Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1909-07-07
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON.

According to Mr.. Byran a mans
services in this world may be worth
| 100000. The services of Mr..
Bryan in failing three times to be
elected President. have been worth
more than that to this country.
The War Department has had its
attention called recently to an un-
usual citizenship case. 1t is that OF
an enlisted man of the coast artillery
corps. He came to this country in
1908, at which time he declared his
intention of becoming a citizen of
the United States and gave his resi-
dence as Brooklyn, ". Y. He enlist
ed in the army and since 1904 has
been employed on a vessel engaged
in planting mines. The vessel is
now at San Francisco, where he ap-
piled for completion of his natural
ization, but the application was de-
MED on the ground that service on a
nine planter could not be considered
residence in the United States. AS
the War Department has no jurisdic-
ton in naturalization cases it will be
up to the court of New York to de-
eide this interesting case.
Presidents Taft expressed wish for
economy in the administration of the
government is being carried out in
the most practical manner by his
Secretary of the Treasury. Mr.. Mac
Veagh has just announced that there
will be no increase of salarys in the
customs service until the deficit in
the federal revenues is made up. AS
the last Congress added considera-
bly, to the appropriation for the GUS
toms services and authorized increas-
es in the salaries of number of in
spectors in the Custom House at New
York, it was thought that number
of salaries would be raised on July
list, the beginning of the next fiscal
year, but Mr.. MacVeagh has decided
that these increases will not be made
until the Treasury Department is
able to make better financial show
ing. He has announced his inten-
ton, however, to reward efficient
employees in the customs service as
soon as the Treasury receipts war
rant it.
Secretary Wilson of the Depart
ment of Agriculture, recently return
ed to Washington from the west,
and made the statement that
throughout the west the farmers are
seeking in vain for laborers to culti-
yate their farms, and that there was
not one of the great agricultural
states but what could furnish en-
ployment to thousands of labOrers
on the farms. If labor leaders seek
ing work for the 100000 unem-
ployed members of their organiza-
lions could induce an exodus from
the cities, they could not only supply
the demand in the agricultural Sec
tions but would accomplish an in
calcuable good by relieving the con-
2estion in the cities.
Ohio has produced many financiers,
but none equal TO the minister-finan-
cier of Cleveland, the Rev. Caspar
Stretch, of the United Brethren
church who recently celebrated the
fiftieth anniversary of his wedding.
He and his wife, on an income that
never exceeded 500 a year, and was
for most of their married life only
between $500 and 5000, have
brought up and educated family of
six children. One of the six sons
went through college, three were
graduated from school of phar-
macy and two from a business col
lege, while the four daughters were
trained in crafts that will enable
them TO gain their livelihood.