The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-03-01
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
Especial Correspondence. }

Bryce, the new British ambassador 10
Washington. accompanied by Mrs.
Bryce, arrived at the Capital Febru-
airy q. They were met at the station
by Esme Howard, councillor OF legation
and charge d'affaires, and the entire
embassy staff and ladies, who extend
ed them hearty greeting. The am
bassador and his wife were immedi-
ately driven 70 their temporary apart.
ments in Stoneleigh court, while the
repairs TO the embassy are being COM
pleted.
Distribution Of Fund Deferred.-The
trustees Of the Peabody fund, appoint
ed under the will OF the late George
Peabody 10 aid the cause of educa-
tion in the south, held meeting here
the other day and after a long discus
sion decided TO make no distribution
OF funds at this time, but TO postpone
action until the next meeting in No
yember. The failure of the trustees
TO make distribution OF the funds
has caused a good deal Of comment,
but they refuse TO give any explana-
ton.
May Hurry Up Claimants.-In the
sundry civil appropriation bill is a
provision which may speedily wind up
the affairs OF the Spanish treaty claims
commission, OF which former Senator
Chandler of New Hampshire is chair.
man. A clause appropriating $4,000
for taking testimony, provides that
before the money shall be available
the commission shall estimate the
cost of taking testimony, and that the
claimants shall make deposit to
dropped. This will have a tendency
TO hurry claimants and it is expected
the docket will be speedily cleared,
when the commission will be abolish
ed.
Municipal Fairgrounds Urged
Municipal Fairgrounds within easy
walking distance of every boy and gir!
in the large cities was advocated re-
Gently by President Roosevelt in a let.
ter and by Representative Henry Hou-
tell OF Chicago, f. f. Brown, U. S.
commissioner Of education; Henry S.
Curtis, superintendent of Washington
Fairgrounds, and other speakers, at a
playground banquet" under the aus.
pices Of the Washington Fairgrounds
association. The President in his let
ter strongly commends the renewed in
terest in play and Fairgrounds
throughout the country. He advocates
municipal provision for Fairgrounds
for every child as much as schools,
these TO be within easy walking dis
tance OF every boy and girl, and prop
erly supervised by the cities. He urges
cities to secure available grounds at
once, in order to avoid the necessity
of later demolishing blocks, of build
ings to secure such space, and particu-
development in this city as tending
toward making the nations capital
a model city.
Increase in Postal Salaries.-The
postoffice appropriation bill, the larg
est ever reported, has passed the
House. All the provisions relating to
increase of pay affecting 80 percent
of the postal employees, which had been
stricken out on points of order, were
restored to the bill. This action was
accomplished by a rule presented by
the committee on rules after the bill
had been reported to the House by the
committee of the whole. By the terms
of the amendments reported from the
committee on rules seven grades of
clerks are established in first and Sec
ond class Offices, with salaries rang
ing from $500 to $1,000. City letter
carriers are divided into five grades,
with salaries ranging from $500 to
Sl100, the $500 salaries being omitted.
Railway mail clerks are divided into
six gAdes below that of chief clerk.
salaries in each grade being increased
Sl0e, and ranging from $500 to $1700.
The maximum salary of rural carrier
is fixed at $50. Carriers, who on
June 80, are regularly employed at
$500 per annum, shall be promoted to
the fourth grade upon satisfactory evi-
dence or einclency during at least one
years service.
Smoot Retains His Seat.-The
four-years contest against Reed
Smoot being permitted to retain his
seat as a United States senator from
Utah, has at last ended, by AZ of his
colleagues voting 10 sustain him, as
against % for the resolution to unseat
him. Added TO this there were Is SEN
ators paired, making the actual stand
ing on the resolution 81 votes against
il and 81 for it, Senator Smoot him.
self did not vote, and Senator Wet.
more was absent and not paired. The
Smoot resolution was called up soon
after the Senate convened on Wednes-
day. Every seat in the galleries was
filled, and during the actual voting