Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-08-15
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
Especial correspondence.)

Dean Of Senate Dead,--I3y the death
of Senator William II. Allison Of Iowa,
q figure almost unique passes from the
stage Of American public life. Hewas
the dean Of the senate of tho United
States, and the Oldest man in similar
ly conspicuous public service in the
country. His career in congress- bO-
gan In the midst of the armed conflict
betwesn tho north and the south, and
his service in tho senate was uninter-
rupted since 1873. Senator Allison re-
Gently was a candidate in the prlma'
rieg of his state to succeed himself In
the senate, and he was successful In
his canvass. The voters Of Iowa who
for the last time, as 1t proved, sealed
their appreciation of his service prob.
ably will be gratlfled now to feel that
he carried with him to his grave the
sense Of this approval.
Postal Savings 6anks.-The postof-
fee authorities have favored the es.
tabIlshment of postal savings banks
in the United States for several years.
Congress failed at its last session to
make a provision for this purpose, al
though the plan was recommended
strongly by the postmaster general
and was favored by committee. Now,
1t is significant that the Republican
candidate for president also favors the
creation of such banks, the proposi-
tion receiving consideration In his re-
cent address. So much attention is
being devoted to this subject, there
fore, that 1t is probable the federal
government will act favorably on 1t at
an early day, The principal argument
in favor of postal savings banks is
that wherever they exist the people
have become more thrifty.
AIrshIps To Watch smugglsrs.-Al.
though the United. States has been
slow to take up the balloon and aero.
plane for army purposes, the probable
future usefulness Of these aerial craft
in other directions is not being over
looked. The carrying out of tenta.
tive plan to connect several large east
ern cities by an aerial transportation
line will depend largely on the success
Of Captain Baldwin's flights In his di.
rigible balloon at the Fort Myer army
tests. One Of the interested specta.
tors at the trial will be Beekman Win.
throp, assistant secretary of the treas.
ury, who Is in charge Of the customs
service. The customs service depends
ON the revenue cutter service to patrol
the coast and prevent smuggling, but
that the customs officials are giving
consideration to the exlgencies which
may arise II aeroplanes become avail.
able in the illegal importation of goods
is evidenced by the interest they are
taking In aerial Inventions.
Funds For the MIlItla.-The war de.
partment recently announced the
amounts allotted to the New England
militia from the 100000 annual ap-
preparation under the Dick act of 1905.
The allottments are based upon the
representation of each state In con-
gress. Massachusetts, with a repre-
sentation Of 16 In the house and sen.
ate, gets total apportionment of $62,-
S1S.O1. OF this $47,114.26 is for arms,
equipment and camp purposes and
$16,7O4,76 for the promotion of rife
practice. Names portion of the fund
Is t17,667.84 for arms, equipment and
camp purposes and $5,SS9.28 for rife
practice, a total Of $23, ,557.12. The New
Hampshire militia will enjoy S16,7O4
70. which includes S11,778.56 for arms
equipment and camp purposes, and 49,.
SS6'lS for rife practice. Vermont and
Rhode Island each will receive the
same amount as New Hampshire, each
state having a representation Of four
In congress-. Connecticut, with a rep
resentation of seven, will receive S2O,-
6lS,4S for arms, equipment and camps,
and $6,S7O.S2 for rife practice, or a
total Of $27.483.S2
Health Officers Got surprlse.--"It
is the unexpected that always hap.
pens," runs an old aGage; and the
crusade against unclean eatlnghouses
m this city appears to have developed
new proof Of the apothegm. Not that
Health oficer Woodward and his as
sistants have found themselves en-
gagged IN an unnecessary reform. Far
from 1t. In fact, 1t is reported that, Of
the first 102 lunch rooms inspected,
only seven were found to be in the
condition OF cleanliness required by
law At last reports, about thirty
proprietors had been arrested, includ-
ing those Of several hotels. No, the
surprise is not In the prevalence Of
cleanliness. Rather, it Is In the very
common absence OF that attribute.
but particularly, It Is In the dIstribu-
tion Of cleanliness and OF filth. One
popular eating-house, for example.
which feeds hundreds of people daily.
and was supposed to be extra flne.
was declared by the health officer to
have the foulest kitchen and the
worst sanitary conditions he had ever
seen; whereas, a ave and ten-cent
oyster and clam shop, kept by a negro
was reported by DR.. Mottar, the chief
inspector, to be the cleanest place Inn.
aginable. The pots and pans In this
place were said to be Furnished to a
shine, and not a fly or other insect
was visible about the establishment.
II the floor had been table, Dr.. Mot.
ter is reported to have said, he would