Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-06

The customs branch of the government
has fixed valuation upon the meat OF the
humble. peaceeble American RABBIT that
puts 1t well up with all other classes OF
fresh meats Ii is even put the same
footing with the best western beef. the
finest spring lamb, the choicest hog and
the tenderest calf even being classed with
the scarcest of all meats venison. Still
the rabbit does not show undue citation or
disport himself in a manner indicating
haughtiness. When Nelson Dingley, the
famous Maine statesman. and his fellow
members of the ways and means commit
tee of the House were engaged in prepar-
Ing the protection measure that bears the
name of the Dingley bill. they had no trou-
bic In deciding that beef. veal. mutton and
pork should pay a duty of two cents
pound. thereby furnishing ample protec-
ton to American meats over the Canadian
or Mexican articles but they did not once
think of mentioning the lowly rabbit by
name or specifying whether his meat
should or should not pay any duty. 1t Is
quite probable that Mr. Dingley did not
consider IL necessary 20 furnish protection
10 the rabbit industry OF the country. in
asmuch most farmers, especially those
in the west. are quite anxious to get rid
OF these animals a any price, and organize
large parties for hunting them. He never
once gave Il thought TO the fact that Cana
dian rabbits might be brought into the
United States. but it seems that this is
done. The collectors of customs at Ban
gor. PASSPORT and other Maine towns have
had to pass upon the question of what
sort of duty to charge upon dead rabbits.
with the result that thy have differed
radically and ludicrously. So the customs
officials had 70 determine the question, and
they have sagely come to the conclusion
and publicly announced to all collectors
that dead rabbits are to pay duty at the
rate of two cents per pound. exactly the
same rate as veal pork beef. etc. They
reach their conclusion by virtue of what
is known as the simiitude clause in Sec
ton of the Dingley act. This clause de-
clares that where provision is not made
for customs taxation the article shall pay
duty at the same rate as some article it
most closely resembles that is mentioned
in the bill In the language of similitude,
therefore. rabbit meat is enough to
the meats of eatable animals to have to
pay the same duty. The Bangor and East
port collectors had thought over the sub
ject until the hair of their heads had al
most turned gray and then they assessed
the rabbits at the rate OF 10 per cent ad
valorem as ''non-enumerated manufactured
articles under section of the Dingley
act"
In season dead rabbits sell in Washing
ton for as low as fifteen cents EACH and
seldom get above twenty-five. They are
fat fellows from Virginia and Maryland.
With an additional ten cents the price
would be rather high. Up in Maine they
will have to get along with the meat of
the American rabbit and must pay dearly
wish to partake of his flesh
They had known each other in better
days-at least, that was the case with one
of the men. Owing TO various circumstances
he was down on his luck. while his
quaintance of earlier years was still pros
porous
This latter circumstance had brought
about a change in their relations and the
in hal, Inv ole had
sioner the others bounty. not altogether
to the others satisfaction. They We're still
John and Joe to each other, and when one
day. not long ago. they met on the street.
John of the bank account inquired as usual
about JOes health.
The latter seemed to be in depressed
spirits, and he shook his head sadly and
said:
Il am not feeling very well, John. and
don't think l will last much longer. But
when l gone I hope you will see that
| am decently buried"
Certainly. joe said his friend, with
great heartiness. 1t Will give me great
pleasure 70 do It.
Thank you. John" was the reply of Joe.
who was too much in earnest to take in the
double meaning. You were always good
friend to me-.
= x X X
The brother of a well-known Washington
artist had an experience a short time since
that will last him for awhile. He is not
particularly eager to repeat the story. but
has done so several times and his friends
doing the best they toward spread
ing it, He has been married not quite
year and the other evening he had been to
the theater with his wife and they took
slipper afterward at a cafe.
II was after midnight when the pair sal
lied forth to catch the suburban express
that goes out toward "Gastown" every half
hour during the night A train was at the
moment passing along the avenue and they
ran for it. The only vacant seats We're two
OF the last row of the rear open car. one
on each end He helped the lady aboard
and then ran around the end to jump on
the other side in order not to cause another
lady 10 move. Fatal mistake. The motor
man had forgotten to raise the fender
when he turned at the end of the line and
the young man hit that about the height
OF his ankle.
Ding. ding" went the bell and the car
started. II jerked the young from his
feet and sat him down real hard and rude
l. In that fender. Speed was gained rapid
~ and no one wanted to get off before the
car had reached the junction at the Treas
ury. In the meantime the young man was
having fine ride in the fender and doing
some great balancing on his head and
she ulders. His wife had not noticed that
he was was not on the other side of the
seat. Then the conductor came along and
she looked for her spouse to pay the fares.
No spouse. When the car came to a stop
the corner out crawled one very much
mcrtally injured young man. He said I'M
kind and eloquent things to the conductor
and repeated them to the motorman, then
climbed aboard where passengers belong,
superintendent the readjustment of the
fender and once more the bell went: Ding,
ding" and the car pursued its way toward
"Fogville- blythe Potomac, while the
young wife blushed at the language of her
protector and promised herself to pray for
him.
4
we thought we were receiving some fine
machines when the racing people were
mere" said the automobile clerk at an up
town hotel. but these railway men have