ry has been covered b. the inspection
service.
She May Ride Astride.
Miss Dorothy Chestick the English actress