Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-12-05
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
(speclal Oorrespondenee.l

Rlxey Wants Hospital shps.-Sur-
geon-general Rixey, in his annual re-
port made public at the navy depart
ment, recently, recommends that con-
gress be urged to appropriate $3,0O0,-
600 to build two specially designed
hospital ships with capacity for 5000
patients. A hospital ship he says, is
necessary component OF every pro-
perly organized feet One Of the pro-
posed hospital ships should be on the
Pacific and the other on the Atlantic.
Another Label Deelslon.-Another
sweeping decision, bearing on the reg
istration OF labels, has been rendered
by the commissioner of patents, in
which he holds that the protection of
the law will not be given to any man
ufacturer who includes in his trade
mark the arms of the United States
or those of the various states or cities
Of the country. Not even parts of the
coats of arms or other public devices
win be registered The decision was
reached in the case of a firm using
the eagle and ~. S." on it's goods.
Walking Test for Webfeet-The
plan Of the navy department for a
physical test for naval officers is now
in the hands Of Acting Secretary New
berry, ready to be submitted to the
president. 1t has been understood
that the test will be a walk of per-
haps 80 miles, to be accomplished in
three days. 1t is practically equiva-
lent to the horsemanship test in the
army, aimed to insure a high physical
condition of officers. The suggestion
to have the walking test was warmly
indorsed by Surgeon General Rixey
Of the navy.
A Dangerous Counterfeit.-Chief
Wilkie of the secret service the, 9th
er day announced that a new counter
felt $5 silver certificate (Indian head)
has been detected in circulation, hav-
ing first made its appearance in Provi-
dence, r. l. 1t purports to be one. of
these authorized by the act of Aug.
4, 1885, series Of 1899, check letter
D, face plate number 2, back plate
number 666, with portrait of onepapa.
The officials declare it is dangerous
photomechanical production, printed
on one piece Of heavy bond paper, but
a deceit In the plate gives the In
dian chief cross-eyed expression.
The blue seal closely approximates
the genuine in color, but 1t is badly
printed, being coarse and rough, with
many broken lines. The back Of the
note is a very deceptive piece of work,
and except for being light in color, ap-
pears much like the genuine. In the
sample furnished Chief Wilkie there
appears to have been no attempt to
tnitato the distributed silk fibre.
Currency Revlsion.-General revi-
sion of the American financial system
cannot be hoped for at the coming
session of congress, but the members
Of the national monetary commission
expect that law will be passed cor
rectlve of some of the evils Of the ad-
ministrative features of banking.
These probabilities were evident last
week when the commission held its
first meeting, preliminary to making
its report. The commission has un-
dertaken the most comprehensive f.
nancial inquiry In the history of the
country. The conferences abroad were
held in London, Paris and Berlin, dur
ing which the members of the COM
mission were received by the most
eminent authorities on currency and
economic topics. The interviews were
taken down Geographically, but with
the understanding that the informa-
tion given be not made public unless
approved by the persons giving 1t. In
a score of instances bankers gave the
members Of the commission the most
intimate details of their private busi-
ness and the difficulties experienced
under the banking laws of the vari-
GUS countries. The commission, real
izing the great Importance of being
able to publish certain features Of
this information, decided to draft
series OF questions based upon the
statements and to submit these to the
foreign authorities for replies.
shsrIdan's statue unvelIed.--With
military pomp and splendor the sta
tue Of General Philip Henry sheri-
dan was unveiled in this city last
week. The president and members
Of the cabinet, the diplomatic corps,
Justices OF the supreme court Of the
United States, senator's, representa-
tives in congress, veterans Of the Civil
war and many others prominent in Of
fetal life, as we'll as q large number
OF citizens, were present. Thousands
Of soldiers Of the regular army and
OF the national guard and United
States marines and bluejackets from
the navy were assembled as trib-
ute to the dashing soldier OF the Civil
war whoBe likeness was displayed to
/. the public gaze for the first time. The
statute, the work of Gutzom Borglum,
was admired by every one who saw It,
Il represents General Sheridan on
horseback, his steed being shown in a
position Of action rather than stand
ing placidly. The statute is one and
three-quarters times larger than life,
and depicts General Sheridan at the
age at which he performed his great
est deeds. He is mounted on his IA
NOUS horse Rienzi. The sum Of $780,
600 was appropriated by congress for
the statue. which is said to contain
more moulten brass than ever before
cast in this country The piece is IL
feet long, eight feet wide, and as com
pleted the entire bronze piece is IA
feet In height. Especial interest was
given the occasion by the presence Of