Connecticut western news., 1902-04-10
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence.l


 H. Clay Evans, whose probable re tirement as commissioner of pensions has been foreshadowed, had a long talk on pension affairs with the presi- dent the other day. There is no longer any doubt that MT. Evans will, within the next few months at the latest, sever his connection with the pension bureau to accept from the president a position which will be a substantial promotion, but which has not yet been definitely selected. It Is well known that MT. Evans has the entire confi- dence of the president, and the latter will not consider the question of his re- tirement until position entirely satis- factory to the commissioner has been provided. No decision has yet been reached concerning a successor to Mir. Evans, nor will any action be taken until the president is thoroughly con- vinced that he has found a man of the same high character and sterling worth possessed by the present commissioner in so high a degree.
 It is understood that the subject of retirement has not been discussed be- tween the president and MT. Evans. The matter of a change has been brought to the front by the action of the pension committee of the c. A. R. in asking that change be made in the pension office.
 MT. COoper's Latest Story.
 Chairman Cooper of the house con- mittee on insular affairs is a lawyer. He is frequently called upon by con- stituents to defend them in court when at his home in Wisconsin. voter came to him last summer and asked him to go to court for him in an as sault case. The other man was badly beaten. The complainant explained that the defendant had beaten him. He exhibited his bruises and contu- sions.
 What did you beat this man so un- mercifully for?" asked the judge.
 Your honor, I'll tell you," explained the defendant. "He and were playing seven up. I was six, and he was two. I dealt and he begged. I gave him a point. played the three spot for low. He played the twoe played the king for high, and he took it with an ace. Then he came back at me with the queen and caught my jack. Right there friendship ceased"
 "I'll dismiss this case" declared the judge, "for the reason that any man who would beg with such hand is not honest and should be licked"
 Cushmnn and the Scientist.
 MT. Cushman of Washington state confounded a scientist the other day before the committee on coinage, weights and measures. The scientist came from the State University Of Pennsylvania and was discoursing on the advisability of the metric system as the standard for weights and meas ures in the United States. The discus sion grew finer and finer till 1t touched on instruments for measuring by wave lengths of light.
 The legislator from the faroff coast looked on in amazement mt the scien- tist's remarkable explanations, but sud- denly his stolid form quickened with a desire for intelligence.
 "I would like to ask the gentleman whether or not, in his opinion, with these fine instruments of Aleasuring by the wave lengths of lieXt. it will be possible to take the little end of noth- ing and whittie 1t down to fine point and push the pith out of a mouse's hair and utilize the cavity thereby creat- ed?"
 The scientist stood aghast at this poser, paused moment and replied:
 That would be coarse work"
 How BeidIer Distributes Seeds. Representative Beidler of Ohio has hit upon a new way of distributing seeds to his constituents. Although from Cleveland. there is also some ru- ral territory within his district. The quota of seeds has now been increased to 14.0O0 packages, and members have plenty to go around. Therefore Mir Beidler bethought himself of sending d lot of seeds and little trees to the schoolteachers In his district They were requested to hand the same over to their pupils to plant. and it is ex- pected that that congressional district when July and August are ushered in and the campaign warns up will be one eternal bloom of flower gardens
 Some wag has further suggested that Beidler day be observed out there In the future with the planting of vegeta- ble and flower seeds and likewise the roofing of numerous little Beidler trees.
 Allotment of Indian Lands.
 NJ. Fl. Silverheels, Lester Bishop and W. l.. Parker. three Seneca Indians of western New York, called upon the president the other day to talk about the bill pending In congress to allot in severalty the lands of these Indians. They have a reservation of 5G,000 acres in western New York. The bill provides that three commissioners shall be appointed by the president to carry out the law, one of them being selected by the Indians themselves. The three Indians who called wanted to tell the president that they did not care to select one of the commission CTS. They would be satisfied with his having the naming of all three men. All they would ask would be that the three commissioners should be disin, terested people.
 Popular Priced Poker.
 certain representative, who was once in the advertising business, gave little poker party at his house one night recently. He went to a job print