Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-09-30
WASHINGTON LETTER
TspecIal Correspondence.I


coast are changing their habits SO much
( that the New England people are
alarmed and have appealed TO the pres
ident TO direct the fish commission to
make an investigation TO determine
what is the matter with the fish. Mi
grafton has become a fad with th,
fish, which now go away and stay at
some unknown place for a good part
OF the year. The New England people
want TO keep 80 touch with the fish.
The matter was presented TO the presi-
dent by W. Il Jordan, the collector
/ OF the port OF Gloucester. Mass, and
/ Benjamin 4. Smith or the board OF
trade ut Gloucester. 1t IS feared by
some OF the Gloucester fishermen that
the mackerel may finally disappear and
fud some other home besides the New
England coast.
silver Service For the Tennessee.
The b9tueship Tennessee, which Rep
/ resentative Gaines Of Tennessee said
Che president regarded as the most
powerful battleship In any fleet in the
[ world, viii receive a handsome silver
| service 81 a southern port. President
| Roosevelt wrote brief note 10 the
navy department directing that when
I the Tennessee is completed and is
ready to receive the silver service Il be
sent TO New Orleans for this purpose.
The note was given TO Representative
John Wesley Gaines Of Tennessee. who
called on the president TO ask that the
vessel be sent to southern port TO re-
ceive the service New Orleans was
preferred. but any southern port would
have answered. Mr.. Gaines said the
service 10 be presented TO the ship is
90 be one OF the finest I'm the navy.
There win Zoe engraved upon the silver
a brief history OF the state.
The Army Uniform.
The law officers OF the war depart
mcnt have recently discovered. % their
surprise and disgust there Is no law
I'm which they can prohibit any person
from wearing the regulation uniform
of the army or navy If such person
cares 90 wear IT,
The war department has been wres-
tling with the case Of an army officer
who was permitted 10 resign FOR the
good of the service" but who still per
sists In wearing the uniform OF his
rank. It was first believed that he
would be compelled 20 discard the hon
orablc shoulder straps. but after the
law was carefully studied it was found
there was no provision under which
such action could be taken.
AS the matter now stands any civil
ian with the bad taste So 20 do and
the money with which TO pay for IL
can wear the uniform OF the lieuten-
ant general OF the army. although there
Is but one man I'm the country entitled
20 wear that particular dress.
The Pension Omce.
Commissioner Warner OF the pension
bureau has under contemplation an In
novatiou-that OF changing the present
method OK keeping the records OF claim
ants Tor pension in large. cumbersome
books 10 the card system. The magni-
tudc OF this change can IN a measure
be understood when IL Is known that
the names or more than million sol
diers, with the companies and regi-
ments in which they served. must be
copied from the old books upon cards
10y hand. These cards VIII DE placed
en- the latest improved file cases I'm al
phabctical order thereby enabling the
bureau 10 find claim when only the
name OF the claimant is known. This
transfer OF the records can bee carried
on without interfering In any way
with the current work Of the bu-
rcau. The services OF clerks writing
plain and leEibIe hands viii be utilized.
I and the actual extra expense viii be
the small amount Of money 10 DO ex-
pended for cards and file cases.
Chief Justice Not 60 Resign.
II IS stated that Chief Justice Fuller
| has no intention OF resigning his posi-
/ ton. He has frequently told friends
/ and neighbors that no chief istice OF
I the supreme court has ever resigned
/ and that he does not intend 10 DO SO.
| his duties not being SO onerous as to
! require the rest that would come from
| complete severance Of official ties. II
| this attitude Is maintained Secretary
Taft may never become chief justice.
TusIsezee Institute.
The president viii spend the best
| part OF Oct 30 at Tuskegee institute,
and q great exhibition OF the instlu-
ton and its students Will be arranged
| for. a long procession OF floats and
other displays viii pass before the
president representing the work OF
the institution. a similar exhibition
was given upon the c,co on Of the
visit TO Tuskegeu made by PRESIDENT
| Mckinley in December 1891
FircDroohl-. of Books.
An interesting experiment was made
recently IN the blank division OF the
bindery OF the government printing
office IN the flreproofng OF books. The
treasury department was responsible
for the initial order, which consisted
IN the substitution Of prepared ashes
tus for the binders boards and back
ing, the edges being coated with a fire
proof liquid
Extension of the Capitol.
! Every patriotic American citizen will
hope that no obstacle VIII intrude in