The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1906-03-02
notes FROM WASHINGTON
Especial Correspondsnca.l

Metealfe Case Again. Yielding TO
Representations that a careful investi.
cation will show him innocent, Post
| master-General Cortelyou has ordered
the re-opening OF the case of James
T. Metcalfe. the chief of the money
order division. who was dismissed
from the service and later indicted
by the grand jury Of the District Of
Columbia. The case was nolle
pressed, IL was charged that Met
calfe had been improperly connected
with contracts for postal supplies by
the Hallenbeck-W -Wynkoop company,
who had in their employ his son. Nor
man Metcalfe. From the beginning
Mr.. Metcalfe asserted his innocence.
Senator Pettus Grieved-Senator
Pettus, the oldest member OF the SEN
ate. is grieved over the report that
his illness the other day was due To
an attack of vertigo. Il wouldn't
have minded it," he remarked to a
friend, IF they had said that | had
stolen a sheep or insulted a woman,
tecause nobody would have believed
that. but when il is reported that a
man 100 years old had an attack OF
vertigo. there are lot OF people who
would believe it, But it isn't So"
Senator Pettus is So. and is a candi-
date for reelection in 1908.
Want Presidents Opinion.-"lf the
President would tell us exactly what
he wants in regard TO railway rate
legislation, take his stand and refuse
TO bulge, winning or losing as the case
may be, he would make it much easier
for US" This was the somewhat re-
markable statement made by a strong
administration senator the other day.
II was made in answer to the question
whether il was true. as reported. that
the President has again shifted his
position and was determined to stand
out for the Hepburn bill. Il do not
know what the President wants this
senator continued. The President is
said TO he Indifferent as to the precise
form Of the legislation, and is only
anxious that its essence shall be pre-
served. But everything depends on
form, that is, on the precise form the
bill takes Even a simple change in
the wording may mean an important
difference in the result"
A Big Signaturc.-Of all the sigma
lures that come to the Capitol at
tached to official documents none GOV
hnt IF ~ 4
partc, secretary of the navy. Bona
parties signature is about five inches
long, and the greatest height Of letters
is over an inch. The makes the fam.
ously big signature of John Hancock
attached to the Declaration of Inde.
pendence look like a pigmy, and the
chirography of Paul Jones that is eX-
hibited to visitors at the Library OF
Congress as an example Of boldness in
writing Of ones name appear insig'
nifiCant. BOnaparteS signature is
written about twice the size of the
usual signature of the President, and
Mr.. Roosevelt generally writes pretty
large characters when he signs his
name. The BOnapartc signature has
no indication Of an uncertain charaC-
ter 1t is strongly written. II is be-
gun on one side of the letter paper
and ends pretty nearly on the other.
The usual note paper would not be
wide enough 10 hold it.
Open Court for Divorces.-The con-
grcss on uniform divorce laws, recent
ly held in this city, expressed itself
in favor Of all hearings and trials in
divorce cases in open court. 1t was
declared that such public hearings
would have tendency to do away with
colusion between parties to the suit
for divorce and that publicity would
tend to decrease applications for di-
vorce by people who would shun such
publicity. These resolutions were
adopted: If conviction Of a crime be
made a cause for divorce it should be
required that such conviction should
he followed by two years continuous
Imprisonment; a decree should not
be granted a vinculo for insanity
arising after marriage; desertiOn
SIpull Iul w al NdllNN tbl NlNblNt
unless persisted in for at least two
years; divorce should not be granted
unless the defendant has been given
full and fair opportunity by notice
brought home to him To have his day
in court, when his residence is known
or can he ascortained; and any one
named as correspondent should in all
cases be Eiycn an opportunity TO in
terNCno.
Pure Food Bill Passed. - After Is
years Of more or less serious consid-
Grafton of the subject. the senate has
passed a pure food bill by the decisive
vote oi 63 to 4 The vote was taken
after a day devoted almost exclusive
ly to debate of the desultory character
on the measure. Several efforts were
made to amend the bill and the com
mittee accepted aumbtr of sugges-
tgons but only those thus accented