The Press., 1901-08-08
Washington Letter.
washington, August s, 1901.

washington, August 5. 1901.
The navy department continues to be
the center of public interest, owing to
the preparations going on there for the
Schley court of inquiry, although as a
matter Of fact, those preparations are
largely routine, and are by no means ex-
citing or sensational. One of Admiral
Schley's counsel, Capt. Parker, Is dill
gently searching the official records for
facts bearing on the matters that will be
brought before the court. He objected
to having everything he did overlooked
by a naval officer, but he was shown the
naval regulation that forbids any person
outside of the service having access to
the official records except in the presence
of an officer. Capt. Lemly, judge advo-
cate general of the navy, who Is Judge ad-
vocate of the Schley court, has just gone
away for a four-weeks' vacation, but dur
ing his absence his assistants will get
everything in shape for the hearing before
the court, and there will be no delay on
that account.
Not few lovers of molasses will be in
terested in the remark of Emile Janin of
New Orleans, now stopping at a WASH
ington hotel, who said: "There is now
practically none OF the old-fashioned New
Orleans molasses, of which we were all
so fond in our boyhood days. Its disap-
pearance Is due to the general use of the
centrifugal process In manufacturing su-
gar. The molasses and syrup of to-day
are mostly glucose, and, strange as 1t
may seem, New Orleans Is one of the
largest consumers of glucose In the world.
Glucose Is made from corn. 1t Is sweet,
though not nearly SO sweet as the juice OF
the sugar cane, and incidentally is the
most indigestible thing in the world.
The dealers of New Orleans are RESPONSE
BILE for the immense consumption of glu.
cose there. An Investigation by the su-
gar exchange developed this. 1t was dis
covered that they added about three bar
rels of glucose to each barrel of molasses
and sold the mixture as New Orleans mo-
lasses."
While discussing the relative strength
of the labor organizations of Great Brit
ain and the U. s., William Eckersley, a
Sheffield, England, steel manufacturer.
who has reached Washington In the course
of leisurely business tour of this coun-
try said: "You have some knowledge of
the strength of labor unions, but doubt
If operatives in the different trades are as
united or as powerful in this country as
In Great Britain. 1t Is no unusual thing
for body of laborers, representing all
the men of certain class In Great Brit
ain, to have $4,000 900 or $4,000, 600 in
their reserve fund. The coal workers,
for instance, are composed of the men
employed In England, Scotland and
Wales, and their fund was about $2,5OO,-
600 when last saw report of 1t. Your
people, except the common unskilled la
borers, get higher prices than ours, but
they have to pay more to live in every
way"
The project of pensioning civil en-
ployes Of the government, without ex-
pense to the government, is again being
actively agitated In Washington. The U.
s. Civil Service Retirement association,
organized year or two ago to push this
project, has been reorganized and will
prepare a bill, which congress will be
asked to pass. This bill will be based
upon information given in response to an
act Of the last congress, calling upon the
heads Of departments for list of en-
ployes, giving ages and length of service,
and will provide for the creation of a
pension fund by the retention of small
percentage of all civil salaries, probably
about three per cent. 1t will provide that
retired civil employees shall be paid one
half the salaries they were receiving when
retired. The only expense to the govern
ment, under this plan, would be for the
clerical help needed for the collection and
disbursement Of the pension fund. It is
claimed that the U. s. Is the only one OF
| the great civilized nations that does moi
provide In some way for the pension OF
aged civil service employees. France has
system something like the one pro-
posed. The rest of the nations pay the
pensions from public funds.