Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-02-08
NEW CABINET OFFICER.
a Department of Commerce and
Industry.
BILL WILL GO THROUGH SENATE.

BILL WILL GO THROUGH SENATE.
senator Knute Nelson Has been Ac-
tive In Its behalf - VIII ReIieve
Treasury Depnrtment-senat Pet
ugrcw's MniI-Tbe Telephone.
WAsuiNGToN, Feb. Special. THE
bill for a department of commerce and
industries will go through the senate.
Ii has for its sponsor one of the most
tilclcss workers in the body senator
Nelson of Minnesota has all the per-
sislcncc and energy possessed by any
person living. He has Interested him
self in the new departing measure
and reported u substitute for the orig.
inal bill introduced by Senator Frye.
Having taken hold of it, he will not
leave it alone until it has passed. He
did the same with The bankruptcy
bill. He introduced bill, but the SEN
ate judiciary committee reported an
other measure. lie had his substitute
ed, and then by constant hard work he
out long contest with the house CON
ferecS. the chairman of whom was the
present speaker. Mr. Henderson. He
will push the department of commerce
Dill with the same energy. He favors it
because ne believes a cabinet officer at
the head Of such a department, educat-
ed aud trained for carrying on the
nj Ntt TO ri 10 ,,,fIl
accomplish a great deal in the way Of
increasing our commerce and indus
tries. Such a department will relieve
the secretary of the treasury of much
hcaNy work. There is no reason why
there should be in the treasury depart
mcnt the bureaus of statistics, naviga-
ton, supervision of steam vessels, light
houses, marine hospital service and
others which have nothing to do with
the revenues and finances of the gov
eminent. almost all Of these pertain
TO commerce and with some others
might be far better managed if under
such department.
The Telephone.
AS part of the official life of Wash
ington the telephone cuts mighty fig
ure and is continually being more and
more utilized. During the Spanish
war 1t seemed to reach the highest
point of usefulness, yet the war de-
partmcnt, which depended upon it so
much, has increased the number of in
struments over those used at that time
The long distance telephone was con-
Stantly in use during the war Colonel
Bird, who had charge of transporta-
ton. seemed to be engaged nearly half
Of the time talking With the quarter
masters in New York, Philadelphia and
other points as we'll as with the pas
senger offices Of the big railroad lines
of the country. While a war means
constant and increased use of the tele-
graph, the telephone supplemented te-
Biography and was even more rapid.
All the different Offices of the war de-
partnent We're connected by telephone.
Private telephone wires connected the
executive mansion and war depart
ment as we'll as all other departments.
Telephones were placed upon the desks
Of every officer and clerk whose serv-
ices We're constantly needed. and direct
communication was arranged by a sys-
TEN of exchanges in the department.
While the executive departments all
make great use of the telephone, the
capitol is also well supplied, There
are exchanges in both the senate and
house wings, and the Offices and prnci-
pal committees are connected by wire
SO that business is now transacted by
wire which only a year or two ago was
carried on by the slower process of the
messenger While most of the official
telephones are promptly answered and
kept in good order there is yet enough
slacknesS about the private telephones
to keep up the average amount of hys-
tericS among the women and profanity
among the men, for which the phone
seems to be especially fitted.
Increased His Mail.
1t does not require such "A very great
effort TO start the letter writer's going
Senate Pcttigrcw. of South Dakota Is
getting more letters than he and his
clerks can answer. His many and vi
clOuS uilhCkS upon tut duII lulSlTd-
TONS Philippine policy has at least
borne fruit in one direction. The
ready letter writers have found a man
to whom they can address the products
If their pens. Many of the letters
rommend him for his position and ask
Tor copies of his speech. In fact, near
~ all are of this kind, although there
nrc the usual number Of persons who
strike at him at long range, through
the mail, by anonymous communica
ton. Some of these are threatening
letters and others simply abusive.
"Gudres" and "squirce."
OH have to call you Judge" said
Senator Coclrell to a friend in the cor
rldor who has passed the stage of
aeSh gathering which entities him to
rnter the fat mans class. Down in
Missouri" continued the senator,
when a man gets as much of a front
protuOerance as you, we call him
Judge or squire All our big, heavy
men are so called, which accounts for
so many Judges in Missouri who have
never been on the judicial bench"
His Busy Winter.
when do you ever find time to do
anything| asked Senator Depew Of
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