Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1898-01-07

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The Government of the United States
WINS in the city of Washington 100000
volumes of literature. OF these about one
half, or 49, 15, IRE in the congressional:
library. The remainder are scattered
through the various executive depart
ments. The daily number of readers in
the congressional library averages. 1890.
About 100 persons, including the meme
bers of both houses and high officials OF
the Government, IRE entitled to draw
books and take them away from the build
ing, and the average number loaned out
in such n way il LAG. 1t is q favorable
commentary upon the honesty and care Of
our public men that during n period OF
thirty years the number of books lost or
not returned was only five in n thousand.
Large numbers of petitions, supported,
by many signatures md uniform in their
phrascology, IRE being presented to the,
House OF Representatives. They ask thei
passage of n series of laws to protect the
morals of the public. For example. to,
prohibit gambling in stocks, produce, rac-'
ing pools and other forms of speculation
by telegraph, to prohibit the transmission
OIL stock quotations for speculative pur-
poses, ana the transmission in the mails
OF newspapers containing pictures or de-
scriptions of prize fights, to prohibit the;
exhibition of kaleidoscope reproductions OF
prize fights md other brutalizing specta-
cies, and to prohibit the transportation.
from State to State of materials for such
exhibitions.
The ladies of the cabinet nrc decidedly,
put out by the edict that forbade their
New Years receptions and the dinners
that were to precede and follow. They
do not see any occasion for it. The Press
ident did not ask or even suggest u sus-
pension of social affairs. He told the
members Of his cabinet he should close the
White House for thirty days, although he
did not think it was necessary for them
to follow his example, but without con-
sulting their wives, they agreed to do so.
Ihe husbands ave since had an unhappy
time, and the Washington social world
has offered them no sympathy.
The opposition to the ratification of the
Hawaiian treaty has simmered down al.
most entirely to the sugar trust, the Louis
lana planters and the beet-root sugar
manufacturers. There are a few Senators
who oppose the treaty on principle, az
they believe It inexpedient for the United
States to assume the responsibility of govt
erning any detached territory, and several
on the Democratic side nave Joined the
opposition because they regard annexas
tion us q Republican measure.
Chairman Loud Of the House Commit
tee on Postoflces has been working during
the recess on the report Of the COMMITTEES
on the Loud bill, and has practically com-
pleted it. He believes that the measure
will effect a saving of at least $1O,OOO,O0O
annually, and will wipe out the enormous
deficit that confronts the Potsofice De
partment every year. Mr.. Loud believes
the bill is much stronger this session than
last, and, while not absolutely confident
thinks it will finally carry.
The agents Of the Cuban junta In
Washington justify the assassination Of
Col. Ruiz Us necessary to intimidate the
cowardly and corrupt men in their ranks
who are likely to be allured into making
terms with the Spanish authorities either
through fear or bribery. They say that
hereafter no Spanish agent will dare ap-
proach an insurgent camp, and that it will
be dangerous for any stranger to do SO.
The distressing death Of Miss Leila Her.
bert has caused a shock to her many
friends and acq%uaintances in Washing.
ton. She was a young woman of beau.
tiful character, gentle, amiable and gen.
erous, and was generally beloved and ad.
mired. Those who knew her best believe
that her suicide was due to fear that she
might be q permanent cripple.
The pension certificate of the Rev. 1.
]. Keith of Vincennes, Ind, will be can.
celed, because the holder has informed
the bureau that he does not consider him.
self longer entitled to q pension, his dis.
ability having disappeared, and has asked
that his name be dropped from the rolls.
There Is only one other such case on rec.
ord.
Secretary Wilson is greatly interested
In legislation for the establishment Of
postal savings banks because he believes
they are necessary to the prosperity OF
the farmers. 1t is sometimes an all days
job, he says, for q farmer to go to the
town where the nearest bank Is situated.
while there is u postofice in every village.
The copyright department is a most i'm
portant branch of the Government, andi
indicates an increase in literary,
and musical compositions and in designsl
which are susceptible to copyright. In;
1870 the number of copyrights grantedi
was 1921; in 1880, 2O,6s6; in 1880, 49,
75S; in 1896, 72,47O.
The recent report Of the Comptroller of,
the Currency shows that the savings.
banks Of the United States are mostly
confined to the northeastern section of the.