Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1908-05-15

5llLlI I'LL -
GOSSIP
~uN~o~-~o~o.
Marine observations conducted by
the Carnegie Institute of Washington
during the last year Indicate that great
ocean liners may save from 81 900 to
$z'OOO on each voyage by being able to
steer much stralghter courses, based
upon the new measurements of mag
netic declination, dip and intensity,
correcting errors of former charts
Ihis Is only one Of the numerous fields
OF research occupied by the Carnegie
institute In 1907, the work of which
is contained In the year book now pub
lshed Expeditions have been sent to
every part of the world, and almost
every branch of science has been In
Vaded. AmongN the practical results
noted are rain meter invented by FL.
DE Rossloff, which will automatically
test and register the rainfall by the
day, month or year; the evolution of
breeding scheme that will furnish more
and bigger eggs; the discovery of f. G.
Benedict, that all bodily functions
thrive best upon food that is the clos
est approach to plain proteid; the
grating of 5000 plants by Luther Bur
bank, and several magnetic expeditions
INTO the Far North.
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Speaker Cannon's notice to chairmen
OF appropriation committees to have
their bills ready to report by April Is,
presages an early adjournment of Con-
gress. Aside from the currency bill
there is little legislation of Importance
before Congress So far as the cur
rency measure is concerned, the lower
house Is hopelessly divided, and there
is little possibility of the members get
ting together on the Aldrich bill. The
Western members are outspoken
against it, and 1t is not believed that
even Speaker Cannon can bring them
into line. Congressional conventions
will be held early this year because of
the presidential campaign. For this
reason Congressman want to get away
from Washington. A large per cent
have fences to repair In their districts,
and they do not want to be cooped up
In Washington, hundreds of miles from
the dear people," If a currency law
Is to be enacted they may be driven to
agree to some plan in order to bring
about an early adjournment. The pub
lie welfare does not require that they
should remain in Washington.
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For the first time In seventy years
the figure of the American eagle that
surmOunts the mace, the symbol of au-
thority in the national House of Rep
resentatives, left its perch the other
day. When news of the flight of the
bird became known to members by
many politicians 1t was Interpreted as
an Ill omen. The House mace is one
of the most priced possessions of the
lower branch of Congress. 1t has done
service for threlscore years and ten.
The mace has, with rare exception,
been effective in restoring order in the
House. representative suspended
for violating the House authority, aft
err the mace had been displayed by the
sergeant-at-arms, cannot resume his
prerogatives except by vote of his col
leagues. The House mace is fashioned
after the Roman mace Its handle,
bearing thirteen silver bands, emble-
matte of the thirteen original States,
is of ebony Surmounting the handle
IS a globe upon which stands the eagle.
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Resident Washington is divided into
three distinct -sets-old families, peo-
pie with money and people without
money. Those without money work
hard to keep up appearances with
those who have money. Those with
money work hard to secure social
recognition from the old families. The
old families are Indifferent equally to
those with money and those without
The hardest worked class of all are
those who, having accepted public
office and removed their lares and
penates to the national capital, find
that the salary will not pay for the
game. You know their women folk by
the fact that they wear ready made
gowns. Your real Washingtonian con-
siders the wearing of factory made
garments equivalent to sinking to the
lowest sartorial depths.
= Washingtonians do not hurry home
from work. If you are anybody at
all in Washington you must be leis-
urely. Only as a tourist do you hurry,
and after conductor has held you
at arms length when you are too
hasty in boarding or leaving car
you begin to slow. down, too. There
is no rush hour in Washington, and
there are cars enough to go around
Likewise you can cross the street at
any point along the block without
danger of being run down, yelled at
or told to ''step lively"
1t is estimated by Secretary of the
Interior Garfield in his annual report
that 100000 acres of our public land
in the Western States have deposits
of coal, and he advocates system Of
leases so that the government may reg
ulate their development. Nearly all
of this land has been withdrawn
from entry TO prevent further
fraudulent entries During the year
29.997 ,566 acres were sold for 3d.
547,243.