The National tribune., 1903-09-10
WASIiINGT
u r. - NEWCa

his desk the first hank Of silk reeled from
the new silk Keeling machine here. There
are three of these machines, two Of which
have been sent South-One to Booker
Washington's school at Tuskegee, and two
expert French women have been brought
with them to teach their operation. The
Agricultural Department is taking the
greatest interest in the development OF
silk culture in the South, where it is
thought it will have abundant development,
and provide employment for the people
especially the colored folks. If they car
be brought to take a substantial interest
sn silk raising, and to learn the delicate
manipulations and care required, 1t will
be great boon to the South, because we
are the largest silk consumers in the
world, and the consumption is constantly
increasing. There are no reasons why
silk raising should not be a part or the
industry of every Southern home, and af-
ford a good portion of the income of ev-
cry family. In Japan and China it is es-
sentially home industry, and from ear
lest infancy the children are taught to
care for the silk worms and assist in pro-
ducing the product. A common sight In
Japan and China is to see the children
instantly cease from their play, and rush
to their homes to feed the silk worms, or
give them some other necessary atten-
ton, after which they return to their
play. 1t will take sometime to develop
this idea in the South, but it is promis-
ing one, and if it can be successfully ac-
climated there will be great results.
Moved by recent legal opinions as to the
status of the District of Columbia, and in
the light of what happened in the en-
croachments of Congress upon the munich
pality, in the denial of ali political right
to the people of the District, there is
much local clamor for change. People
say: Let the District Government be one
thing or the other-a Bureau of the War
Department, subject to military rule as
the cities of Cuba, Porto Rico, and the
Philippines were after the Spanish war,
or turn it over to the people, to be gov
erned by the people who pay the taxes
and carry the public burden, a privilege
accorded everywhere in free America ex-
cept in the District of Columbia.
Assistant Secretary H. A. Taylor, of the
Treasury Department, is having the live
lest time of his life. He has been in
politics many years, but declares that he
is now experiencing more real excitement
than at any other period in his existence.
The Secretary has assigned to him juris
diction over public building construction
in the United States. In addition to pro-
viding more than 100 public buildings
Congress at the last session appropriated
money for sites in 50 cities, with the I'M
Outstanding that buildings would be au-
thorized next Winter. Secretary Taylor
these 80 cities. In several cases lively
fights have resulted.
An exciting episode occurred in the
Secretary's office one day last week. Two
factions put in an appearance. The ire
of one of the visitors was aroused by the
statements of rival delegate, whereupon
a debate ensued which threatened to end
in fisticuffs. This particular delegation
was from the South, and bad language was
the order of the day. An accusation was
made by one Of the callers in the follow
ing language: why, sir, you cannot be-
lieve what they are telling you. That
man. SIR" said the speaker, pointing to an
inoffensive citizen, was convicted for
stealing: that man." indicating another, sis
a black Republican, while that fellow mar
ried Niger" The hearing broke up in
disorder.
A "Trade-dollar Admiral has taken the
place of the Commodore in our Navy. If
you don't know what "Trade-dollar Ad-
mirar' is it is because you have not heard
some of the Navy officers explain. There
are in tn. Navy two grades of Rear-Admi-
rails. Nine have the same relative rank
and pay as Brigadier-Generals. 1t is these
latter who are the "Trade-dollar Admi
rails" The worst thing the naval person
mel bill did was to cripple the Engineer
Corps of the Navy, and the next was in
destroying the title of Commodore. 1t did
not change the status of the grade be-
tween Captain and Rear-Admirals in
name. All our great naval achievements
were won by Commodores, unless by Cap
tains. The title Admiral is nat associated
with a single naval victor: Perry, Hull,
Farragut, Porter, Dewey, aaG Schley were
ell Commodores when they commanded IN
great naval battles. The change was
made because foreign navies had no Conn.,
modores and our commanders of squad
rons with that title did not seem to carry
as much weight as those who were called
Admirals. The naval personnel bill was
passed no doubt with view of improving
the Navy, but like all laws of that char
acter contained some mistakes, and the
creation of 'Trade-dollar Admirals' is
claimed to have been one of them.
The oleomargarine people do not rest
easy under the loss of the large profits for
merly made on the sale of their product as
"butter," and which have been made i'm
possible under the rigid enforcement of the
new law prohibiting the coloring of the
imitation to resemble tie real article, and
requiring it to be truthfully labeled. They
have put their literary bureau at work cir
culating pathetic stories of the reduction
of cattle values through the lessening use
of oleo oil and tallow; of the consignment
of nice suet and tallow, in the packing
houses, to the soap-grease barrel; of the
tax levied on the consuming public
through an alleged advance in the price
of butter, etc.
Officials of the United States Geological
Survey are actively at work carrying out
the provisions of the National Irrigation
act Already one project has been started
and surveying parties are now in the field
to establishing irrigation
works next Spring in some Of the States
of the Northwest and Southwest. More
than 100000 acres of land have already
been withdrawn from the public domain
for irrigating purposes.
The manufacturers of the United States
imported nearly S500,000.000 worth of
for use in manufacturing in tho
fiscal year just ended Materials for use
in manufacturing thus formed nearly one
half of the total imports of the United
States last year.
Eynert oninion &c heino utili1ad hv <h>