Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1907-05-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Rsgulai Corrssp ondent.

There is every prospect that
the Dominican Treaty against
which such a fight was made in
the last session OF Congress will
be ratified by San TO Mingo in
the course OF q few da.'s. The e.
vent Is waited with a good deal
OF interest at the State Depart
meat and it will meanse yeral
years more work for thisgovern-
mpnt in STRENGTHENING out the fl
nances OF the little republic and
putting it on its feet again am
ong the nations of the world.
One Of the changes that will fol-
low the ratifica tion of the treaty
is that Minister Dawson OF San
to Domingo who has engineered
the negotiations all through and
who has visited this country
three times in the interest Of the.
treaty, will be transferred to Co
lombia as minister IN succession
to John Barrett, now the direc-
turs Of the Bureau CT American
Republics. This will be a decided
promotion, is given III recogni-
Etion OF Minister Dawson's work.
Or decided interest to the trav-
cling public il the decision Of the
Interstate Commerce Commits.
sion that the Railroad cannot
grant special rates to theatrical
troupes, as has been the custom
in the past. The decision may or
may not affect all the travelling
public. That is as the railroads
.7
take it. The presentlaw provides
that there shall be no discrimina
ton in passenger rates, and it is
held that there.is discrimination
il the railroads allow a special
rate to theatrical organizations
and not to other associations OF
people. II the theatrical rate is
kept in force, then an association
OF tea or more other persons of
any calling can demand and re-
ceiye the same treatment. This
will he nice for the travelling pub
lie, and will he apt to make CO.
operative ira Yelling the fashion
There is quite crowdiug at
the counter for the position Of
Commissioners OF Patents t h a t
will be lett vacant by the resigna
ton OF the present commission
er, T. I. Allen. Many Of thecandi-
dates are patent lawyers fro m
various parts Of the country aud
while naturally n patent lawyer
would he oi some advantage in
the place, being familiar with the
details Of the business, it would
give a decided advantage to bis
firm to have the prestige OF one
OF Its members as Patent Com
missioner at Washington. is
rather a deliate situation. Pat
ent LAWYERS haye been appointed
10 the place before, and while
they have ofcolree nominally sev
cred their connection with their
firms, they have sometimes con
Itinued un officially connected with
them. There is on record thecase
of one commissioners who used To
go every evening to his Office
near the Patent Office and pre-
pare cases that he would have to
pass on in his capacity Of com
missioner the next day. 1t is like.
y,that a selection vii, be made
from inside the Patent Office and
it Is Thought that Secretary GAR
field, who now has the Interior
Portfolio. will appoint the pres.
|ent assistant commissioner Ed
ward B. Moore to the vacancy.
Postmaster General CorteIyou
has just appointed q commission
pursuant ofan order from t h o
last Congress, which viii have the
job Of weighing every piece Of
mail matter and keepingtrack Of
theexpense invoyed in handling
it for the next six months. II has
been contended Tor years thatthe
4~sf p. A
railroads we're getting too much
for the service Of transporting