The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-08-23
LETTER
Especial Correspondence.l

pdilAueAl diu MTS. IeIrce nave return
ed to Washington. Mr.. Peirce's trip
was undertaken for the purpose Of con
Quoting an investigation into the af-
fairs Of the United States consulates
and consular agencies in the several
countries he visited and of the lega-
tons at Picking and Tokyo. The tin
erary included Italy, Egypt, India, the
Straits Settlements and China and
Japan. In all, lie Investigated condi-
lions in twenty c%onsulates, six consular
agencies and the legations at Picking
and Tokyo.
Object to Civil Service.
Members OF the local trades unions,
including Milford Spohn, a leading
bricklayer and secretary Of the union
of that trade, are strongly in favor Of
revising the civil service rules so as to
leave out per diem employees from the
jurisdiction Of the civil service commits
sion. ~
1t is stated that the best mechanics
do not apply to the civil service COM
mission for work, for the reason that
they will not waste the time required
for examination nor the expense at
tached to the several affidavits required
by the civil service commission. Then
there is the uncertainty of getting
work on a government job, vel after
they have gone to the trouble of max
ing application. If they are not en-
ployed by the government within a
year after the application has been
made their names are dropped from
the civil service lists and they have to
make new applications in order to be-
come eligible again.
Minister Combs Goes to His Post.
Leslie Combs, United States minis
ter to Guatemala and Honduras, who
has been on leave Of absence in this
country, has returned to his post after
having conferred with the officials Of
the state department respecting claims
Of certain American citizens and cor
porations which he is charged to press
against the government to which he is
accredited.
Potomac River Improvements.
Similar to the report of the District
committee on wharfs is the recon-
mendation of Colonel A. NJ. Miller, Off
Ger in charge Of the Potomac river inn
provements, in his annual report made
recently at the war department, that
the government should acquire more
land IN the Anacostia river, near the
navy yard, for wharfage purposes. The
growing river business, he says, de-
mands that there be a larger front for
wharfs in the District.
For the coming fiscal year the officer
asks for an appropriation of $4,000 0
to be expended largely in a continual
ton of reclamation of Potomac park
and the Potomac fats.
Beef For Statesmen.
The local supply Of prime beef comes
from the hills Of Virginia. This meat
is usually grass fed, and the cattle are
allowed to oam over a considerable
territory of billy country. The result
is hat there is some muscle in the
beef and not so much fat. Out of a
herd of, say, 100 native cattle perhaps
fifteen or twenty bullocks will prove Of
the very first class. An eight rib cut
from one of these choice native bull
locks will weigh perhaps ~thirty-six
pounds. This beef sells for several
cents more a pound than the Chicago
article.
Contracts For Ordnance.
The navy department has received
proposals from the Midvale and Beth
lehem companies to furnish about a
million dollars worth of nickel steel
forgings for seventeen sets Of twelve
inch, 45 caliber; one set of ten inch,
40 caliber, and twelve sets of eight
inch, 10 caliber guns. The bid Of the
two companies is the same-viz, 80
| cents a pound--and the contract will
probably be divided between them.
Pigeons In Library Dome.
The Congressional library has pigeons
in it's gold dome, and their billing and
cooling has become an annoyance to
patrons of the reading room. A pair
| Of birds entered one of the ventilators
Of the rotunda some time ago., survey
ed the fresco work, the lavish, profusion
of gold paint and statuary, and appar-
emily decided to settle there perma-
nently.
The library authorities were interest
ed, and the sight of a pair Of hand
some, lovemaking pigeons fitting from
cornice to cornice and building an ex-
celsior next against a background of
$4,000 worth of gold leaf was a novel
ty to visitors. But the nesting opera
tions have taken on a more serious as
pect since then, for other pigeons have
pre-empted claims on the hooks and
corners Of the lofty dome, and it looks
as though Uncle Sam will soon have
a mammoth loft on his hands.
The City Trees.
The advance of the woodman into
| LAFAYETTE square. as Manned. probably