The leader., 1900-02-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
cation For General otis-A Mar
kct For Fish Scales.
[speclal Correspondencc.l

Especial Correspondence.l
Another attempt is being made to
place the officers of the United States
revenue cutter service on a footing
more nearly equal TO that enjoyed by
officers of the navy. For years past
various efforts have been made to pro-
vide just system of promotion and
retirement for officers of this service
and rate of pay better suited to the
work performed by them. The splen-
did work done by officers and vessels
of this service during the Spanish war
has served to draw favorable attention
to it, and the number of congressman
who are daily coming out in favor of
legislation to still further promote its
efficiency is steadily growing.
If anything, the duties of these Off
GERS are much more arduous than the
work of naval officers, and they have
practically no shore duty. While the
cutter service is under existing law
part of the civil establishment, it is
treated as n part of the military force
of the navy. Its vessels are armed
cruisers, Differed by men bearing COM
missions of the president who are in
every way as thoroughly equipped for
sea duties as the graduates of the Naval
academy. One of the first acts of Pres
ident Mckinley Mt the breaking out of
the Spanish war was to transfer the
vessels of this service to the control OF
the secretary of the navy. One of the
unjust features of the present law Is
that relating to Advancement in this
service. If a revenue officer becomes
incapacitated for duty, he is required
to be placed on waiting orders with
three-fourths pay. His place cannot be
filed, and he cannot be retired, thus re-
ducing the number of men available
for duty and doubling up the work on
those who are on the active list. What
Is wanted Is an amendment to the law
permitting the removal from the line
of promotion of all officers now on
waiting orders, thus making room for
the promotion of the young men of the
service.
4 Vacation For General Otis.
The president hopes that the new
commission will start for Manila in
time to reach the Philippines in May.
He is anxious that civil governments
be established in the other islands the
same as already exist in Negroes. An
other reason why the president wants
the commission to get to work is that
he is anxious to let General Otis have
a vacation and come home for a rest
and visit to his family. General Otis
went to the Philippines on less than
"a hours notice. Soon after Admiral
Dewey's victory, when it became nee
cssary to re-enforce the navy with the
army, the president looked around for
a general to take command. General
Otis was selected one morning, and
the same afternoon a telegram was
sent ordering him to leave at once
for Manila. General Otis, who was
at Denver, packed his trunk and
left that city at midnight for San
Francisco, being on his way within
less than Il hours after receiving his
orders. Since then he has not seen
his wife or family. He has now init
mated that he would like to have leave
10 come home to see his family, and
the president and secretary of war are
anxious to grant his request.
A Market For Fish Scales.
Fish dealers of this country will find
T1-n in fSl,
which have been without commercial
value hitherto. According to Consul
Covert at Lyons, there is a great de-
mand for them. They are used in the
manufacture of artificial pearls and
other ornaments by the recently dis
covered method of a French chemist
The supply is mach less than the de-
mand, and it is said large quantities
will be used and a good price paid for
them. The consul says:
"The scales should be sprinkled with
salt as soon as they are removed from
the fish and packed in tin cans. Any
specimens sent to this consulate will
receive careful examination, and the
results, with any suggestions that may
be made and particulars Of prices Of
fered, will be duly reported.
at is believed here the sale of these
scales will result in establishing an
important business in an article that
now has no commercial value"
A Room For the Blind.
The late John Russell Young estab-
liShed while he was librarian of con-
gress, at the invitation of some Wash
blind readers and later provided en-
tertainments for the blind, well known
persons reading selections from their
own writings or performing on must
cal instruments or singing. There is a
number of blind persons in this city,
and to some of the readings or recita-
tons they came in considerable num-
bers. But the entertainments proved
to be quite as attractive to those who
could see as to those who could not.
The number of readers of the books
made for the blind is larger than one
would believe, judging from the turn
out at the readings.
A feature of Washington society
which almost always brings prominent
hosts and hostesses and their friends,
especially their official friends, to
elbows" is the freedom with which in
vited guests write and ask for invita-
tions for their friends. Mrs. Senator
So-and-so" or Mrs. Judge So-and-so"
says she has a friend with her and