Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-06-07
ENTHUSIASTIC COLLECTORS ARE
READY TO PURCHASE STAMPS
AT ANY OLD TIME
Postoffices Delivered Mail from San
Francisco After Disaster With Any
Kind of Cancellation Mark
Unique Relics.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
Washington Bureau of the Courier,
Washington, D. c., June a

Inc redemption division OF the posi-
office department is in receipt of mil
lions of stamps and stamped enve-
lopes from the Pacific coast cities,
damaged or stuck together as result
of heat or dampness The postmasters
in all cases will be credited with the
full amount of the stamps unavailable
and new stamps and envelopes sent to
replace them.
The earthquake in California and
consequent paralysis Of the postal af-
fairs for the time being, has afforded
a great field of operation for the stamp
collector, who delights in postal oddi-
ties.
No matter where you go OF how
small the village the enthusiastic
stamp collector will be found ready to
do business. He works every day in
the year, including nights and Sun
days If there is any chance to dig up
a stamp not in his collection or to &c.
cure an error or freak possessing pos
tai value.
Stamps Rarity.
In almost every town or city in the
country reside people who have rela-
tives or friends permanently or tenn
porarily within the earthquake zone in
California. At the first opportunity
those who escaped from the disaster
have sought to communicate with rel
atives in the east. Writing materials
have been hard to get and postage
stamps rarity, so that people have
employed everything from pieces Of
shoe boxes to MANILA wrapping paper
to convey messages and in place, of
stamps have written in the upper
right-hand corner the word 'earth.
quake or made square and written
under it, mo stamps to be had" or
collect at destination" Occasionally
due stamp, or old revenue stamp or
postage of an old issue that had been
stuck to leaf in memorandum book
has been dug up and pasted on the
miSsive.
Unique Relics.
1t seems to have been the practice
of the postoffices to deliver mail ema-
mating from the ruined city regardless
of the method of attempting to provide
substitute for postage stamps, and in
all cases the Substitute" has been
cancelled, giving it in the eyes of
stamp collectors a "philatelic" value,
and in every town collectors have
sought relics of period when stamps
were ungettable.
The Statehood Fight.
The statehood fight seems likely to
become involved with the entirely ire
levant issue of ship subsidies. It be-
came known today that there is a dis
position in the senate to change front
with respect to the bill providing for
the admission of Oklahoma and Indian
Territory into the union as the state
of Oklahoma, but the disposition is
contingent on the consideration of the
subsidy bill in the house. The subsidy
bill already has passed the senate, but
has been kept in repose in the lower
branch Of congress owing to the in.
clinat1on of Speaker Cannon to pigeon
hole it for this session at least.
AS to statehood, the situation has
been this: Speaker Cannon has stood
out for bill admitting Oklahoma and
Indian Territory and providing for the
submission of the question of joint
statehood OF Arizona and New Mexico
in conformity with the Foraker amend.
ment proposed in the last congress. In
the senate Mr.. Foraker, forsaking his
original amendment, has rounded ur
forces to attach the Oklahoma-Indian
Territory proposition, pure and sim
pie, to one of the appropriation bills
and leave Arizona and New Mexico
out in the cold entirely. Until today
he seemed to have majority Of the
senate with him, and in consequence
the statehood question has been dead
locked. Speaker Cannon has beer
standing pat"
Situation Chances.
Yeterday Senators Gallinger and 9th
ers who have been with Foraker in the
statehood fight, but who are great,
interested in the success of the shit
subside scheme, conveyed to Speaker
Cannon their willingness to join will
him in putting Arizona and New Mex
leo into the statehood bill, providini
he would come to their rescue in re
gard to the measure with which the,
are mostly concerned. The situation
; changed so much that senators VIII,
have been taking prominent part il
. framing the statehood plan declare,
that in all probability compromis,
. would be effected on the lines of tn,
first Foraker amendment. The matter
they said, had not crystalized enough
: to make it possible to poll the senat
on any specific proposition but the,
professed confidence in an early agree
, ment.
Shaw as Raconteur.
When the late John Hay was secre
tary of state, Leslie M. Shaw, secre
tary of the treasury, shared with tn
. brilliant diplomatist the title of "cabj
, net raconteur." Upon the death O
Mr.. Hay, Secretary Shaw came int
; full possession of the title and in an
beyond the limits of the national cap
l tai he is known as the best story telle
! in the cabinet and one of the cleveres
t in public life today. This enable
| him to make frequent additions to hi
: collection of anecdotes. Secy. Hay one
''let the cat out of the bag" when, afte
cabinet had been in session for severe
hours, official circles were agog wit
speculation as to whether the Unite
States intended making war on Vent
zuela for the purpose of driving Pres
. dont Castro off the contant To ~