The Washington times., 1908-08-29

sort 70 much strategy and invoke bit
OF diplomacy TO get out Of a bad situa-
ton made By the women clerks of the
rural delivery division, demanding that
mouse traps be purchased when there
is no appropriation to buy traps, is
now wrestling with another hand prob
lem
The supply division, which Is located
in the Postoniee Department Annex,
at First and K streets northeast, is
infested with bugs, or. at least. that
is the conclusion drawn from a requi-
sition just sent IN by Superintendent
Richard Covert. who orders a few tons
Of bug powder.
Mr.. Prender. who is an unusually
careful official. is not quite certain that
the department is authorized to pur-
chase bug powder, and If it is. he is
still IN doubt about the feasibility of It.
Not being a bugologist. he is IN doubt
as to the best means to employ TO rid
the annex Of its unWelcome guests, but
It IS recalled by Mr.. Prender in this
connection that former Public Printer
stillings had on his staff at one time
an assistant sWatter. who were charged
with the duty of swatting flies and
other insects careless enough TO put the
Government Printing Office on their
visiting lists, and It is believed that
some such homemade remedy as this
may serve the purpose, and thus save
the Cove rnment the additional expense
OF laying IN a supply Of bug powder.
Willis L. Moore, Chief of the Weather
Bureau. and one OF the "alI-aroundest"
ail-round men in Washington when it
comes TO knowing and doing things,
was telling this week. while in a rem
iniscent mood, Of what he considered
to be one OF the best newspaper scoops
on record, in which he figured as the
party OF the second part.
A Few ears ago. Mr. Moore, on max
Ing TRIP TO the West. passed through
one Of the most disastrous storms IN a
decade, a good-sized Western cyclone
that did a great deal OF damage. He
reached Chicago, his destination. by
hard work, and was making his way 10
the desk in one Of the principal hotels
when newspaper man he knew, who
now enjoys an extensive reputation
rushed TO him and took him BY the
hand. at the same time expressing his
great delight at seeing him. but care
fully, refraining from calling his name
The reporter insisted that the hotel
was full and running over, and that II
would be useless for Mr.. Moore 20 at
tempt to engage a room, at the same
time Offering to share his rooms with
him. Struck with the luck OF getting
out of the difficulty so easily, Mr.
Moore accepted the hospitality OF his
newspaper friend and became his guest
From that moment the reporter cleverly
cOntrtved to keep Mr.. Moore IN the
background without putting him wise
to the situation. He got a carriage and
took hina TO the newspaper office and
escorted him through the plant, and
later had dinner served in his room at
the hotel. "as he knew Mr.. Moore was
tired from his long trip and did not care
to be bothered by going to the public
dining room"
After dinner he laid In a good supply
OF perfeetOs. sent for a stenographer,
and requested Mr.. Moore TO give a full
account OF the storm. Any one acquafnt-
ed with Mr.. Moore knows what that
meant under the circumstances, and #
was no wonder that the Chicago Rec
ord-Herald had several columns the next
morning giving a graphic description OF
the storm and its climatoIogical i'm
pOrtance from the viewpoint Of the head
OF the weather service. the best and
most important scoop Of the year.