Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-07-11
Woodstock RusInoss Cards
NOTES from WASHINGTON
Especial COrrespOndence.)

Oleo Mark TO Stays-Secretary OF
Agriculture Wilson, after hearing rep.
reservations OF oleomargarlne and
dairy interests regarding the placing
OF the government mark Of inspection
upon oleomargarine, announced that
the recent regulation requiring the
mark as promulgated by the depart
ment must stand, the statute being
clear and admitting Of but one con-
structlon.
Washington Dogs MuzzIed.-Pres'
ident Roosevelt few days ago direct
ed the district commissioners to take
steps to have all "stray dogs" in Wash
ington muzzled for the next 60 days.
This recommendation, which was at
once complied with, was made with
view to checking the epidemic OF rab-
les now prevailing here, as indicated
In q report from the bureau Of animal
industry, department of agriculture,
just made public.
Mr.. Taft Enthusiastically OF War
William II. Taft on July first relin-
pushed to other hands the reins OF
official position and once more became
q private citizen. Mr.. Taft's final duty
at the War Department was the pres
entation to the officials Of the depart
ment Of his successor, Governor Luke
q. Wright. He said he regarded 1t
as not merely duty, but pleasure to
induct Governor Wright into his new
office and to start him on the way he
should CO."
Peonage Spreading to New England
--Peonage, which has existed in the
South for many, many years, is spread
tng into New England. According to
Asst. Atty. Gen. Russell, there has
been at least one case in Connecticut.
Mr.. Russell recently received a report
1rom special agent of the depart
ment of justice who has been travel'
ing In Europe. In Italy this agent
was told by an Italian that he had for
merly been foreman Of railroad con-
struction gang in Connecticut, in
which there were a number Of Italian
laborers. when the laborers wanted
to leave their jobs" the Italian is re-
ported as saying, II pulled a gun on
them, and after that they worked as
quietly as lambs" Evidently the Ital.
ian did not know the interest the de-
partments agent took in the matter,
but he may have appreciated 1t later,
as the agent was unable to learn any
thing more about the case, and the
department has no further informa'
tion. Complaints have reached the de-
partment of justice recently that the
s0-called padrone system of enslaving
Greek boys is being practised in Bos'
ton and other large New England cit
les. The department proposes to
make thorough inquiry into this mat
ter.
Many Vacancies In the NaVy.-Fifty.
four vacancies exist in the medical
corps of the United States navy. and
the hospital corps is in need of large
number of men, including druggists
for hospital stewards. The status Of
memkArs of these two corps has been
considerably improved by recent legis-
lRtion, and the new circulars of infor-
nation which the surgeon-general OF
the navy Is sending out will undoubt-
edly interest many young physicians
and others. Under the present laws,
a candidate for appointment to the
medical corps must be citizen Of the
United States, twenty-one to thirty
years of age, and must present testi.
monials as to character and profess
sional fitness. Examinations under
three heads--physical, professional
and collateral, are held by the naval
examining boards at the United States
Naval Medical school, in this city
and at the United States Naval hos
pital, Mare Island, California. OH
GERS of the medical corps and their
respective base pays are as followss
Medical director $4,000; medical In.
spector, $500; surgeon, $4,000; pass.
ed assistant surgeon, $2400; assistant
surgeon, $4,000. Calculated on this an
nual base pay, the salary Of officers is
increased 10 percent for every .fve
years of service, though the pay Of the
medical director is limited to $4,000,
that of medical inspector to $4,000. and
Ghat Of surgeon to $4,000.
Rscord-brsakIns DsAcIt.-The forth.
cOniRG statement of the treasury re.
ceiDts and expenditures for the fiscal
year ending June 80. 1908. win show q
marked falling of in the receipts a.
compared with the year 1907 and q
large Increase In the expenditures.
The excess Of expenditures over re-
ceipts for the year will Approximate
360,OOO,O 900, which has been exceeded
only twice since the civil war. In 1854
there was a deficit OF S60, sos, 900 and
in 1899 there was another Of q little
more than $4,000, 900, and in each Of
the four intervening years the receipts
fell considerably below the dIsburse-
ments. In 1904 and 1905 there were
shortages Of S41,770.000 and 32S,0O0,.
900 respectively. The total receipts
this year will be shown to have
been about S5es, 100000, or 1884,.
100000 less than for the fiscal
year 1907. Custom receipts win be
shown to have fallen OF about S46,.
100000 from those Of 1907, while the
receipts from internal revenue sources
will be short nearly $4,000, 900. Mis-
cellaneous receipts win show q slight
gain. Ihe disbursements for the year
will be shown to have aggregated
about a65s.OOo.0o0 or $50, ,0OO.0 900 more
than for any other year since 1865,
not excepting the Spanish war period.
Although these increased disburse.
ments are very general and are show.
Ing In nearly every account, except
that Of interest on the public debt,
some Of thu heaviest Of them were for
important DssuaAasnt tuaSPSvomsnta.