The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1906-11-01
VWasbtngton Chat

Compared to the great exodus OF
clerks during previous elections, few
government employees in Washington
will journey to their respective homes
next month to exercise the right of
citizenship. The principal reason for
the number being so smallds because
the railroad companies have not
granted reduced rates except to cover
eastern states and even in these the
reduction is exceedingly slight.
Voters whose homes are west of the
Ohio river will be compelled to pay
almost the full fare both ways. This
action of the railroad companies is
unusual, especially in view of the
fact that this is the first year that
passes have not been obtainable, thus
practically assuring a good revenue
from the throng of employees who
would go, were the rates reasonable.
Both political parties have brought
all kinds of pressure to bear on trans
portation officials in order to secure
the oId-time concessions but deaf
ear has been turned to all their plead
ings. The leaders are still hard at
work in the matter and feel that some
thing may yet result to "help the
cause" in the different states.
1t was an odd looking delegation OF
Apache Indians that crowded the
waiting room of Secretary of War,
Taft's, office on "Wednesday. They
were there in the hope of seeing that
official to plead with him for the re-
turn of their tribe to the happy hunt
ing grounds from which they were
removed twenty years ago. The Secre-
tary was busy at the White House
when they called, so the visitors squat
ted in real Indian fashion and kept
watch, as it were, for the return OF the
heap big chief, but as the time passed
and he failed to..appear, they grew
restless, walking around the room,
yawning and making queer noises in
their native tongue.
They represented body of Apaches
captured by General Miles in New
Mexico, and by him removed to
Indian Territory, where they have
been ever since. as prisoners of war.
In reality, they have had all the free
dom they desire, except they are not
allowed to return to the scene of their
former misdeeds. Secretary Taft
finally arrived and after listening to
their tale of woe promised to place the
case before the great father in the
White House. This seemed to satisfy
them and they trudged out in single
file, wrapped in gaudy blankets.
1t has always been a problem for
the Postofice Department to easily
and safely remove sacks Of mail from
fast moving trains. The plan long in
use by railway postal employees is
to toss the bag out OF the car door.
Sometimes it lands near the railroad
station and at other times it is hun
dred yards or more away. frequently
people have been injured from being
struck by the flying bags and often
the bags are lost altogether.
More than 100 inventions in the
shape of arms to remove the bags as
as the train runs at high speed, have
been placed before the Department
during the past five years, but none
have ever received a thorough test.
1t is for this reason that a special
commission to examine and test the
apparatus has been appointed by Post
master General Cortelyou. The COM
mission is composed of three Wash
ington postal officials and postmasters
from four large cities who will inspect
inventions all over the country. 1t is
thought possible that some OF the
contrivances may prove efficient in
handling the bags, and if some lucky
inventor hits it right fortune awaits
him at the hands of Uncle Sam.
AS yet the. twin storks-real live
storks,. have not made their expected
visit to the White House, although
theyNhave been eagerly awaited for
week past. Every time an express
wagon has been seen approaching
the Executive Mansion, the employees
rush to the door or windows, but each
time they have been sadly dis
appointed and now the question is,
care the storks really coming?"
These two birds, so the tale runs,
arrived in New York from Germany
about ten days ago and are consigned
to President Theodore Roosevelt,
Washington, D. c., but as to who
sent them no one seems to know.
Some say they are a gift from the
German Emperor while others claim
that some other faderland admirer OF
the President is the donor. In either
case, the sending of these birds to the
Nation's Chief has but one meaning