The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-01-25
LETTER
Especial Correspondence.1

~S0~ NSS - N0 = Az VI
trict court Of appeals holding that Sat
urday afternoon is a legal half holiday
"for all purposes"
Much. speculation has been INDUCED
In as to what the effect Of the opinion
will be on the operations Of the gov
eminent departments and the transac-
lions Of business ordinarily suspended
on Sundays. The consensus Of opinion
among the lawyers seems to be that
the departments will be in nowise en-
barrassed or hampered by the opinion
in the matter Of keeping open Satur-
day afternoons. The question has been
considered at length by the Office Of the
corporation counsel, and the attorneys
who have gone into the subject care
fully express the opinion that. despite
the fact that there can be no contro-
versy about Saturday being a legal
half holiday, the government employ
ees al be lawfully required to work
that day until the usual closing hour.
Dead Letter Sale.
In Uncle Sans dead letter sale,
which takes place annually, there were
this year 6,272 pieces, exclusive Of
books and jewelry, Of which there were
1yO98 lots Of the former and 4S7 Of the
latter.
The articles which are sold at a,lc-
ton have accumulated In the dead let
ter Office Of the p~ostohlce department
within the past twelve months. They
were either held for postage, incorrect
~ addressed or seized because in trans
It through the mails in violation of the
postal laws and regulations.
Oortelyou to Remain Chairman.
When George b. Cortelyou becomes
postmaster general In the next cabinet
It Is not considered likely that he will
resign his position as chairman of the
Republican national committee. On the
other hand, 1t Is thought to be perfect
~ proper that he hold this position, not
wtthstanding his cabinet Office. The
late Henry g. Payne wa vice chair
man Of the Republican national conn.,
mittee and frequently advised with the
president a. to appointments. especial
~ in the postal service. Headquarters
Of the national committee will he in
Washington, and Elmer Dover, the Sec
rotary Of the committee, will be in
charge of affairs, a. in the past.
The Cigarette Habit.
The report Of the commissioner Of in
ternal revenue shows that the ciga-
rette habit is steadily growing, and
during the present year 20OyQ00.OOO
more were smoked than during 1903.
It also shows that New York leads in
the manufacture Of cigarettes, while
the cigar habit Is apparently decreas-
ing. and this IL indicated by a decrease
Of 100000 in the output Of cigars.
Colored Foods.
The secretary Of agriculture has is
sued an order that all staple articles
Of food that have been colored artif-
cially must be branded as such. This
action follows a thorough Investigation
by DR.. Wiley, the chief Of the chemical
laboratory Of the department. into the
methods Of coloring foods.
Wartime Relic.
An effort Is being made by several
old time telegraphers to have added to
the interesting exhibits in the National
museum a genuine curiosity and relic
Of the stirring wartimes in the vicini-
ty Of Washington in the sixties. The
relic in question is the original old
Morse register. II Of the first of the
telegraph instruments. which was used
ut Manassas. Va. by the Confederate
army officials to transmit the news of
the first battle of Manassas. or first
Bull Run, as 1t is called in the north,
to the Confederate capital ut Rich
mond. The venerable instrument was
similarly used for reporting the second
battle of Bull Run.
In Interest NJ Mail Clerks.
Postmaster General Wynne in his
annual report recommends the provi-
sion Of adequate punishment for those
who recklessly endanger the lives of
mail clerks by transmitting snakes,
live t%arantulas. scorpions, loaded re-
volvers and other explosives. The
sending Of infammablc matter and
poisonous animals through the mails
is prohibited by law. but there is no
penalty provided.
Potomac Water.
The District commissioners have sent
to the speaker Of the house u report OF
an investigation made as to the amount
Of Potomac water used by departments
and offices Of the United States.
The average daily consumption OF
the capitol building during Il session
of congress is shown TO be the enor
nous amount Of 1,Oo1.321 gallons. The
government printing Office uses 1856,
1865 gallons, the library Of congress
125, 800. White House and fountain
314,59O gallons, treasury department
363,390 and the navy yard 2,614. 49,
gallons Of water a day.
The total amount Of wuter consumed
in all the departments daily is $780,,
1OS. The report shows that no water
connection vas found at the state de
partment nor at the botanic gardens.
Congregational Library.