The leader., 1900-01-31
WAsHINGroN LETrER.
From the Newspaper Correspondence DIvisioI
OF y. q. siEgefs.

From the Newspaper Correspondence Division
OF y. q. Slggers.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., January y, 1900.
The largest theatre in Washington
was packed to the doors on Sunday
night last, by an immense crowd,
which enthusiastically expressed its
sympathy with the Beers In their
fight against Great Britain. The meet
ing was called under the auspices of
the United Irish Societies in combina-
tion with larger number of the Ger
man citizens of the city. It was
planned as means of showing public
sympathy, and as such was great
success, the speakers including many
members of Congress and other public
men. The keynote of the speeches
was that the Beers were fighting for
their independence against tremendous
odds, as our own forefathers did more
than century ago. Among those who
occupied seats on the stage we're Sena-
tors Mason, of Illinois, Allen Of Ne
DaooNo, ahA VI QUILL tuIO-
lima, Representatives Clark, Dear
mond and Cochran, Of Missouri, Bailey,
of Texas, Carmack and Cox, of Ten
nessee, Rhea, of Kentucky, Jones and
Lamb, of Virginia, Shafroth, of Colora
do, Dovener, of West Virginia, Meyer,
of Louisiana, Sulzer, of New York,
and Lentz, of Ohio, and others. Red
hot resolutions we're adopted denoun-
cling the British ministry and calling
on the President to offer mediation.
"The shortest period in which pat
ent can be secured is seven weeks" said
Patent Commissioner Duell, recently,
''and it can be done in that time only
by the attorney for the claimant con-
ceding practically all the objections of
this Office. The work of this bureau
is far closer up than ever before, but
it is still about one month behind on
original, and two weeks behind on
amended applications. Ninety five per
cent of applications are returned to
ehO oOtoi hCyo w bC dIuChuCu, oCCduoC
they make too broad claims. This is
proper, of course, because the value
of patent lies in it's breadth, and it
is an attorneys duty to his client to
fight for this. If he does not, the
patent may be of little value when
granted"
The Interstate Commerce Commits
sion has decided that the attempt of
the Louisville and Nashville railroad,
and other southern roads to so manipu
late rates as to injure the cotton trade
of Savannah, is unlawful, and has
ordered it to desist therefrom. The
Commission lays down the general
principle that carrier cannot lawfully
establish and maintain an adjustment
of rates which in practice prevents
| shippers on its line from availing
themselves of principal market,
which they have long been using, and
confer substantial monopoly upon a
new market in which for reasons of
its own, it has greater interest. An
other ruling is that when carrier
makes rates to two competing markets
which give the one practically a
monopoly over the other because it can
secure re-shipments from the favored
locality and none from the other, it
goes beyond serving it's fair interest,
and disregards the statutory require
ment of relative equality as between
persons, localities and particular de-
scriptions of traffic.
The Agricultural Department wishes
farmers in sugar growing regions to
make tests as to the value of feeding
molasses to stock. The question is be-
ing studied at several of the expert
mental stations, but the results of a
wider trial is desired. The molasses
should be mixed with some cher mate
rial which absorbs it so that it may be
readily handled. At the Texas Sta
ton, molasses was advaptageously in
troduced into ration of cotton seed
meal and cotton seed bulls for cattle
The use of half pint of molasses for
each daily ration resulted in the profit.
able consumption of a larger amount
of food by cattle. 1t did not improve
ration consisting largely of silage.
There is not the slightest doubt that
the Nicaraguan Canal bill will soon pass
both Houses of Congress. A reliable
poll shows that there are 62 Senators
and 254 Representatives in favor Of
action at this session; and Senator
and % Representatives in favor OF
delay. This is declared majority OF
more than two-thirds in the Senate
and of nearly three-fourths in the
House. Even this does not measure
the strength of the movement of the
canal, as m any members who refuse to
state their position at present will un-
doubtedly vote for action when the
time comes Probably four-fifths OF
each House favors action at this SEES
sion.
The Senate Committee on Pensions
has reported adversely bill to pen
sion ex-slaves. 1t has done this, in
stead of simply pigeon-holing the bill
and allowing it to sleep, because dis
honest men are using the fact that il
has been introduced as q means Of
obtaining money from the poverty
stricken Southern negroes. Al, associa
ton has been formed under the name
OF The ex-Slave Bounty and Pension
Association of the United States
of America, with local associate ms il
various parts of the country, and con
situations and bylaws have beef
adopted and membership certificate
/ isS,,od