The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-26
WASHINGTON GOSSIP
Petitions Aimed Against Senator
Reed Smoot Merely a Waste
Of Time.
Changes Proposed in the Army Uni
forms-Legislation for the
Old Pensioners.
From the Journal Bureau, Colorado Building.

From the Journal Bureau, Colorado Building
Washington.
washington, Nov 26.-Secretary
Hitchcock is much interested in the
bill which he has drafted and sent to
the speaker of the house, providing
for the control of grazing in forest re-
serves. The bill provides for the pun
ishment, on conviction, of persons who
knowingly pasture live stock on public
lands within forest reserves, without
first having obtained permission to do
so under rules and regulations pre-
scribed by the interior department.
In view of the extreme Importance Of
the matter as an aid in the protection
of forest reserves and their dependent
interests, Mr.. Hitchcock earnestly
recommends that the bill be enacted
into law at an early date.
To Aid Old Soldiers.
A few days after Representative
| Marshall of North Dakota had intro
duced his bill providing that old
soldiers shall have the franking
vouchers, similar bill, but less care
fully worked out, was introduced by
Representative Dick Of Ohio. It is
regarded as probable that legisla-
ton Of this sort will be had in the
present congress. 1t is favored by the
|
partment, and will save something like
$4,000 year to the old soldiers who
are on the pension lists. Besides, 1t
will make the return Of their vouchers
more prompt. Under the present sys-
tenn, these old pensioners frequently
write the wrong address, and their let
ters are sometimes a month reaching
their proper destination. With the
franked envelopes, addressed by the
printer, such delays would be avoided.
| Army Uniform Changes.
| The quartermaster general Of the
| army is at work on some important
changes in the army uniform. One Is
chevrons on the sleeves of en-
listed mems uniforms. It is
found practically impossible to
find a color Of cloth which
will be fastened to the sleeve and will
| hibition, of bronze, are much smaller
than the old cloth ones and much
more attractive. Another innovation
is the introduction of a so-called w
in the breast near the collar Of the
coat Of the field uniform. This tailor's
de1 &c contributes. to the appearance
and comfort of the garment. It IS
also proposed to change the pockets
so as to give them what is known as
a bellows effect, imparting greater
capacity to the pocket, which will be
"choked off, at the top, so as to bet
ter protect the contents of the pocket
from loss.
The quartermaster general is also
considering the advisability Of changes
in the campaign hat. The objection
to the present hat is that when 1t is
wet it becomes soft and does not re-
!, tain it's shape. An ingenious device
, will probably be adopted In the shape
of a woven cord which will run thru
perforation in the rim on each side
of the crown. This cord will enable
the wearer Of the hat to secure It on
his head by bringing the cords into
| knot at the back Of the neck, or, II
he prefers, using the cord for the
same purpose by bringing one end
, of it down to a buttonhole. Hither-
to. this security has been obtained by
means Of a strap sewed to the lining
of the hat with the result that the
strap was continually breaking away
from the hat and rendering Itself
nuisance rather than a thing of use.
Moody on Western Sailors.
AS showing something of the prac-
teal character Of the work to be done
by the new naval training station, &c
be located somewhere on Lake Mlchl-
gan, near Chicago, the following from
the report of Secretary Moody, Wher
submitting the report OF the commls'
sion selected to choose a site, will be
! interesting:
i "At the present time large mum.
e Der of recruits for the naval service
e are obtained from the states, of which
e Lake Michigan is the center. THESE
men are Of high quality in every re-
e spect, and after one term OF enlist
e ment become excellent seamen To-
b service either in the navy or the mer'
chant marine, and in many cases re
to1 for Cyn
: tioEs in private life. I respectful!
: recommend to congress the earnes
;, consideration of the report OF TIL
board and the establishment Of ma
val training station on the great lake
= in accordance with it's Recommended,
v tons
!. Nearly every state in the union ha
n protested to the senate, thru religion
y and other societies, against the pres
3 ence Of Senator Reed Smoot In tn
o senate, on account of his connection
with the Mormon church. These pro
): tests have all been put on file. The,
d will not exert the slightest influence
e on the senate in the determination o
?. the case; in fact, Senator Hoar O
]. Massachusetts, and several of his col
) leagues on the committee which
a considering the case, resent this inter
e ference by the public with what the
il regard as a judicial question purely
d The facts will be brought out by hear
Is ings before the committee, and tn
u findings will be made under then
5: without regard to petitions. It
IS very freely said at the capitol tina
: the Smoot petitions are sad vast
j. Of good time, pens, ink, paper an
,r postage stamps. Perhaps a hundre
2, church organizations in Minnesota, al
" most a score of them in Minneapolis
5. have come to. the front with these pro
q tests.
ID W. w. Jermane
lie
/ coLORAnO GETS GINS