The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-02

not true that ex-soldiers seeking reinstate-
ment were required to stand an examination.
The Department, however, reserved the right
to examine any applicant for position if it
had any doubts Of his ability 70 eli the place
he was seeking. II had the right to ex-
anime man already in Office. he said, If it
was thought the man was inefficient
THURSDAY, AUG. 26.-Assistant Secretary
Brigham, of the Agricultural Department
to-day expressed the opinion that the Ameri-
can farmers this year would receive in the
aggregate from four to i've hundred million
dollars in excess of what they received last
year for their farm products. Col. Brigham
also predicted that the increase in the price
OF farm products would benefit the laborng
element. 1.-The laboring man will be bens-
hfed by the advance IN prices The farmer
will discharge his Indebtedness and make
improvements which will require labor. lie
Will purchase more of the products of labor,
putting vast amount of money in circula-
ton, and this will create demand for labor
In al lines, and men who have been without
employment or only partially employed will
work full time at fair wages"
FRIDAY, AUG. 27.-Acting Secretary Meikle-
John referred TO the Attorney General the
question whether a soldier who has been
convicted of desertion and afterwards par
doned by the President can re-enlist. The
question was referred to the AttOrney-Gen-
eral sometime ago, but he refused to give an
opinion because there was no case pending.
Now application has been made by man
who has been convicted and pardoned. and
the Department asks if he can be again
placed on the rolls of the Army.
SATURDAY. AUG. 28-The matter of the DOS
sible replacement of many of the posto ffices
and star routes now in operation by the es-
Enlistment of rural free delivery service was
taken up by the Postoffice Department and
an experiment in this line will be made. Its
results are expected to show the extent to
which the offices and routes can be done
away with in favor Of the rural delivery
routes. The recent experiments to demon
strate the feasibility of rural delivery service
In general way indicated that its establish
ment throughout the country would involve
an additional annual ex Expenditure of from $50
100000 to $4,000 900. By having it subssi-
tuted for postoicss and star routes wherever
possible the expense may be cut down by SI5,-
100000 or $50, 100000. The test may result
in Congress being asked to give authority
for the establishing mt of rural free delivery
In certain districts meeting certain con-
ditions.
SUNDAY, AUG. 29-The Old Guard and other
veterans returned from Buffalo. They spoke
terms of high praise of the cordial welcome
and good treatment accorded them by the
citizens of the Bison City. On the trip out
the we'll known hospitality of the company
was rendered its friends and its wellstocked
commissary, consisting of liquids and solids,
became the main attraction for the entire
delegation aboard the train.
AUG. 30.-A new steamboat mail
service between Juneau and Dyea, Alaska,
the first stretch on the overland trail to the
klondike region, was announced by the