The herald., 1897-03-02
cALLous ON COINAGE.

The house committee on coinage seems
TO have struck srag. They have been
entrusted with the international none
tary conference bill, but seem unable
even to obtain quorum. No one seems
to care to appear and address the COM
nfittee. and 1t looks very dark over in
that corner OF the capitol. Notwith-
standing Senator Wolcott's encouraging
reports from Europe, International BIZ
metallism does rot seem to take.
CIVIL SERVICE QUALMS.
Those who imagine themselves secure
from interference because President
Cleveland kindly issued the order which
placed them under the protecting wing
of civil service, may be rudeiy awakened
from their dream of peace and rest with
in a short time after Mckinley assumes
command An amendment to the sun
dry civil bill has been offered by Senator
Chandler which authorizes the president
to'examine and review various rules pro-
muigated since the passage of the act
of January 1G. 1888, to regulate or i'm
prove the civil service, INTO revise,
modify, or enlarge such ru.es in accord
ance with the conditions of good admin
istration. Now, good administration"
means one thing to a Democrat and
quite another to a Republican. The
president Is also authorized by the
amendment, which carries IN appropria-
tion of $1,000. to promulgate such revised
rules for the classified service within
two months from the passage cf the act.
MARY WALKER AND MOTHERS.
The national congress of mothers has
adjourned after three days session.
Among the members of this organization
of noted mothers l noticed great many
misses and rot few who trudged along
life's pathway burdened with the pre-
fix Mr.. No one seems to have explained
just how the several misses became pos
sessed of their knowledge regarding the
rearing of children, and the name OF
the organization Is either m.snomer,
or else some of those who attended have
forgotten their husbands names ard in
despair have gone back to the names of
childhood. DIR. Mary Walker was very
much in evidence at the last meeting.
The doctor dresses in a style peculiar
iy her own. She wears an old silk hat,
and Is otherwise attired in masculine
raiment. A huge mufi,er shields her
from the wintry blasts. and coarse,
heavy shoes or boots protect her erratic
feet from the snow and ice. Her suit
Of clothes Is of a variety common to men
in poor circumstances, and to meet her
face to face without previous lSrowl
edge of her sex, one would take her for
a little old man who is not free from the
attacks OF rheumatism. DR.. Walker
was not delegate and has no right to
the floor, but that did not deter her from
saying few words by way Of advice to
the assembled mothers, misses and
fathers who had been selected delegates
to the national congress of mothers /
do not know of any obstacle In the way
of electing man as a delegate to
mothers congress, so | presume it was
all right. But to return to DR.. Walker.
A LIVELY INCIDENT.
That distlr guished gentleman obtain
ed the chairmans attertion and loudly
declared that the most important need
of women had been ignored. She COM
menced by speaking of the necessity of
dress reform, but was interrupted by
many who tell their children that to in
terrupt is TO be rude. One delegate
made a point of order that the question
had nothing to do with the matter then
under consideration, and another de-
clared that the doctor was rot a cela-
gate. The chairman saw it that way
and. Reed-like. ruled the point oc order
we'll taken, but this little by-play did net
stop Mary. oh, no. she kept right on,
minding rot the hisses and laughter
which drowned her voice. Cries of
"Sit down" came from various quarters
of the church, ard other kind advice was
hurled at the little female man who now
commenced to advance to the platform.
Higher and higher rose her voice as she
appealed from the decision of the chair.
storm of laughter greeted this appeal,
for Mary had no right to appeal unless
she had her credentials as dele gate in
her trousers pocket. "Give me just
three minutes" pleaded the doctor. IT
move we limit speeches to one second"
rcare6 an enthusiastic delegate, and this
motion seemed to carry. for all the
mothers in the hall. mersers.. misses and
Mrs. at once began making ore secord
speeches. Amid the confusion follow
ing. Mary Walker sat down. detected,
woman~beaten man. This incident was
the liveliest of the congress. though sew
eral little spats took place. Notwith-
standing such funny incidents as the
above the congress has been decided
success. The Informal discussions
have been the best features of the meet
irgs. the topics being thoroughly prac-
tical. and the many talks were filled with
suggestions that cannot help but be of
great benefit to the mothers who heard
them.
r. WOODLAND GATES.