Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1902-09-11
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence.l

Workmen employed In tearing out
the inside OF the White House the 9TH
er day unearthed. deep down under the
basement, IA portion of IA human skele-
ton. The mysterious discovery was
made while the laborers were exca-
waiting a subcellar below the floor of
the basement for the new heating APP
paratus. After going down about ten
feet massive stone vault was en-
countered. 1t proved to be what was
apparently the foundation walls OF an
old house that had evidently stood on
the spot where the White House was
afterward erected. 1t will be remem-
bered that the land upon which the
White House and adjacent public
buildings stand is made land, devel-
oped to its present condition by filling
In and grading. In this same excava-
ton was found an immense oven i'm
bedded In the stone wall. and I'm close
proximity to the oven were found the
bones. The workmen believed they
had unearthed an ancient tomb.
The New Spanish Minister.
Senior Ojeda, the new Spanish min
lister, who succeeds the Duke of ARGOS,
begins his American mission under the
most favorable auspices. He has al
ready secured the friendship of such
representative men as Senator Frye of
Maine and former Secretary of State
William X. Day, with whom he was
associated as secretary of the Spanish
commission which met In Paris to con-
slider terms of peace after the Spanish
war.
The minister has an interesting fam
fly. who will join him In the early au-
tumn. Sonora Ojeda has large ac-
Quaintance I'm Washington and Is de-
scribed as handsome and gracious
matron. A daughter, who Is about
twenty, and son, who will be an at
tache Of the legation, complete the
household. Senorita Ojeda is said to
be unusually lovely, and her advent
will be warmly welcomed. The diplo.
matte corps at present contains but
one woman, the Countess Marguerite
de Cassini, daughter of the Russian
ambassador. The pretty young count
ess has been undisputed queen, but II
Is said that she will find a rival I'm the
daughter Of the Spanish minister.
Improved Postal Finances.
For the first time In nineteen years
the postal system promises something
better than big deficit on its annual
business. AS far as II has been posi-
BILE to forecast, the excess of expendi-
lures over receipts for the fiscal year
1902 will not exceed and may not quite
reach $1.500,00O or less than half of
the smallest total since 1888.
The fiscal year 1888 ended, leaving q
postal surplus for the year represent
ing net revenue OF about $2,G92, 600
The next year this was turned into a
deficit of more than $3,000.000. For
the two years of 1893 and 1894 1t rose
to between 100000 and $4,000. 900.
In 1897 il rose TO Its high water mark
$11. 100000. and since then has de-
clined annually.
Next year. If reforms now under way
can be carried through. there is fair
prospect that we shall have a surplus
for the whole twelve months. the first
for twenty years. That will be the
next step to | cent letter postage.
Printing Bureau hid Lowest.
The government probably will print
Its own postal stamps as the result OF
the bids opened at the postoffice de-
partment the other day for the con
tract for supplying the adhesive post
age stamps for the four years begin.
ming Oct. l. 1t had been stated that
the price asked by the bureau of en-
craving and printing was considered
exorbitant and that the work would
have TO go TO private concern. The
bureaus bid. however, proved the low.
est. 1t is 3 cents per thousand for or.
binary postage stamps. cents per
thousand for postage due stamps, Is
cents per thousand for special dellv-
cry stamps. $3.50 per thousand books
containing twelve stamps each. $3.45
per thousand books containing twenty
four stamps each and SAG per thou
sand books containing forty eight
stamps each. The only other bidder
WIS tnt lbduk NIUE anu
craving company OF New York. whose
bid Is estimated to be about $4,000
higher for the four years than the bu
reau's bid.
CIubhOuses For Enlisted Men.
Arrangements are being made by the
war department to spend half million
dollars OH clubhouses for enlisted men
OF the army. A board OF officers will
shortly be convened and will visit the
various garrisons and inspect carefully
the local conditions In some cases II
Will be necessary to erect special
building for this purpose. At other
places II will be- possible to utilize
buildings already In existence. which
can be readily converted to the pur
poses OF recreation hall.
The abolition OF the canteen feature
or the post exchange materially re
duced the revenue from that source
and II has become necessary hat the
government shall provide some means
OF entertainment for the soldiers. II
Is probable this appreciation OF the
situation induced congress to make the