Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-02-22
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
Especial Correspondence.)


TO be q discrimination against the en-.
listed personnel of the army, navy and
marine corps, General oliver acting
Secretary of War, has issued an order
extending to the wives of all such men
the privilege of interment in a nation
al cemetery, Heretofore such privil-
ege was limited to the wives Of Off
GERS of the military services.
Lincoln Day celebration-The 99th
anniversary OF the birth of Abraham
Lincoln was celebrated here under the
joint auspices of the Grand Army OF
the Republic and the United States
Historical Society, assisted by the Wo-
mans Relief Corps, Harry A. Col
man president of the United States
Historical Society, called the meeting
to order and made an address. Among
the noted men who delivered address,
es were Vice-President Fairbanks
Speaker Cannon. Associate Justice
Harlan of the United States supreme
court. Representative Dawson Of To-
wa and others.
Wants Ransom Money from Turkey
Ellen M. Stone, the American mis-
slonary who was captured by Bulgar-
ian brigands near the town OF Dunn
bala In the autumn of 1901 and subse-
quently ransomed, called upon Sec
retary Root at the state department
recently and urged him to make
demand upon the Turkish government
for $4,000. the amount of the ransom
paid in her case. She wanted that
amount returned to the persons in this
country who contributed it by popu-
lar subscriptions. Secretary Root
promised to examine the record in
this case which was disposed of before
he assumed his present office.
Only Americans on "God Roll"-
Secretary Taft has ordered that here
after none but Americans shall be
put on the gold rolls" of the Isthmian
canal commission. The effect of this
order will be that skilled labor on the
isthmus, hereafter, will be American
citizens. Such foreigners as may be
among those now so employed and
whose numbers include a dozen or
more nationalities will not be disturb
ed, but as fast as any vacancies oc-
cur they will be filled by Americans.
The order is the outcome of represent
ations made to the secretary of Amer.
lean machinists, who objected to the
employment in responsible places at
good salaries of citizens of foreign
countries.
Summer War ManoeuVres-The war
department has announced its sched-
ule of manoeuvres for the coming
summer, in which regulars and ma.
tional guardsmen will take part. New
England troops will manoeuvre from
June Is to June 25 at Pine Plains, N.
Y; one regiment each from New
Hampshire, Massachusetts and Com
nectiCut, and one battalion from Ver-
mont with the regulars. The latter
will comprise 20 companies of infan-
try, 10 troops of cavalry and two bat
teries of field artillery The camp will
be commanded by the general com.
manding the department of the East,
now Gen. Fred Grant, but he may be
succeeded by Gen. Leonard Wood be-
fore the date of the manoeuvres
Private Secretaries oreanlze-The
secretaries of congressman, particular
ly of the house members, are about to
organize in effect, labor union, The
first meeting of those who stand be-
tween the statesmen and their constit-
uents was held recently in the new
House office building. The main pur-
pose of the secretaries Is to strike for
their full salaries. Each congress-
man receives $500 a year to pay for
secretary. The money is paid to the
congressman, who signs q certificate
that he turns over the full amount to
his secretary. The secretaries asso-
citation tells tale of $500 drawn
from the public treasury and $500 paid
to some stenographers during the ses-
sion. Another version is one Of $500 |
paid to the wife or daughter OF the
statesman. The association of con-
gressional secretaries wants these en-
ployes placed on the government pay
roll In their own names.
Government Contracts for Alrshlps
Three heavier than air flying ma
chimes, capable of carrying two per-
sons remaining an hour In the air
and travelling at least &c miles an
hour. have been contracted for by the
United States government. They are |
to be built by A. M. Herring Of New |
York, the Wright Bros. of Dayton, O., |
and j. f. Scott of Chicago. Design |
ed for use by the war department, they
Will be ready for trial before the end |
OF the year, after which the govern |
ment expects to put them to immediate |
use in the drills of the army. sec-
retary Taft has officially approved the
plans Of the airships for which con- |
tracts are awarded. The Wright
Bros. agree to supply more elabor-
ate machine than the others, at a
cost of $4,000. The machine, built
on the principle of the airships which |
they already have constructed. Is
guaranteed to fulfil specifications and |
to start and land without damage to
the machine, They guarantee to steer
the ship in all directions to the salts
Iacuon Not government experts who |
Will witness the trial fight. Other
specifications OF minor Importance are
left entirely to the Wright Bros. on
the understanding that they will be
later approved. The Herring ma
chine is in some respects the |
one which signal officers are par
ticularly interested in, Costing $780,
L.
ed that 1t may attain a speed of 45
miles an hour. It is especially design |
ed for use by troops in the field and |
is simple enough to be handled after
little study. The Scott aeroplane will
cost but 800 but by its simplicity OF |
design the war department expects
TO have a valuable machine Of small |
er size for use.
Pitch nina which hoe hao. o...ts