The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-03-12

II IL HO III tH0l II IL hN-o " Z
-ure the right sort of G Every man
is supposed to be a patriot, but that
1Oes not mean that he is willing TO
work for Uncle Sam for half pay, espe,
to pay better salaries. Members of
Congress voted themselves 80 per cent
additional pay. but did not take into
consideration the great mass of en-
plOyes of the government, most of
whom are working at Il compensation
fixed more than 80 years ago, when the
cost of living was not more than half
what it is at present.
-:
The joint Congressional Committee
appointed to investigate the working
of the Post Office Department has
made a preliminary report suggesting
several radical changes in the organi-
cation of the executive machinery of
the department, chief among which is
the recommendation that the actual
direction of the business of the service
he placed in the hands of an officer.
with necessary assistants, to be ap-
pointed by the president and confirmed
by the Senate, for long terms, so rs to
insure the continuity of efficient SER
vice, which, they say, can not be ex-
pected in the fullest Measure when the
business is intrusted, as at present, to
q postmaster general and certain as
sistants selected without special refer
ence TO experience and qualifications,
and subject TO frequent change. Under
such a system. they say, a large rail
road, commercial or industrial business
would inevitably go into bankruptcy.
and the Postofficc Department has
averted that fate only because the
United States treasury has been avail
able to meet deficiencies. 1t is not
proposed to abolish the Office of post
master general. who would still have
control of matters of policy as a cabi-
net officer.
-:
Every four years Uncle Sam has n
~ nut 1hAAN III III AOA
than the ordinary amount of daring in
their makeup. 1t is the difficult task
Of cleaning and painting the dome of
the Capitol at Washington and the
Goddess on top OF it. Nine tons of
paint are used and it requires two
months work of from 80 TO 40 men to
complete the task. The top of the
lone is so far above the ground that a
workman loses all his freshness, NOV.
lng about slowly and with great care.
1t is no so hard for the men who dc
the actual painting. as they usually
have scaffolds ITO protect them. 1t is
the men who put up the scaffolds who
take the greatest chances of being
dashed TO their deaths somewhere be-
low. The entire capitol dome is i'm four
levels; first there is the cupola and
the dome proper; then two levels col
umns. All of this except the statue,
including the columns themselves, Is OF
ron. The Goddess herself is some &c
feet high, and weighs 10000 pounds
-
The annual pension bill as favorably
| reported to the House carries a total
appropriation of $15O,S69,0 DOC. AS a
method of economy it proposes to con-
solidate all the branch agencies in GER
.ain cities into the central bureau nj
Washington. This policy is opposed by
he G. A. r. There are now 967 81
sun paid them last year was $685.
D30,S94.
In order that the War Department
nay appreciate the strong sentiment
Of the people of the Pacific coast in
| favor OF permanently maintaining {
fleet Of at least six modern battleships
in these waters, various commercial
bodies of Washington. Oregon and Cal
ifornia will be asked to pass resolu
tons to that effect and to forward
copies to the authorities at Washing
| ton.
At the graduating exercises of the
West Point Military Academy 10S ca
| diets were given diplomas and are o
in line for commissions in the regular
Amy. where they are said to be great
iy needed. Secretary of War Taft made
the principal address and delivered the
diplomas. He reminded the young mer
that an army man lost a good part OF
his freedom Of initiative and speech
and reminded them that their plain
duty was to "Obey orders and KEEP
your mouth shut"
One of the many recent-and ancient
criticisms of the American navy wa.
that in time of need a ship might III
commanded by a man who had little OIL
no experience as captain of a battle
ship. The President has lately ap
proved a change in the regulation:
which permits commanders to serve a.
executive officers on battleships N ar
mored cruisers, to command q flOtills
of torpedo-boat destroyers, ant to serve
as engineer of the fleet. Under the
old regulations these duties belonged
only to captains inc flag officers.
-
The Senate Committee on Indian AT
fairs has reported adversely a bill in
troduced by Senator Owen, appropri
ating 100000 to establish a govern
ment school in Oklahoma for the teach
ing of Indian art. 1t was the plan t6
teach the Indian children. how to dc
bead work. make fancy baskets, tar
skins and furs and make tools used by
the Indians in their primitive state.