The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-12-13
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
Especial Correspondence.)

| completion or the Mckinney mauso-
leum az Canton. o., and It's formal
transfer TO the Mckinley national
memorial association was announced
at a meeting OF the trustees of the
association here a few days ago. The
secretary and treasurer Of the asso-
citation made reports setting forth
the details OF the completion OF the
memorial.
Hobson's Choice-After all. there
! is something significant in a familiar
quotation, and "HobsOn's choice" Is
no exception, as an incident which
occurred during the seat-drawing con-
J test in the house proved. Away
I toward the last OF the luck game the
pane OF the new Alabama statesman
was called, and Richmond Pearson
! Hobson started out to find a seat. Ap-
parently they were all taken. But
the hero OF the Merrimac spied lit
! tie page boy, half asleep in one Of the
| dandy" seats All other congressman
| had supposed the boy to be holding
| the seat for some rightful claimant.
! Hobson doesn't take anything for
granted Shaking the youngster. he
claim on that seat. The boy. star
tied, rubbed his eyes and said No"
! Whereupon Mr.. Hobson took his
! choice.
Third Largest Libray-The librari-
an OF congress. In his annual report,
shows that the library has 1,433,S
books and pamphlets and 100000
other articles, giving 1t third place
in size among the libraries OF the
world. There was a gain OF over
$4,000 books and pamphlets in the
year. The most notable acquisition
was the celebrated Yudin library OF
works on Russia and Siberia. which
collection OF over $4,000 volumes is
not counted in the above total.
Though nominally a purchase. IL was
practically a gift, for the owner sold
it for little more than one-third OF
the expense OF gathering 1t. There
is no other collection on the subject
OF the size in America and perhaps
none so valuable In Europe outside OF
Russia. There were numerous other
acquisitions, including a collection OF
5000 works on Japan, mainly in the
Japanese language. selected in Japan
by Prof Asakawa of Yale. Special
attention has been devoted 10 devel
oping the collection OF foreign docu-
ments. The expenses Of the library.
exclusive of $205,000 for printing and
binding, aggregated $4,000.
A Change in Messages-No one at
all familiar with the conventional an
nual presidential message to congress
thirty, forty and fifty years ago can
fail to be impressed with the great
change which has come about, both
in matter and in style. In the old
time message there was direct refer
ence to practically every nation on
the face Of the earth. commonly ac-
companied by the assurance that our
relations were peaceful and satisfac-
tory. In the latest message OF Presi-
dent Roosevelt, as in his preceding
annual message, this is taken for
granted 1t is the policy OF the coun-
try, through its government, as the
president himself says, ito behave
toward other nations as strong
and self-respecting man should be-
have toward the other men with
whom he is brought into contact"
This principle being lived up TO- the
natural result follows. Great Brit
ain, France, Germany, Russia and the
rest of the powers are minding their
OWE business, at least, in so far as
concerns us, and we are minding
ours. The paragraph under the head
ing Foreign Affairs" consists of
| nine lines in the printed text of the
message. Few messages have so
strictly adhered to the terms of the
constitutional requirement that the
president shall. from time to time,
! give to the congress information of
| the state of the Union, and none has
so strikingly illustrated the growth of
! the country and the increase in the
number and diversity OF questions
which concern it's welfare.
Favor Postal Savings Bsnk-Post-
|
postal savings bank is receiving a
| great deal OF favorable consideration
among members OF congress. Many
OF them regard the idea as the best
solution of the vexing problem OF a
currency stringency. Already sever.
al bills have been introduced provid-
ing for a postal savings bank, includ-
ing one by Representative Snapp of
| Illinois. Among the New England
delegation number of congressman
view the plan with favor. Represen.
tative Foster of Vermont. for in
stance. says that French-Canadians
in his state are continually sending
their savings across the line into
Canada for deposit In the govern.
ment savings bank there. Mr.. Fos.
ter says that foreigners DO not appeax
10 have confidence in our banks and
| will continue 20 send their money