Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-12-20
WASHINGTON LETTER
[speclal correspondence.l

which the architects E the house of
representatives office building have in
scribed the cornerstone OF that struc-
ture. AS engraved, the stone bears the
line "MDCCCCy,v whereas many of
the wants In the national capital claim
that 1t should read 'MCMy,' and the
plain people are asking why 1t would
not be better to inscrIbe 1t plain 1905"
so that even members of congress
would be able to read the inscription.
Carrere & Hastings, the architects,
are said to be responsible for the
unique method of Roman notation en-
ployed, and they maintain that they
have a precedent for this metbod of
indicating the date 1905 In the inscrip-
ton they placed on the New York Pub
lie library. They also claim to have
submitted the question to Harvard and
Yale universities and to the French in
stitute and TO have been supported By
the opinions of all three.
based ON Precedent.
Ii is expected that some eminent
scholars ia congress viii have not Il
few words to say on the subject when
they reach Washington, and Elliott
Woods, superintendent of the capitol,
seems to appreciate that the end is not
yet. although he ~ determined not TO
commit himself irrevocably as to his
opinion on the subject. Meanwhile the
average man Is wondering why the SUI
perintendent. the congress committee
and the architects do not solve the
problem by the easy method OF going
around it and writing e date in plain
Arabic figures. which rural visitors
could read without hesitation
John NJ Carrere says that the In
scription was based on ample prece-
dent, since the Institute of France had
some years ago decided that the longer
method was the correct one. When a
similar question arose in regard to the
New York Public library, Mr.. Carrere
added, the matter was referred to Co
lumbia university, which decided in IA
yor of the longer form.
A New Counterfeit.
Chief Wilkle OF the United States Sc
cret s"wvice has announced the discov-
cry new counterfeit ten dollar
United States ('Buffalo0 note. 1t is
reproduced on two pieces of paper, be-
tween which blue and red silk fiber has
been distributed. The counterfeit is
fully three-eighths of an inch longer
than the genuine. The back of it is a
very dark green 1t was passed in New
York on a subway ticket agent
Kaiser's Gift TO the President.
Captain Hebbimghaus, naval attache
OF the German embassy, has presented
to the president valuable collection of
engraylngs illustrative OF the life OF
Frederick the Great, the gift of the
German emperor Captain Hebbing-
haus, who has just returned from Ger
many, was also the bearer Of per
sonal message from his sovereign 10
the president. The president asked
Captain Hebbinghaus to thank the en-
peror heartily TO. the gift and the
greeting. The president will aso &C.
knowledge them in a letter to the en-
peror. The collection especially ap-
pealed to the president because OF his
study of the life of the great emperor.
New Civil Retirement Plans.
Another plan for retirement sys-
TEN in the government service seems
to be taking substantial form. A civil
service retirement association has been
organized Its members are not de-
manding the creation OF civil pension
list. for they know congress would not
What the present organization does
want is permission from congress to
create a pension fund out of a certain
small amount to be deducted monthly
from the salary Of each clerk. Such a
system is now followed In many cities
OF the country with reference to school
| teachers, firemen, policemen and other
municipal employees. and many Of the
government clerks believe there should
be no objection TO trying it on the
| larger scale here.
| civil Service Positions.
The number OF persons who would
| be affected by the legislation proposed
is surprisingly large. The first civil
service regulations. issued in pursu
ance of the law OF 1888. included 1924
persons. and by March. 1885 this mum
! her had been Increased to 15,513. Last
! ear the grand total of classified EN-
! ioyees was 1908. The number OF
excepted and noneompetitiye positions
50 as SC, TS9 and of unclassltied positions
! l.. TG4. Under late executive orders
however substantially the entire civi
service has been brought either direct
! ly or indirectly under the score of th'
civil service scheme. with the excep
tlon of regular presidential appoint
ments 1t is today estimated tha
there are approximately 2sT.700 civil
service positions under the govern
ment. with 600 presidential appoint
ments additional making a grand tota
OF 292 an0.
ne uyaiente Laboratory.
The treasury department recently lie