The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-20
LETTER
rSpc-ial Correspondence.1

A change of the date of Inauguration
day from the 4th of March to the last
Thursday in April is earnestly recon-
mended in the annual report Of the
commissioners of the District made to
congress. The commissioners invite
early and favorable action on this sub
feet, so that "the health of those who
participate in the ceremonies of b
Inauguration of the president and the
vice president may be protected from
the dangers of the weather, which
have proved fatal to so many in the
past and have deprived the country of
some Of its most valuable servants"
h Public Library.
OF the District Public library it Is
said that the book collection for the
year has increased from 73,O45 to 3d.
668 volumes, and that the average dali
" circulation increased from LAG, the
figures of the previous year, to 1859.
Favorable action Is asked for the bill
authorizing the erection Of a branch
library building at Takoma Park.
Real Estate Valuation.
The total assessed valuation Of real
estate in the District for the fiscal year
1906 was $780, 61 1856, producing a rev.
enue Of 1851, 800. The personal tax
law, governing only franchises and
tangible property, Is said to be equita-
bic and moderate and also to be sue
cessful in it's operation. 1t Is asked,
however, that legislation be enacted
prohibiting the refunding Of taxes for
a period of more than three years an
tecedent to the date of application.
Revenue and Debts.
The receipts Of the District Of Co
lumbia for 1906 from all sources, in
cluding those on account Of the water
department, amounted to $12,651,1 10.
This is inclusive Of S., 621, SIS Of United
States payments from appropriations
under the act Of June II, 1878.
The total funded and unfunded debt
Of the District on June 80, 1906, was
$14,51S,o59. The District has a fur
Their matured liability of five payments
of $780, 600 each to the treasurer Of the
United States, in trust for the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad company, to
meet the Districts half of $1,50O,OOO
required to be paid in connection with
the railroad terminal improvement.
To Restore Key Mansion.
It is announced that preparations
have practically been completed for
the incorporation of the Francis Scott
Key Memorial association, it's purpose
being the restoration of the Key man.
sion in Georgetown, the home OF the
author Of 1.-The Star Spangled Banner"
1t is stated that nine residents of this
city and Baltimore will comprise the
society. Francis Scott Key Smith.
great-grandson of the author, is at the
head Of the movement. 1t Is proposed
to spend $4,000 in restoring the home
to its former condition.
/ Green Room Furniture.
Mrs. Roosevelt has adopted the new
fad for white and delicate tinted wick.
err furniture, and now the green room
is looking it's very prettiest and most
: informal in some dainty green wicker
: with cushions of the same color, the
hangings to correspond and vines and
L flowers everywhere in evidence. White
enameled furniture is much in evil
dence on the second floor of the house
t and, in fact, plays a big part IN all o.
the fine Washington drawing rooms.
. Patent ONCE Needs.
Congress will be asked this season t.
= pass legislation to expedite the work il
the patent office, if the plans Of Free
. K. B~arnaclo, a New York lawyer, ar
> carried out. Mr.. Barnaclo Is maxim:
arrangements to meet the president
d the commissioner of patents and tn
committee on patents to see what ca
be done to bring about Legislation
10 which will benefit both the invento
# and the overworked examiners Of tn
patent office. If his ideas are carrie
out the examiners in the patent offic
- will receive $4,000 a year instead O
$1,000, as ut present.
u Work Far Behind.
o I'm September the Office was foode
4 with 23,S49 cases, many of the e,
aminers having averages ranging froI
>, twenty-five to twenty-nine cases a da!
with divisions thirteen, twelve, eleve
III and ten months behind in their work
M said Mr.. Barnaclo, land this, too. min
% you, in spite Of the fact that on the l!
Of July twenty-eight new examiner
were added to the Office. But the
" were naturally not efficient in the VOL
Va In such a short time.
Facilities Poor
ne I'm order to properly carry on Il
work on a business basis at least 1,O'
examiners should be employed, al
Ir- quarters and facilities should be fu
es nished accordingly. There are thirt
I'd nine divisions In the patent office at t
present time. There should be slxt
No man has less than five cases a da
and the majority have more than
teen and twenty.
10. "They should not have more TIL
two or three. Some cases have mo
than 100 pages Of typewritlng In t