The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-01-15
Snyder's Washington Salad
Being Notes Political and Otherwise on Donps' of Our
National Lawmakers in the Capital City

Is the purpose Of Mr.. Dawson to have
scientific investigation made as to
what kind Of fish the seed mussel at
taches itself, together with the habits
and life history Of the bivalve. The
Mississippi valley, according to the
scientists connected with the depart
ment of fisheries in Washington. is the
most favored place for the growing of
fresh water mussels in the world /.
No more forcible statement as to the
enormous increase of building opera
tons has been called to the attention
Of the public than the statement made
by Chief Moore Of the weather service
to the committee on agriculture. When
he appeared before that body the other
day Mr.. Moore explained why it was
that the weather stations authorized
In the last session of congress had
not been erected. He said that In one
instance bids were invited for build
ing in Alabama which was an exact
duplicate of the one in Arkansas. The
latter cost $500 year ago, while
the Alabama bid was little over
$4,000. In another instance in the
west, $4,000 was the lowest price for
which any contractor would agree to
build a building duplicate of which
had been erected less than two years
ago for less than $4,000. At Sandy
Hook, n. j., the weather bureau found
it impossible to obtain bids for build
ing in response to advertisements sent
out, and even after they had sent per-
sonal requests to the principal con-
tractors in the vicinity they were un~
able to obtain an offer at any figure.
1t is not alone the increase in the
cost of building material that has
brought about this state of affairs,
although lumber is nearly forty per
cent. higher than it was two years
ago. The rate of wages in all building
trades is materially higher, but the
difficulty is found in obtaining labor
at any price. In nearly all government
contracts clause is inserted which
provides for heavy fine for delay in
completing such contracts. This clause
makes the contractor wary about en-
tering into an agreement to complete
government work within given time.
All the building trades in every section
of the country are at work to the
limit of their capacity, and the pros
perity works to the disadvantage Of
the federal government because con-
tractors when they have plenty of
other work to do take the precaution
to protect themselves against fines
consequent upon the scarcity of labor.
The weather bureau will attempt
during the next fiscal year to erect
a number of weather stations by days
labor. 1t will be interesting to watch
results.
John Sharp Williams, for four years
leader on the floor of the house, has
had enough of it. Mr.. Williams is one
of the ablest men on the democratic
side. He was educated on both sides
of the Atlantic. He speaks French as
we'll as he does English, and German
as we'll as he does either. He is a
remarkably we'll read man, and his
head is full of apt information which
stands him in good stead whenever
an important debate ds on. But physi-
cally John Sharp Williams is frail
man, and the leader of the minority
as we'll as the leader of the majority
must be a man of physical parts in adj
dition to mental balance. Mr.. Williams
has worked hard for his party during
the past four years, and like every
other leader, has at times gone counter
to the wishes of some of his party as
sociates. Unlike other men who have
Occupied similar position, Mr.. Will
liams has insisted on being leader in
fact as we'll as leader in name during
the period for which he was chosen.
Naturally there has been OPPOSITION to .
his leadership, and now this opposition
has developed to sucn an extent that
a successor for the next congress has
already been agreed upon. Mr.. Will
lfams does not want the job. He will
probably be chosen to represent his
state in the senate in the 61st congress,
but whether he is or not he will not
be leader Of the majority in the Goth.
1t ds now practically certain the
leadership will go to Champ Clark Of
Missouri. Physically Clark is the
antithesis of Williams. He is a power
full. speaker, a powerful man, and a
good all round fighter in debate.
Clark is better known to the country
at large than Williams because during
the past three years he has lectured
Tn ov1yy r&sn{n 1,, II
will bake a good floor leader, although,
lacking the sauvity of the gentleman
from Mississippi, it is doubtful If ne
can hold the place in the esteem of
his opponents which has always been
accorded John Sharp Williams. How
ever, his own party will be likely to
follow his leadership with more will
lingness than they have evinced to-
ward the Mississippi gentleman during
the past two years at least.
The news from Bermuda on Friday
to the effect that the long overdue
Ponce had been towed into port in
that island, while it has relieved the
friends Of the passengers and the crew
of that vessel, mas also emphasized the
necessity for the more widespread dis
tribution of wireless outfits among the
merchant vessels of the Atlantic SER
vice. The International agreement re-
Gently perfected, which makes 1t obi
gatory upon the part of all wireless
stations, no matter what system they
may represent, to pick up and re-
port distress signals, is the greatest
step in the direction of marine protec-
ton that has been taken since the