The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-10-20
WASHINGTON
NEWS NOTES.
JEWS OF TEE WEEK BRIEFLY
CHRoNICLED.
SOUTHERN BIDS Erc-l
on Lumber For Panama Canal and
VIII Probably Lose Out. Canteen
was of Great Moral Benefit Says
Army Officer.

Army Officer.
Washington.-Th The New Orleans
Mint is safe. 1t will not be made a
Target of attack at the coming ses-
Sion OF congress. For several years in
succession this institution has been
subjected to more or less adverse re-
ports, which have taxed the ingenui-
ty OF its friends at home to defend it
against these assaults, To Senator
McEnery and Gen. Meyer belongs the
credit, at the last session, of prevent
ing 1t from being dismantled and con-
verified into an assay Office At the
obtaining the desired appropriation
from the national legislature, Direc-
tor Roberts, who completed his re-
port, made provision in his estimates
Tor continuing the MIN on the present
! basis, and to this end asked for an
appropriation of 500, 100 for the next
fiscal year, beginning July l, 1904.
With this Endorsement, its friends in
both houses of Congress will have no
trouble in safeguarding its interests
and Obtaining the desired appropri-
alton for the national legislation.
1t is said here in official circles that
the present Republican national cam
paign differs SO materially from pre-
ceding campaigns as to be almost re-
voiutionary, and to completely upset
and do away with the methods that
have been in vogue since the birth of
the party. So radical indeed have
been these changes that they may be
said to mark new era in national
campaigning, and to make impossi-
bic any return to the old system "The
President" said high official of the
government today, "is practically
conducting his own campaign. He is
responsible for all the suggestions
that have been adopted and carried
out by his lieutenant, George Bruce
Cortelyou. Some day, I believe, the
president will take the public into his
confidence and tell just how the bus
mess Of corralling voters in the cam
paign Of 1904, was accomplished. He
will probably not do this until he has
permanently retired from official life,
and when he tells the story, as I think
ne will, perhaps in modified way, it
will make most interesting reading"
That the canteen is of great moral
benefit to the army is the claim made
by Brig. Gen. G. H. Burton in his an
nual report as inspector general of the
army to the Secretary Of War at
seems to be almost the unanimous
sentiment of the army he says,
that the one thing lacking to meet
the soldiers wants and tastes is the
canteen feature. The absence of this
leads to sickness, the commission of
military offenses, desertion, and other
crimes, as we'll as impaired discipline
by driving men TO resort to the low
dives and groggeries that have sprung
mp like mushrooms around military
reservstions since the prohibition law
was enacted. In fact, the canteen
feature is not only a benefit morally,
but the profits derived from the sales
of beer and light wines are used to
improve the mess as well as for the
purchase of periodicals, publications,
etc., all of which add to the soldiers
comfort and contentment.
The officials of the Panama Canal
Commission in this city are still en-
gagged in figuring out the relative cost
Of the lumber offered by the sixty or
more bidders to the proposals adver-
tised on Sept. 19 for 100000 feet
Of dressed and rough timber. It may
be a couple Of days yet before an
nouncement is made of the awards.
It was learned by The Times-Demo-
crat correspondent that, while a great
many Southern lumber manufacture
ing firms took part in the bidding, the
Aprices quoted for by them we're COM
aparatively higher, and that the show
ing made by them was not SO good as
tmade by lumber concerns in the west.
A great many firms from Chicago and
Cleveland fled bids with the commits
sion on his requisition, and their
prices, it is said, were scaled down to
the lowest notch.
1t has been decided that the pres
ident's yacht Mayfower is to be plae-
ed out of commission and her officers
assigned to the new hattleships which
soon will be ready Cor service. It has
been expected that Admiral Dewey
would go to the winter maneuvers on