Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-01-22

week clad IN snow shoes, the weather
In New York being of the zero varie
ty. 1t was NOTICEABLE, too, that they
al wore gloves.
WASHINGTON LETTER
(From our Regular CORES pondent)
Washington, D e., Jan. l6. PEG
pie 1t distance from Washington are
likely TO b- iuadeQ uaiely informed as
to the functions and decisions OF the
natiopai Board GU Geographic Names
IL nas SO far reformed the geography
OF The American continent as to
deprive all means of their possessive
case by dropping the apostrOphe aud s.
Henceforth we say Baffiu Bay ST.
John River, Prince Edward Island,
Prince Edward Land, Smith Sound,
Prince George county. and other de-
signations to correspond. The Board
10 now perspiring over Panama, and
directing its intellectual activities to
The invention of euphonious and nee
essary derivatives. Authority Is urgent
ly needed to supersede mere blind taste
and preference. We must know wheth
or to call the people of our new inde-
tendency Panamanlans, Panamans,
or Panamaians and whether the grown
males arc to be called Panamen and
their wives PanamatrOns. The latest
dictionary gives US the word Panam
ist," applying it to ono of the millions
of Frenchmen who sank their hard
savings In tho corrupt Panama canal
company. How about PanamaDiacs.
20, nrih a dnnau9 nd
why are not the French. Spanish, In
dams, Chinese and negroes OH the
isthmus Panamericans Panama, by
by the way is an Indian word and
means rainfall the while. This is, Of
course, a hyperbole, for 1t rains there
only about $50 DAYS in the year.
Tue Washington Humane Society
did great amount OF valuable work
last yeas In preventing cruelty to AMI
mails, and now it goes before the Com
missionerssand earnestly advocates a
curfew law to compel all children to DO
out of the streets after nine o'clock.
Is it not in the interest Of = higher
civilization?
The last three days have been field
days in the Senate-subjsct, Panama.
The chief actors have been Carmack.
(Tenn.) Spooner (Wis) Teller tCol }.
and Francis G.. Nswlands, New
The latter has made what is little less
than sensation Ia what was virtually
his maiden speech in the Senate. IN
which he Mithstood the combined at
tack of Senators Spooner, Platt,
(Conn.), Allison, ia J, and Dolliver,
ia }, and emerged undoubted victor.
His central allegations was that. In
preventing Colombia from landing
troops on her own territory to put
down an alleged insurrectiOn there
President Roosevelt not only nomi
nally and technically but actually wag
ed war on that republic and therein
violated international law, the comfy
of nations, the treaty with Colombia
LOT 1846) and the constitution Of the
United States. The Presidents back
ers denied this in loud tones but were
put to flight by the presentation of
kilograms from tho administration in
structIng the naval commanders in
Panama to prevent the landing OF any
Colombian troops.
The administration is not slow about
giving desirable places to Republican
office seekers; but when an Office IS
suddenly vacant, which offers little
chance for obtaining money for tho
party but IL full Of peril, it 10 imms-
diately besto wed upon some ''deserv-
ing Democrat. Some such Offices are
always given to the minority party.
Gen. John g. Black has boon appoint
cd the third member Of the Civil Ser
vice Commission, and the two Repub
lican members have unanimously elect
ed him to the Undesirable position OF
President. feeling that the RESPONSE
bility for it's decisions and blame for
it's mistakes would naturally fall on
him. Before be was in his seat the
House went through the annual farce
of voting (rising vote) to abolish the
whole civil service outfit, but it put 1t
back next day by call OF the roll, al
usual. So all is lovely again.
There are good many men an both
sides of tho Houses ready to give the
civil service law kick whenever there
il y chance. They denounce it as q
fraud and umbug; they declare that
it promotes mediocrity by encouraging
laziness and inef1ciencv; that while
called competitive, 1t really prevents
wholesome rivalry and abolishes am.
bition. A good many members OF
both parties deny that the merit sys-
tenn" has any real merit, and insist
that the victorious party. bearing the
responsibility, ought to have the Offices.
l suppose this opinion 10 held by ina.
jority OF members of both houses, but
they think the people believe in the
system, and when 1t comes to roll
call, they are afraid to abolish it. Gen
eral GrosvenOr told your correspond
emit, authority goes with responsible
ty. This whole opera bouffe will be
swept away in time; and it won't take
long time, either"
Why should republic rejoice In &C
cepting the bronze statue Of one of
the most arbitrary and despotic of
kings? President Roosevelt has in
formed the German ambassador that
our country will gladly accept q statue
Of Frederick the Great for this city,
and that be has decided that the
statue should have the most prominent.
best adapted site in tho entire War
College grounds. 1t will stand on the
esplanade near tho entrance Of the
College" AS there il at present no
entrance, no esplanade, and no War
OOHokcs bulb 10 oil quito mibGys Uu1 uuo
War College has been dedicated on the
arsenal grounds and there the statue
will be erected and unveiled dedicated
to Liberty, suppose) in the Fall.
Why not on that date whom be sent an
insulting message to the American
colonies by the British minister, In
1777, and burned to the growsome
banquet on the carcass of dismem bered
Poland
Fortieth Anniversary.