The National tribune., 1903-07-02
(WAyTfINGTON<0
k& F. r NEWCa

ana HOW IL Is lue Sctu biNisioh VI sA>
Agricultural Department that is to have
q searcklight thrown upon its transac-
tions. For many years there has been DIS
satisfaction with the seeds sent out by the
Agricultural Department. and farmers all
over the country have said that the seeds
were no good. That a package labeled
beet seed was just as likely to bring forth
turnips as anything else:
Secretary Wilson began quietly invest,-
eating matters in connection with the SEED
companies some time ago. and has held
up some $4,000 of the sum due the men
who have been furnishing the seeds to the
Government This firm has been lnsls-
tently asking for its money, and has now
sued the Government, hence these reVela-
tions. 1t seems that the seed firms are
short on several counts. They give poor
paper for the packages, saving themselves
several thousand dollars: they put up
short weight packages, which saves them
an enormous sum: the seeds are said to
be the very cheapest that can be obtained.
instead of the best quality and best yarle-
ties, as stipulated in the contract; anu
then there are lot of other charges.
For instance it is said that there is an
officer in the Agricultural Department
interested in the machines used for time
by the contractor in making the packets
for the seed; that. though the Government
has a number of Inspectors on its pay
rolls, whose explicit duty it is to watch
the packing and shipping of these seeds,
they have not made any attempt to earn
their salaries.
That isn't the worst of it, by any means.
It is said that most of these things were
known over a year ago, and yet the con-
tract was let to the same seed firms for
&hn,, m
to pay a penny of the S25 a day forfeit
which was imposed under the contract for
failure to perform duties properly, and
within the prescribed time, although the
seed firms were two months delinquent.
1t is said now that Count Cassini. Rus
sian ambassador and Dean of the Diplo-
matte Corps, will not return to the United
States, but that he is slated for higher
honors elsewhere, and that Paul Lesser,
an old bachelor. and great favorite every
where, will be sent to the United States
instead. Mr.. Lesser speaks the English
language without accent. and is now Rus
sian Envoy at Pekin. He began life as a
railroad engineer.
The White House is now to have a
"Colonial Garden 1t will be located on
the south side of the house, and will be
= outlined with q low "box" hedge. Box.
be it known, makes very pretty hedges.
but is about the vilest smelling stuff that
grows. excepting jimpson-weed. Down at
Mt. Vernon the walks of the garden are
lined with it, and it is said that Washing
ton set out the most of it with his own
hands The roots of this box form a solid
wooden floor foot or so under the ground,
and the flowers that are planted there
have hard time to grow, because the
box takes all the nutriment out of the soil
and all the moisture.
The Colonial Gardens are to be
planted with "Pretty-by nights" as Grand,
Williams. hollyhocks, Sweet Mary, Sweet
Briar. petunias, touch-me-nots, bleeding
hearts, sun-fowars, live-for-ever, fever
few, sweet peas, Towering beans, zinnias,
portulaca, mourning-bride, sun-dial, rag.
ged robins, everlastings, fall-roses, and all
the other old favorites. At least it will
have these if it is the proper kind Of q
to be bordered with grass pinks. Was
there ever anything sweeter?
Such a garden would not be complete
without the dear little white Prince
Charlie rose. the cinnamon rose, thousand
leaf rose, the cabbage rose, the nader
blush rose. columi,i,.c, honeysuckle, morn
Ah6 pCtty wan Ao"St
The Imperial cOlors Of Germany wert
dipped to the American Flag dying from
the mast Of Admiral Cotton's Flagship
the new Kearsarge, at Kiel, Germany, OF
the occasion of the European visit Of tn,
American squadron to that Port to witness
the evolutions of the German Navy. Tn,
Imperial yacht steamed up the harbor o.
Kiel bearing the American Flag from tn,
aftermast. Such honors were never be
fore paid a foreign flag by Germany. Ger
many did the handsome thing, but she ais
knew that it was a wise thing to thu
honor the flag that dominates the worlt
to-day.
The Third Assistant Postmaster-G Gen
eral wants to protect registered mail b,
bending railway clerks. This class Of mai
is now admirably protected in every othe
way, but when it gets into the hands O
the railway clerks, they break the stron
chain.
The last monster gun made for the Gov
ernment is now about to 60 through it
final test at Sandy Hook. The giant
nearly 3S feet long and weighs So, -
pounds. 1t fires a charge of powder -
pounds in weight. 1t is wound with z
miles Of copper wire, which is square an
one fiftieth of an inch in diameter.
Will carry its missile OF death and deStruC
ton 20 miles. and If, when it lands, i
strikes a building as big as the Unite
States Capitol, it probably would leave
looking like an old marble quarry.
Everybody remembers "Private Bi
Anthony" whose coOlness on the nigh
that the Maine was blown up was tels
graphed to the Mortified world. and every
body knows that the poor fellow commi
ted suicide year or more ago. He LEI
wife and a little son. Capt. Sigsbe,
who commanded the Maine, has intereste
himself in the welfare Of Mrs. Anthon,
who is quite poor. and has been able
Secure her a place in the permaner
Census Bureau. She has now a clerkshi
which pays $500 a year.
June q, the longest day in the yea
was also the coldest June 81 ever recorde
In the 80 years since the Government ha
had meteorological reports. This has ais
been the coolest June In that 33-yes
period.
1t is more than hinted that Mr. Mache
the dismissed Superintendent of Rur
Free Delivery, instigated the charg'
against ex-Representatiye Loud, of Cal
fornia. Mr.. Machen hinted darkly tn.
he could tales unfold if he was ever trar
Piled upon, and since the Postmaster G.
eral has been using Mr.. Machen to poi
morals and adorn tales, Mr.. Machen b.
concluded to peach" on some Of tho
aSSnciata6 xyif f,