Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-04-11
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
Especial Correspondence,)

Ethical Legal standard-The first
important step in the movement TO es-
tabllsh and maintain higher ethical
standard in the legal profession was
taken a few days ago. by the commit
tee ON code of professional ethics OF
the American in session here. This
committee has formulated prellmin-
ary draft of about 20 canons of pro-
fessiona ethics. These canons relate
to the duties OF the lawyer in his re-
Iaton to the public, to the profession,
the Judiciary, to clients and to each
other.
convlcts on Highway Work
Through the operation of an order
recently issued by Commissioner Black
burn, the head of the department of
civil administration of the Isthmian
canal commission, convicts serving
sentences at hard labor in the pent-
tentiary at Culebra are to be set TO
work on highway construction be-
tween Gatun and Mt. Hope. Because
of the increasing number of such con-
Vlcts, 1t has been found impossible
to utilize their services near the peni-
tentiary.
A Seeming Paradox-Postal clerks
in this city say that instead of caus-
ing a deficit in the postal revenues,
free rural delivery is responsible for
a very large percentage of the increase
in postal receipts. Postal experience
has always been that an increase Of
facilities results in an increase of the
revenues. For instance, the govern
ment profited by the decrease of the
letter postage rate from to 2 cents
because of the consequence increase
OF business. Many believe that a sim
iar profit would result if the rate were
to decrease from cents to l. The To-
gicians may tell us what would hap
pen If the letter rate were reduced to
nothing.
Oppose Pension Agency Abolition
There is a strong feeling among the
New England senators against the pro-
posed abolition of the New England
pension agencies which the house
agreed to in the interest Of economy
The pension bill, as passed by the
house, provides that the agencies
throughout the country shall be abol-
ished and all the work consolidated in
Washington, so that in the future pen
sioners will receive their checks from
Washington instead of at the local
agencies. 1t is generally believed that
the opposition of the New England
senators is powerful enough to pre-
vent the passage of the house bill and
that no change will be made In the
-, stem now in operation.
Pupils Enjoying Exeursions--Wash-
ington, and the White House espe-
cially, is being overrun with young
people who attend New England
chools and who are enjoying excur-
eions to the national capital. One day
recently. the president received sew.
eral hundred New England scholars
Upward of 100 Vermont high school
pupils from many different towns were
escorted to the White House by Rep.
resentatiye Foster of Vermont, while
Rep. Capron of Rhode Island was &C
companied to the executive mansion
by several Woonsocket pupils. Before
going to and after leaving the White
House the visitors spent the time In
sightseeing Among other places
they visited the capitol and called oil
the members Of congress from theil
respective states.
What Are Turtles "A weird, but
serious complaint has reached the
bureau of insular affairs of the wal
department relating to the classified
tion by the Cuban customs officials Of
sea turtles. The point at issue Is
whether these monster turtles should
pay duty as animals not otherwise
classified" or come in as reptiles
free of duty That a turtle Is a rep
tile is tenaciously held by those inter
ested in the industry. Under the IAN
imal' classification the duty collect
ed is regarded as prohibitlve, and au
tbority is sought to have the turtle
once more assigned to the reptile
class" 1t is suggested here that tn,
Cuban customs officials doubtless hat
before them in making the classified
tion the ruling of the American gov
ernment classifying frogs legs a
dressed poultry"
Money To Extermlnate Moths-
The house has passed the agriculture
appropriation bill containing an apprc
priation of $250,000 for exterminatinI
the gypsy moth in New England. Tn
money will be available immediatel.
upon the approval of the bill This re
suit was accomplished withou
much trouble A point of orde
was made against the use Q
the words Immediately avail
able" by Rep. Madden of Illinois,
member of the appropriations commits
tee. The point was well taken an
would have been sustained II Mr.. Mao
den had not withdrawn 1t at the SUI
gestion of Rep. Keliher and in RI
sponse to the plea o. Rep Roberts
both of Massachusetts. While M
Keliher was talking to the Illinol
member privately, Mr. Roberts made
brief speech in which he pointed ou
ne necessity for having the money q
soon as possible, In view of the fac
that It could be used to much bette
advantage before the trees break int
leaf Rep. Keliher followed, sayin
hat every dollar spent now or in tn
near future would be worth IS or 81
spent in midsummer because befoi
the trees are in leaf the egg massC
and nests OF the moths can be MOI
easily distinguished Immediately q
ter this Mr. Madden withdrew h
point. There were rumors that Il
gypsy moth appropriation would me-
with serious opposition, owing to Il
fact that the committee on agrlcultul
increased the amount appropriated
fight the moths 100000 over Il
amount recommended by the depaT
Cnant ~ apriclrifura