Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-04-25
Woodstock Business cards
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
Especial COrrespOndencs)

four battleships instead of two as re-
ported by the naval committee, was
defeated the other day by the House.
SO to 199 The result was received
with loud applause. In the course Of
the debate on the battleship proDosi-
ton, President RooseVelt's knowH
eagerness for four new sea-hghters
was strenuously urged by Represen-
tatiYes Hobson and LOngWorth.
Industrial Conditions improving
That conditions throughout the coun-
try are fast becoming normal again.
was the opinion expressed recently
by T. V. Powderly, chief Of the d.
vision of information Of the bureau
of immigration and naturalization,
who keeps in close touch with labor
conditions throughout the country.
The division Of information has sent
letters to over 10000 sources to OBJ
tain information where labor is
wanted. I'VE first felt the depression
in October" said Mr.. POwderly, but
there has been every evidence within
the last few weeks that employers
are replacing the men who were laid
of at that time. The requests for
farm labOrers have increased daily,
indicating that the farmers expect a
prosperous year, and / expect to re-
ceive requests for industrial labor In
the very near future"
cannon's usties."-Speaker Can
non leans heavily on New England
representatives for help In running
the National House. He has eight
or 10 TRUSTEES" to whom as sort Of
sub-speakers, he entrusts the gavel
when proceedings are in committee
Of the whole. These must be steady
men who will not let the House run
away the moment the speaker steps
out of the hall. Three of these sub
speakers are from New England. One
is Representative Currier Of New
Hampshire, whom the speaker has
been trying out for quite 10 years.
The others are Representatives Eos
ter of Vermont and Lawrence of
Massachusetts. They have now been
in the commanding seat on the mar
BILE rostrum so often that the speaker
regards them as expert gayel WELD
ers, who are almost as smart In sec
ing ways out of parliamentary tan
gle as the speaker himself.
Dam PriVileges.-In special mes
sage sent in recently, Vetoing dam
bill, President Roosevelt warned
Congress that there are pending in
this session bills which propose to
give away without price stream
rights capable Of developing 100000
horsepower, the production Of which
would cost annually 25,0O0,0O0 tons
of coal; urged in vigorous terms the
establishment Of policy such as the
hlibustering minority in the House
demands to safeguard the granting Of
bridge and dam privileges and to re-
quire the grantees to pay for them;
and definitely announced future
policy on his part with regard to
prompt utilization of construction
privileges by refusing his signature
to a bill giving an additional three
years to the Rainy River Improve
ment Company within which to build
a dam in the Rainy River.
Date Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
tive Watson Of Indiana, who con-
ferred with the President few days
ago, about an early adjournment Of
congress and who said after the con-
ference that the President and the
house were in harmony for adjourn
ing about May 8, was summoned by
the President again later. Mr.. Watson
said the President had sent for him
to say that he had overlooked the
fact that there would be conference
of governors on May 10, and that
when he had called this conference
he had done so under the impression
that congress would be in session.
Out of courtesy to this conference,
which will discuss the subject Of con-
serving the resources of the country,
the President thought congress should
remain in session few days longer,
If that could properly be done. Mr.
Watson said he agreed with the Presl-
dent and thought that adjournment
would take place about May 1s. Mr..
Watson reiterated statements pre-
ViousIy made that the President was
in, hopes that certain legislation he
desired would be passed, but If itcould
not be put through, he would offer
no obstacle to an early adjournment.
Senator "Hsap Big chlef."-SenatOF
Clamp of Minnesota chairman of the
committee on Indian affairs. is now
a heap big Indian" chief Of the Grow
tribe. He was given a great surprise
last week by Chief Plenty Coos and
his fellow tribesmen who have been
witnesses before the Indian commit,
tee for the past three weeks. The
chief marched into the committee
room at the head OF the band and
through an interpreter phlegmatically
informed the senator that the treat
ment that had been accorded the In
dams was highly appreciated and
that an appropriate gift was due the
white chief OF the committee. Chief
Plenty Coos then took from one Of
his followers a huge war bonnet,
which had been the chiefs insignia
of rank and worn by him whenever
ne went into battle. He said that he
was now q man Of peace and that
the bonnet was OF less value to him
on the reservation than 1t would be
to the senator in congress and, there
fore, he wanted the senator to take II
Senator Clapp was amazed. but he
took the war bonnet and thanked the
chief. The decoration would create
a sensation in the senate chamber II
the senator should decide to wear Il
there. II is made Of eagle feathers
a band Of which goes entirely around
the head and falls almost to the feet