The Press., 1897-09-30
Washington Letter.

Postmaster General Gary, in order to increase public interest in the scheme of postal saving banks, which he intends to strongly recommend in his annual report, has been taking the public into his con- fidence as to the method he used to in eulcate the habit of saving money in his children and grand children. To every dollar saved by his children and grand children he added four, provided they would deposit the entire five dollars in the savings bank, to remain until they reached the age of 21. This is a tip-top method, provided, of course, that the father and grandfather who tries to use it has the money to carry out his end of the bargain; and If MT. Gary can guaran- tee that intending depositors in the Postal Savings bank will be treated in half as liberal a way, he can rest assured that no votes. will be cast in congress against a bill establishing postal savings bank al- so that the banks would start off with more depositors than any other bank ever had.
 The government of the U. S., like the mythological mills of the gods, grinds exceedingly slow, but, like them also, it grinds exceedingly fine. Men may use the cloak of the government for question able business transactions for a time but sooner or later, their career is officially stopped. Mir. John Wedderburn, the originator of the examiner claims bureau, the press claims company, both defunct, and the head of the extensively advertised eitors of patents, refused to believe this until confronted with the decision of the commissioner of patents to disbar John Wedderburn & Co.,, from practice before the United States patent office, for fraudu- lent practices in the conduct of their business. The order of disbarment will be officially announced next week. This is no more than John Wedderbun & Co.,, deserve, but it is little hard on a great many newspaper men who allowed them selves to be inveigled into exchanging ad- vertising space for certificates of stock in that concern; it Is also hard upon those inventors who have paid the soon to be disbarred concern advance fees, but all gold brick and confidence schemes are hard on their victims. John WedderbuTn < Co.,, also published the National Recorder, which the post office authorities have been asked to place upon the fraud list and shut out of the mails.
 John G. Woods, the Kentucky man who was denied an injunction to prevent his by Judge Cox, has abandoned the idea of carrying the case to the U. S., supreme court, but will make a personal appeal to President Mckinley. Just what he can expect from such an appeal is not alto gether clear. The president might think just as MT. Woods does, but that wouldn't help his case any, as the president, as well as the humblest citizen, must obey the decision of court, until 1t is upset by the decision of higher court.
 There has been so much talk about the monetary conference, now in session in Washington, as a result of authority con- ferred by the convention which met in Indianapolis, last January, and because congress did not see fit to adopt the presi- dents recommendation that he be author ized to appoint an official commission to report to congress needed changes in our monetary system, and it's objects and in- tentions, that ex-Senator Edmonds, the chairman of the commission, has made a statement on the subject. He says the commission has no authority and pur- poses to exercise none; that it is con- posed of private citizens, who of their own will and at their own expense have come together for the purpose of discuss ing our currency system and the laws bearing thereon, with a view to suggesting to congress, through their right of peti- tion, any changes which they may, after careful consideration, think would be beneficial. Notwithstanding this explan- atfon, the commission is still criticized, especially by the silver men, who declare that it exists for no other purpose than to keep silver down. So far the meetings of the commission have been held behind closed doors.
 Having sent company of US. soldiers to St. Michaels, Alaska, to help guard the property of gold hunters there and to assist in maintaining law and order, the administration is now considering re- quest to establish a permanent naval patrol on the Yukon river. These things together with ordering reindeer owned by the government to be taken to St. Mi chaels to be used, if necessary, during the winter to transport food to Dawson City, reminds one that upon occasion ours is very paternal sort of government.