The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-25
Epitome Of Happenings at the
National Capital.
CHRYsANTHEMUMS AS SALAD
United States Senator ccekrell Of Mis-.
souri, viii Accept Position
rendered by President
Roosevelt.

In the annual report of the secretary
of war, William H. Taft. just made
public. Il is urged that all products of
the Philippines except sugar and to-
bacco be admitted TO the United States
free Of duty. and that upon these two
products a material reduction in duty
be made. The report shows a standing
army OF 5s.lS1 men. and that a great
improvement has been made in sanl-
tary conditions. reducing the death
rate The building Of new executive
department is also urged.
President Roosevelt has issued an
order amending the civil service rules
so as to include within the classifi-
cation services the positions of deputy
collectors of customs and the chief col
lector at each sub-port. Future APP
pointments. therefore, must be based
upon competitive examinations. The
order affects about 400 positions,
And now II Is chrysanthemum salad
1t isn't so very good. but If you want
TO be in fashion you must have 1t once
in the season, anyhow. And you must
remark, when your guests say, "oh,
how very unique" "oh. We have 1t
often since the prince taught us how
to make it." That gives you kind of
standing. don't you know. The prince"
Is Prince Fushumi. who was perfectly
amazed when the chrysanthemum ex-
hibit which was ION" in the govern
ment hothouses when he was here. He
said that never in his life had he seen
anything as fine as an article Of food.
The method Of preparing the flowers
for the table. the prince said. was as
follows: First immerse the blooms in
boiling water for from five to six min
utes. Then take them out Of the hot
water and plunge them in cold. After
being thoroughly chilled the petals are
pulled of, and are seasoned to taste
with oil. vinegar. pepper and salt. This
the prince said. was favorite salid in
his country with all classes Not only
are the fresh flowers used that way, the
prince went on to say, but they are
also dried for winter use. Before dry
ing the petals are plucked and when
the housewife wishes to use them they
are soaked in water until they expand
to their original size. Then they are
treated with the boiling and cold
water baths, as the fresh flowers. The
prince said that as a general thing
only the white and yellow chrysanthe-
NUNS are used in the preparation of
salads in Japan.
Colonel Bromwell, the engineer Off
Ger in charge of public buildings and
grounds. reports to the war department
the practical completion of two new
Gated in the monument grounds, and
the commencement of a third house in
the same locality for use in storing the
bay trees from the white house during
the winter. The new building will be
40 feet long, 20 feet wide and is feet
high
One by one the powers are accepting
President Roosevelt's suggestion that
another session of The Hague tribunal
be convened to complete the work out
lined by the first peace congress. Sec
retary Hay has just received cordial
responses from Sweden and Mexico
The Swedish government expresses its
gratitude to the president for calling
the matter to the attention Of the
powers, accepts the invitation and ex-
presses the opinion that one Of the most
important subjects which the court
should consider is the effect Of war on
the rights of neutrals and a definition
Of contraband of war. Mexico's ac-
ceptance is equally cordial.
Senator Cockrell Of Missouri nas
been offered his choice Of two positions
by the president. He can go on the
isthmian canal commission, or he can
take the vacancy on the Interstate COM
merce commission. In either case his
salary will be about $1,000. which will
be an increase Of at least t2s0O over
what he receives as United States SEN
ator. so 1t will have paid Senator Cock
reil pretty well to have Missouri go
republican. Senator Cockreli is per-
fectly willing to accept anything the
president has to give him, but, Of
course, his term in the United States
senate does not expire until March 4,
1905.