Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-20

Some day when camera is invented that
will photograph instantaneously in very
poor light, a dream of the secret service of
the government will have been realized. The
use of the camera in the Post Office Depart
ment if plates sensitive enough to produce
these results could be made and used sue
cessfuly, would be very general.
II have on many occasions seen man in
a compromising position. just as he was
riiing the mail and would have had abso-
lutte proof of it had l been able to take his
photograph" said a member of the secret
service to Star reporter today. Not be-
ing able to prove mans guilt IN a way
to satisfy the courts, l have had to follow
him for months A camera would make life
easy for the detective, sure. L believe That
some day we will be able to reproduce
moving pictures under conditions that would
be necessary to successfully photograph
criminals. and when that day comes no man
can call himself q detective who Is not an
expert photographer.
X X
Something akin to excitement exists just
at present SO far as the large number OF
persons employed at the city hall are con-
cerned The arrival of new family with
In the portals Of the big white building Is
responsible for the STIR To be sure, the
strangers are kittens, but they are not ordi-
nary felines for the reason that they hap
pen to be the children of Miss Fitts-the
city halls prize mouser-so named, in all
probab ility because she never suffered with
a spasm.
Miss Fits rules the court house and all
the mortas connected Herewith, from the
dignified Judges to the laborers. The entire
structure is her domain. One moment she
may be sleeping peacefully on chair in the
private Office of the attorney of the United
States on the upper floor, and an hour later
l. ~ tl,4 dash 81 hnn obi of
Justice Of the Supreme Court of the Dis
trict, down stairs. She Is never disturbed.
1t Is declared that Miss Fits is the most
successful rodent catcher Of her species.
That, together with the fact that she pos
sesses most friendly disposition, has earn
ed for her widespread popularity and most
loyal following. The kittens are receiving
the best Of care. and the hope is expressed
that they will soon be assisting their mother
In Kidding the temple of justice of rats and
mice
THE operations of the civil service" said
an official of the Navy Department the
other day, ARE very queer sometimes. To
illustrate The other day the department
made requistion on the civil service COM
mission for two laborers for the bureau of
ordnance, and in response the commission
certified the names of three residents of
Honolulu, Hawaii. These men stood at the
top of the list of eligibles and were thus
entitled to appointment to the first yacan-
cies. Now, just think of our situation. We
needed the men right away, and then only
Tor work that might not last very long
In the first place it would take US at least
two months to communicate with the men
and then, in case they were willing to ac-
cept the places, it would take about two
months more before they could reach this
city By that time the necessity for their
employment would undoubtedly have passed
away. How did We escape the dilemma :?
Why, We simply found that we really need
ed another class of help, two bookkeepers or
something of that kind, but that's got moth
ing to do with the point I was trying to
make. which was the absurdity of going to
Hawaii for labor to be performed in Wash
ihgton."
X X X X
III 1 were to tell you that In far-off
Alaska, whose resources are just becoming
known, there is an extensive forest In which
are found numberless trees from six to
eight feet In diameter and 200 feet in height
you would question my veracity," said an
official OF the Interior Department, the other
day. Nevertheless. that is the fact" he
added. President Roosevelt recently Gre
ated forest reserve, embracing most of
the Islands Of the Alexander archipelago,