The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-13
Pending Alcohol Bill Will Not
Affect Manufacture Of
Ether III Least.
'RIxEY's SPEECH E e IN HOUSE 4 Z:
virginian Makes Hit BY Refer
encc to Referee System.
Washington Affairs.

believe 1t was possible to manufacture
ether from dcnntured alcohol. lie thought
z the addition OF chemicals to dennturc the
spirits and render them UNIT for drink
Ing would cause the deposit OF resi-
dnum which would mako the liquid en-
tirely unit for the purposes OF ether man.
ufacturers.
If this be true, tho opposition of4the
manufacturers of ether by the process
in use Mt the Richmond Ether Works to
the passage OF the bill repeating the In
ternal revenue tax on alcohol, denaturcd
for use In the arts and sciences, VIII
probably be withdrawn. The chemist re-
ferred to, who objects to the use Of his
name ut this time and In this connec-
ton, Informed Representative Lamb to-
day that he did not believe 1t at oil ike
" that the pending bill would affect the
manufacture OF ether In the least and
that It would have to be made from
alcohol which had not been subjected to.
the denaturng process.
This scientist confessed that he had
never heard of the manufacture OF ether
by secretar process similar TO tnat
In use at the Richmond Ether Works, and
said he thought the worlds supply came
from alcohol. Captain Lamb 10 deeply
Interested in the bill. which, according
to the belief OF the owners Of the Rich
mond laboratories for the manufacture
OF ether would so greatly hurt their
business II enacted into law. The cap
tain says he does not believe the bill
would have the effect feared, In view OF
the opinion OF the chemist quoted above.
Th bill provides now that alcohol IN
liquid medicinal preparations shall not
be blntaxed. Denatured alcohol could
not be used in preparation Of this char
acter. If intended for internal use, as de-
inatured alcohol Is more or less poisonous.
1t Is possible that the internal revenue
officials would decide that ether was "a
liquid medicinal preparation" although
Commissioner Yerkes declines to Indicate
what would be the decision Of the bureau.
as the matter would have to be passed
on by the chemists.
Rixey Makes Hit.
Representative Rxey made a good hit
In the House yesterday by his reference
to the referee" system OF appointing
Federal officeholArs in the Southern
States. The postoffice appropriation bill
was under consideration, and the item
appropriating s24, 900 for the compensa-
t!on OF postmasters had Just been read,
when Mr.. Rixey arose and said:
Mr.. Chairman move to strike out
the last word. want$to say that there
are men who have responsible and quasi
official duties to perform and for whom
I see no provision in this bill. I refer to
the postoffice referees In the Southern
States. Gaugher.) would like to ask
the chairman OF the Postoffice and Post
roads Committee whether this bill carries
any salary or compensation for those
referees.
Mr.. Overstreet, chairman OF the COM
m1ttee. and in charge Of the measure.
rose soemnly when he saw Mr.. Rlxey
was that the President has absolutely
stripped Overstreet Of all patronage in
his district. which includes the city Of
and given It to Senator
Beveridge. Mr.. Overstreet replied that
my district Is also included in tho
referee schedule which caused further
laughter. Mr.. Rixey resumed.
II had heard that possibly the gem
tleman's district was included and
treated as southern territory. Laugh- \,
ter.) Mr.. Chairman. can possibly
best Illustrate the objections to the
present system of appointment OF
postmasters and establishment OF
postof1ices BY reference to my own
district as an example. Something
over twelve months ago the Post
Office Department appointed three
gentlemen In the Eighth District Of
Virginia for the purpose OF recon-
rnending persons to be appointed to
fourth class Offices. To these three
gentlemen were referred all appllca<
tions and petitions for appointments
as postmasters In the fourth class
offices, To them were also referred
petitions for the establishment of new
postoflces These three gentlemen
lived In different parts OF the district.
They divided up the territory among /,
themselves, and persons who were
applicants for postmasters had to go
s 4 to the referee In whose territory
the county happened to be for recon-
mendation for appointment to Of
fees
The Referees,
Mr., Byrd, Of Mississippi. Interrupted
Mr., Rixey to ask whether he had had
anything to do with the appointment Of
referees, to which Mr. Rlxey replied:
The member of Congress had nothing
to do with the appointment OF referees
or the appointment OF the postmasters'
nm not complaining that I am not
consulted about the appointment OF
pos tmasters; do not ask It, hut
do insist that when the people IN my
district want postohlce established
or n postmaster appointed, I have
Washington for that Informal
ton, and not to be told as
am told frequently, that the
matter has been referred to the post
office referees-gentlemen who are IT.
responsible. so far as their official
connection with the department Is con-
cerned. These referees decide who
shall be the postmaster and where the
postotllce shall be located, OF course.
subject to tho approval Of the depart
ment, which Is generally given as
matter OF course. It would not like
to turn down Its assistants who serve
without pay.
Is ,''ThIs condition OF affairs should be
changed, It is not right that people
from my district, who come. here to
Interview the department on this sub
ject. should be unable to secure any
information until this referea-as-
sstant to the First Assistant Post
MASTER General his report In
stead OF being able to obtain informa-
( ton at the department, ! have been
compelled to tell some OF my consti-