The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1902-11-28
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

IN collect double commissions on sales
of stamps. 1t has become the practice
If some fourth class postmasters locat-
cd near presidential offices to have
mail originating within the limits of
the latter deposited in the fourth class
office through an implied agreement.
Thus the fourth class postmaster de-
-iyes great benefit from this plan when
the department makes it's annual re-
classification of salaries, and as the
stamps are purchased at a presidential
Dostot1ice the government thus pays
twice on this class of business, to the
presidential postmaster for sales of
stamps and to the fourth class post
master on cancellations made.
Single cases of this kind have been
found at intervals for some years, but
of late the practice has attained such
large proportions and become 80 seri-
GUS that the law officials of the depart
ment were attracted.
1t is a violation of the postal regula-
tons for a postmaster to solicit, and
while in no single case has such q VIC
lation been proved the department will
hereafter take it for granted that there
is an Interior motive where mail is de-
posted outside the limits Of the office
where it originates, and the offending
postmaster will be dismissed accord
ingly.
An Owl Self Betrayed.
A Mexican owl Of the species CON-
monty described as monkey face'' flew
through an open window Of the photo
graph on the top Of the war de-
partment building some time during
the night a few days ago and was cap
tured by the photographer in the
morning. The latter was puzzled to
know what kind Of a bird he caught.
1t looked both like an owl and a hawk.
1t was smaller in the body than an
owl, was fawn colored, beautifully
marked with spots of lavender. and it's
plumage was bright and iridescent. A
large white crest terminated at the
base of a long. sharp beak. and it's two
round white eyes were fringed with
white feathers branching outward, CIV
ing the face a peculiar appearance.
The bird was taken down to the
Smithsonian institution, and the scien-
lists there declared it to be a Mexican
owl, which very rarely ome so far
north as this. 1t is supposed that it es-
capped from the custody of some one
who had brought it north. 1t has been
added to the pathological collection at
the National Geological park.
Alaskan Fisheries.
George M. Bowers, the fish commits
the other day regarding the work Of
the fish commission. Mr.. Bowers told
the president that next spring he is
going to send the fish commission
steamer Albatross and a commission
of experts to the salmon waters of
Alaska to thoroughly Investigate the
salmon business. One Of the purposes
of the commission will be to ascertain
the best means of replenishing the
stock of salmon and preventing the 60
ing out of the supplies Of this great
commercial fish. 1.-The catch Of salmon
this year was an immense one" said
Mr.. Bowers, land this would indicate
that salmon are plentiful. But we want
to know all about the fish and the best
way of keeping the Alaskan waters
thoroughly stocked"
Mrs. Roosevelt Likes Green.
Green appears to be Mrs. Roosevelt's
%favorite color. for the long upper hall
in the ~redecorated White House is done
in this shade. and several Of the newly
arranged apartments in the east end
of the house are decorated in colors
of brown and green. The decorations Of
the family dining room will be red,
which is the color used in it for many
pears. What was once the cabinet
room will be used by President Roose-
welt as his private study, and it has
been decorated in soft shades Of brown.
In it will be the desk presented by
Queen Victoria and made from the
oaken timbers taken from her majesty's
steamer Resolute, which was the ship
used in the search for Sir John Frank
Inns expedition which was shipwrecked
in 1916. The Resolute was abandoned
in the ice and was picked up in 1854.
Appointments Held Until December.
President Roosevelt and his cabinet
officers have agreed to make as few
appointments as possible until the ses-
sion Of congress. when a great batch of
nominations will be sent in. This is be-
cause of the cost and annoyance to
appointees of giving two bonds, one FOL.
lowing an appointment and the other
following the nomination. To avoid
the double bond business %oficeholders
are being allowed to hold on under old
commissions without being reappoint
ed. This is also the case with vacan'
cies, the president preferring not to put
appointees to the trouble Of making a
bond now and of going through the
same thing in less than two months.
Secretary Cortelyou's New Horses.
Secretary Cortelyou has purchased
from Baltimore a beautiful team o.
seal brown driving horses for his owl
use. They We're purchased by p. NJ
Moses, who bought President Roose
velt's team Of bays. Mr.. Moses was en-
gagged for a long time in securing