The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1906-10-30
Washington Chat
Special Correspondence.

excitement that prevailed when the
news arrived that EngIand's three
new lighting ships, which were re-
ported to be nothing more than arm
ored cruisers, we're to be first class
battleships more powerful even than
the famous Dreadnaught. 1t was this
latter named terror of the sea, that
caused congress last winter to author
ize the construction of waIship as
powerful as that new English fighting
machine and now Secretary Bona
parte has become SO deeply interested
in the reports about the new English
vessels that he has directed the board
of construction Of the navy, composed
OF several of the highest ranking ma
val officers in Washington, to investi-
gate.
The new battelships have less dis
placement than the Dreadnaught, but
according to reports and predictions,
which seem authentic, they will
make greater speed. They will carry
eight twelve-inch guns, having as
great broadside fire as the Dread
naught. Until the board of construc-
tion thoroughly considers the new
type of English battleship. gathering
what information it eau about the
vessels, it cannot be predicted what
the American navy will do. The con-
clusions of the board will doubtless be
made the subject of a report to the
secretary, which is likely to figure
prominently in congress this winter
when The matter of building new
ships is taken up.
The great congressional library is
growing at rapid rate, yet its growth
is not as fast as the government
officials would like to see. Congress
appropriates only 500, year for
the purchase of new and valuable
books but this sum does not begin to
buy many of the volumes that are
badly needed. The library at the
present time has 100000 volumes,
compared to the 100000 books in
the library of Great Britain and the
5000, 900 volumes in that of France
In speaking with your correspondent,
Librarian Putnam said: "Since print
ing was Invented there have been
some thirteen millions of books print
ed. Hundreds and thousands of these
are not in existance and as many more
are SO rare that the government IL
brary cannot com pete tor them with
the rich men of the country. The
millionaires can afford to pay more
for the books than we can with our
limited appropriations We do not
seek the rare ones SO much as those
that are useful and our aim is to Sc
cure collection servicaGle to the peo-
pie of the United States. We make
speciality of American works and shall
continue to do so.
More trouble is brewing for the
meat packers. Chicago commission
merchants are iu Washington to lodge
a protest with President Roosevelt
against the refusal of Western express
companies to carry the carcasses of
calves killed by farmers. 1t is claim
ed the packers will not take the meat
from the express companies because it
does not bear a government stamp.
The individual farmers have not the
facilities for government inspection as
enjoyed by the packers and the re-
fusal of the express lines to handle
this home killed product involves the
loss of thousands of dollars to the
farmers. Before calling upon the
president, the friends of the farmer
visited the agricultural department
and saw Secretary Wilson who in
formed them that there is no ruling in
the meat inspection regulations to
warrant such action on the part of the
carrying companies. President Roose-
welt gave them every consideration
and promised to have the matter
remedied at the earliest possible mo-
ment The packers will probably be
called to account for unjust discrim-
iuation
The teeth of president require
the service of dentist just the same
as those belonging to other mortals
but tue ordinary citizen rarely, if
ever. has an experience when visiting
the dentist like that in which Presi-
dent Roosevelt figured this week. 1t
was all due to the fact that the presi-
dents carriage is SO we'll known and is
SO easily recognized by people on the
streets of Washington. Leaving the
White House about noon, the presi-
dent drove to the Office of fashion
able dentist on K. street. Only few
people saw him enter the house but
not many inmates passed before the
few had Increased to a large number
and at the end of an hour, when Mr..
Roosevelt appeared, the street was
blocked with pedestrians, bicycles
aud vehicles of all descriptions. He
was greeted with an echoing cheer,
stepped quickly into the carriage and
was soon at bis desk in the White
House Office. With the exception of
the president, every body seemed to
enjoy the occasion hugely. He ap-
peared to be troubled with an unpleas-
ant memory.
Famous Pennsylvania avenue has
been the scene of many notable pro-
cessions and parades but none more
original or unique than that which is
to take place next week, when the
,,orv.resf x,aforar of fha TT,.ion Armv