Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1907-07-25

oi 'houSdiiu men enough 10 man
the ships they have, while fresh
ships are continueing being built.
lie says that the criticism that
many American naval officers are
too Old for practice commands
is as whole unjust. There are u
good many American officers who
would he eliminated from t h e
active list .if a real war were to
start. But he says that in such
q case the natural bent for the
American people for mechanics
and technical work would largely
furnish the element needed to
man modern ships and the ques-
tion OF officers is one that would
adjust itself to the emergency.
He believes in a general way that
the American navy is on a thor
oughly satisfactory peace foot.
ing, but that the building pro-
gram is outruuning the person.
mel.
A bitter fight is being made by
t he Pennsylvania RAILROAD 10
gaiust the new two cent q mile
rate law that has been enacted
by the Pennsylvania Legislature.
This stand of the railroad is the
more important since similar
laws have been enacted by several
of the other states and there is be
ing a l'ailroadI fight made against
al of them. Illinois, Indiana,
Nebraska and Virginia are all in
the throes of the two cent rate
agitation, The railroads declare
that that the two cent law is con
fiscatory and therefore unjust.
But the Pennsylvania went a
little far i'll proving it's case, for
in explaining that the present
rates OF fare were not excessive,
it presented tables to prove that
the average rate of fare on state
traffic nov was only 1.0 cents a
mile. The railroads have a Ii
shown that they are not going
to submit to the statutes of the
state legislature without a fight
that will be carried to the highest
court. 1t is a question of control
that will have to be fought out
between the several states and
the railroads and it might as
well be settled now as any future
time.
The first instance on record
where q woman was ever given q
-, 900 clerkship under the gov
ernment, developed in Washing
ton this week.% Miss Margaret
Kelly, a special clerk to the Direc
| tor OF the Mint was recommended
for promotion by Geo. Roberts,
the retiring director of the Mint,
and the promotion was made by
Secretary Cortelyou who raised
Miss Kelly from the 81 ,OO0 to
the $4,000 grade. Such a jump
for q woman was unheard Of in
the government service, but Di-
rector Roberts when approached
on the subject, said it was mere
ly paying for efficiency, and per-
haps not paying as much as the
efficiency deserved. He said that
Miss Kelly was in the directors
office as a clerk when he came
there and that all he knew as Di-
brector OF the Mint he had learned
IRON her. This wasa rather start
ling admission for q bureau chief
to make, but it might be duplica-
ted by many other chiefs if they
would give their principal clerks
the credit due them. He said
Miss Kelly was just as compe-
tent Of being Director ofthe Mint
as anybody, and he was glad she
was getting paid in proportion
ito her services. This ought to be
encouraging news ior a good d
many women in the government
service in Washington and else
where, for it at least indicates
that there is no tendency1to side
4 track them on account Of theil
4 sex and that efficient work When
seen is rewarded.