Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-06-14

0U
1t is a pitiful fact that Of the hundreds
of acres Of parking owned by the govj
eminent in the District Of Columbia,
there is only one plot of less than one
acre set aside as a play ground for boys.
This is a small part of the grounds to.
the north of the Washington Monument
and at any hour of the day or evening q
lot of well-behaved boys OF various sizes
and ages may be found there engaged in,
some athletic sports. In all of the parks,
small children, when accompanied by
nurses, may play upon the lawns, but
after a boy reaches the marble, top and
ball age, he is driven to some vacant lot
in the poorer parts Of the city, or into the|
middle of the street, or perhaps to the
suburbs of the town, where he is beyond
the observation of his parents or the ofa.
GERS of the law. The result is that from
the time the schools close in June until
they open again in September, the boys
of Washington find the vast expanse OF
sun-heated asphaltum their only play
ground. a bathing beach has been pro-
vided grudgingly and it is about the only
thought ever given for a boys comfort|
or happiness in the District of Columbia.
The boys may at any time sit about on
the seats in the public parks, provided
they keep off the grass" and indulge in
no boyish pranks, or they may walk about
and look at the well-kept flower beds,
but there their liberty ends, and were
it not for the we!l-shaded streets the all
ready startling death rate among chill
dren would be increased greatly.
Whom +ho DroesJo,A 4J..
journey upon private business he buys his
railroad ticket, just like any other trav-
eler, but when he makes a tour it is cus-
tomary for him to accept the hospitality
OF the various railroads over which his
train passes and the citizens of the places
where he stops. 1t would be impossiblei
would accept money from him, and therel
is always great rivalry as to the route
by which he shall travel. The govern-i
ment furnishes the White House, the
china, silverware, bedding and other
household equipments. 1t also pays the1
fuel, gas and water bills and the cost
of all repairs. The steward, the house,
keeper, the watchmen and the ushers are
on the government pay roll, but the other
aASAA0AAS ~ puliCAp ScoASl
chambermaids, ETC., are paid by the Pres
ident. He also furnishes his own horsep
md carriages, his coachmen, footmen
and stablemen, and the fodder for the
horses, but the government furnishes the
stable. All food supplies of every kind,
all dinners given by the President,
whether official or otherwise, are paid
for from his private pure.
So
The various decisions of the Supreme
Court in the insular cases have confused
the minds of members of the cabinet and
Senators who are trying to shape the
government policy in harmony with the
views of the court. The principal con-
fusion is as to the bearing of the decis-
ions will have on the Philippine question.
The Treasury Department will continue
to collect the Dingley duties on imports
from the Philippines, though it is admit
ted that these will have to be refunded
when the decision ON the Philippines case,
1.-THE fourteen diamond rings case,'' is
handed down by the court next winter.
1t is considered better to do this thar
to act on the Porto Rico decision which
declared all the islands acquired from
Spain domestic territory from the date
of cession by the ratification of the treaty
of Paris, and entitled to free trade until
Congress acted. The War Department
will also continue to collect taxes on the
imports into the Philippines with the
same understanding that they will be
paid under protest and must be refunded.
1t is admitted that the Philippines will
enjoy practical free trade with the Unit
ed States until Congress provides a tar
ihf for the Philippines.
Secretary Of Agriculture Wilson tells
nm interesting story with regard to the
prune'industry Of the Pacific coast. The
people in sections of the coast found
all the conditions for production in high
excellence, but they did not know enough
about preparing their prunes for the mar
ket. When this came to the attention
If the Secretary he quietly went to the
Senators from the coast States, told them
to get him some extra money in the agri-
cultural appropriation bill for this pur-
pose, without saying anything about it or
the floor Of the Senate, and this they
promptly did. A professor was selected
from n Of the agricultural colleges Of
the country and sent to France with in
%structions to stay there until he learned
all about the preparation Of prunes for
shipment. s{1is report is now in press and
will be distributed in due time. The re-
port will be of immense value to the:
growers of prunes on the Pacific coast.
-:-:.
The Auditor for the Navy and the
Treasury Department has received the
decree of a judgment for $1S1,S3O, rem
dered by the Court Of Claims in favor of
those officers and men under Admiral
Dewey who took part in the destruction
Of the Spanish forces in Manila Bay on
May 1, 1898. The Auditor will proceed
ut once to enroll the names Of the men,
entitled to share in this '.head money or
bounty, and it is possible that payment
will begin within a month.
Applications will be forwarded upon re-
quest by the Auditor Of the Navy, and
each claimant must make affidavit of his.
Individuality and participation in the con-
fict of May 1 with Dewey's feet. Ad-
miral Dewey already has been paid So