The leader., 1900-01-24

ded that Congress did not really mean
what practically every member of that
body supposed that it did, when it
amended the army reorganization act
last year so as to prohibit the sale of
liquor at army posts, it has become
necessary for the advocates of that
provision to secure the adoption of
fresh legislation in order to obtain
their end, and Mr.. Spalding, of North
Dakota, has introduced a bill which it
is believed can not be explained away
The army bill, as passed, provided that
no officer or enlisted man should be
permitted to sell liquor at any army
canteen, and that no civilian should be
permitted to sell it at any army post.
This seemed clear enough, but Mr..
Griggs deduced from it the extraordi-
nary opinion that it was the intention
of Congress to forbid civilians to sell
liquor at any other part of a post ex-
cept the army canteens. Secretary
Alger adopted the Attorney Generals
contention, and there has been no
cessation of sales at the canteens. Mr..
| Spalding's bill is as follows "That no
officer or private soldier in either the
volunteer or regular service of the
| United States, shall be detailed, re-
quired, permitted, or allowed to sell
| splrituous, vinous, or malt liquors of
any kind, as bartender or otherwise,
in any post exchange or canteen in any
encampment or fort. or anywhere upon
any premises used for military pur-
poses by the United States, or else
where. That no person shall sell, give
away, or in any manner dispose of
splrituous, vinous, or malt liquors of
any kind in any post or canteen in
any encampment or fort or anywhere
upon any premises used for military
purposes by the United States"
| For a number of years there has
been on foot here a movement to pen
sion government clerks. Mr.. Tawney
of Minnesota, has been urging such
action for years and has succeeded In
interesting Mr.. Brosius of Pennsyl-
vania, Chairman of the civil service
committee of the House, who has just
introduced bill for the purpose. The
bill does not contemplate any expense
to the government, but provides that
per cent. of the salaries of all clerks
shall be retained to form fund from
W hich pensions can be paid to superan
nuated clerks after certain term of
service. The bill has always had its
friends in Congress, but has been Op-
posed by many, chiefly Democrats, who
believed that it would ultimately lead
to government civil pensions, and in
any case would rob the clerks of much
bers, however, either do not expect or
do not fear either of these, and the
bill stands fair chance of becoming a
law during this Congress.
4 strong effort, at the head of which
is Representative Dolliver of Iowa, is
on foot in Congress for the repeal of
the bankruptcy law passed at the last
session of Congress. Many members
believe that the present law puts a
premium on dishonesty and reckless
speculation. They say that 1t has done
all the good it possibly could in giving
old bankrupts a chance to clear away
their indebtedness and enabling them
to engage in business again without
the dread of having their earnings
swept away by their old credits as soon
as they got a little ahead, But this
has all been done now, in Representa-
tive Delivers opinion. and it is time
the law was repealed. "The law is now" "
he said, "a practical declaration to the
gamblers of the country that they may
go ahead and indulge In the widest
speculations, and when they go broke
| Uncle Sam will come to their aid and
wipe out all their Indebtedness. The
law, however, has warm friends and
the chances are against its appeal.
The Washington doctors are puz-
zling over the case of Max Krebs, a
young German now in prison here, who
was known previous to his capture, as
Jack the Cutter" He went from city
to city, slashing the dresses of ladies
whenever he could get an opportunity
to do so in a crowd without detection.
Krebs declares that he cannot help
doing this. He has a mania that leads
him to destroy dresses at every chance.
The doctors believe that he is telling
the truth, and that he Is good sample
of degenerate" and that he should
be sent to an insane asylum rather
than to prison. The women of Wash
ington will be delighted, whichever he
goes to, as they have suffered severely
from his ruthless destruction of their
clothing. Unfortunately, one or more
imitators have arisen since Krebs has
been behind the bars, though so far
their work has not been so daring nor
so plentiful as his.
The opening of the Chicago Drain
age Canal has given an impetus to the
movement begun in the last Congress
looking towards the investigation of
the pollution of the rivers on which
cities depend for their water supply
and a scientific commission will un-
doubtedly soon be authorized, which
will consider the subject in all its bear
ings. This commission will not be
aimed in any way at Chicago. AS a
matter of fact, it is asserted on what
seems entirely credible authority that
the drinking supply of st. Louis will
be improved by the opening of the
canal. Smaller towns higher up the
Illinois river may suffer to some ex-