The National tribune., 1903-12-10
( iWAyIIINGTON-0
l& f. & NEWCa)

even with an instalment house the other
day in an energetic manner that was aiso
convincing. She bought piano long
time ago on the instalment plan. She had
paid all but SIS on the instrument, and Tor
some reason had been unable to get tnat
sum together, so the firm levied on the
piano and sent an officer to take 1t from
her house. When the officer and the man
appeared, old nanny, who had never useu
the piano anyhow, and knew no more
about notes than hog does OF heaven;
seized an AK, and walking into de palr
brought it down with all the vigor OF her
of .'de pianner' There wasn't enough OF
the old thing left to make yeneered rose
wood toothpicks. "Now yeh kin tax de
OF rattleboX,'' she said disdainfuily, but
they didn't.
The new British ambassador, Sir Henry
Mortimer Durand. has arrived in Wash
ington, and has made very pleasant I'M
preston. There is a general feeling that
we are going to like him pretty well. lie
is tall, broad-s -shouldered and athletic iii
appearance, and looks to have good red
blood in his veins. Lady Durand, who is
almost confirmed invalid, and the
daughter of the house, Miss Amy Durand,
will arrive about Christmas. Lady Du-
rand will not appear i'll society at All, Dut
it is expected that the daughter will make
her debut here. and. that she will represent
her mother in all social functions. On the
whole this may be taken as mark or hlgh
esteem for it will be the first time that the
daughter of foreign representative IN tins
country has beer presented here. 1t IS
considered that the presentation should be
made at Court first.
ryJ,oro Sc. n x-;da divarpancp of ODiniOnS
throughout the country concerning the re-
peal of the present land laws. and there Is
general feeling that the Government
should act promptly in the matter of giving
relief of some kind. With this end in view,
President Roosevelt has appointed an Ad-
visory Commission on Public Lands, con-
sisting of Hon. w. A. Richards, Commls-
sioner of the General Land Office; +. II.
Newell, Chief Engineer of the United
States Reclamation Service, and Clifford
Pinchot. Forester of the Bureau OF For
estry.
This Commission has been given some
what extended powers, and is instructed to
report to the President upon the condition,
policy. and effect of the present land laws;
and on the use, condition and disposal ans
settlement of the public lands. 1t IS re-
Guested to report especially what changes
in the public land laws are needed to make
them effective and protective to actual
settlers. The Commission has good
deal of work cut out for it, but the per-
sonnel of the Committee is above par, ana
it starts out well equipped for its gigan-
tic task.
The report of Director Roberts, of the
United States Mint Bureau, shows the
coinage of the year to have beaten all rec
ords.
The monthly report of the Comptroller
of the. Currency shows that there is 81 a
great increase in the circulation OF Ma
tional Bank notes; /.
Senator Penrose, of Pennsylvania, is
opposed to the ratification of the Isle OF
Pines treaty, by which the ownership of
the Island is vested in Cuba. He says
he will do his utmost to defeat the bill,
and if he is unable to do this, will at least
delay its passage, and seek to radically
amend it. Several American capitalists
have important financial interests there.
They made their investments in the expec-
tation that the Island would continue un-
der the control Of the United States. They
maintain rhaI they are being Disseminated
against by the Cuban Government, which,
they say, has taxed them almost beyond
endurance. Ii the treaty is amended 1t
q
Isle s.s Pines. Havana is the port OF en-
try for that island now.
The Agricultural Department has been
testing the feasibility of growing Sumatra,
or wrapper leaf" tobacco in the COnnec-
ticut Valley during the past year, and has
shown that it can be grown there in as
fine quality as in Sumatra.
The Annual Report of Fourth Assist
ant Postmaster-Genera. Bristow shows
that Rural Free Delivery is advancing rap
| idly, and that expenditures in the Post Of
| fee Department for rural and city deliy-
cry amounted to $47,O00,000 last year.
On June 80, 1902, there were S,466 rural
routes in operation. During the fiscal year
ended June 30, 1903, 6,653 routes were es.
date.
Under the law the salary of rural car.
| riers cannot exceed 5000 per annum, aISl
no other allowance can be made but it is
provided that they shall not be prohib
tied from doing an express package bust
ness. The provision of law under which
rural carriers are permitted to do an ex.
| press package business was intended by
| Congress to provide a means of additional
| compensation, but it is so broad in its
| terms that the way has been opened fol-
a serious loss of revenue to the posta
| service.
| 1t is recommended that rural carriers b,
restricted to the discharge of their ofiicia
| duties, the same as city carriers, as pre-
scribed by the Department, and to provide
| a compensation commensurate with ths
service performed the maximum salary
should be raised to $3.50 per annum for q
route of % miles.
Referring TO the Investigations now il
| progress, Mr.. BristOw says: at has showr
| that for number of years sup
| plies of free delivery service hav,
not been purchased with an ey'
single to the public interests. Boil
in the matter of quality and the cost o.
equipment the ruling consideration ha.
been private gain. This applies to arti
cles furnished under regular contract
| riers' sachels, as well as to those hough
in the open market under exigency priv
ilege, which has been much abused
|
Favored contractors, abetted by ;
trusted but unfaithful official, have cor
rupted the public service. An early ant
along the line of service equipment, witt
the prospective result of improved ser
vice at reduced cost. Fraudulent con
tracts have been abrogated. In the re
letting of contracts honest competition
will have fair and free play"
During the year there were ,643 robber
les OF post offices, as compared witt
| ] ,I46 in 1902. There were III robberies q