The National tribune., 1909-06-03

A unique proposition has been made
70 the Secretary of the Interior, and he
Is not just sure that he can do what is
asked of him without an enabling act
of Congress. He has been personally
petitioned by Senator Sutherland. of
Utah, and DR.. Geo. T. Tallmage, Cur
ator of the Deseret Museum at Salt
! Lake City, to permit the latter to issue
for souvenirs and museum purposes
Mormon coins from the dies recently
turned over to the museum by the de-
scendants of brigham Young. The
original coins were issued by the Nor
mons in early Territorial days. The
dies were presumed to have been de-
stroyed, for Mormon coins now held
by collectors are valued as high as
$4,000 apiece.
Director of the Mint Leach and 9TH
ers are opposed to the issue under any
consideration unless the new coins show
on their face that they are new issues.
1t is stated that favorable action in this
case will undoubtedly be followed by
the reminting of the old Territorial
coins in use in California, Colorado and
other States.
1t goes without saying that no coin
collector Is going to let the recoinage
project go thru without protest, for 1t
would in measure lower the value of
the collections now held by>t their own
ers at almost fabulous sums.
There is a suspicious sameness and
unanimity about the title which is sud-
denly being tackled onto former Presi-
dent Rooseyelts name. 1t is Colonel"
Colonel everywhere. Oddly enough,
Roosevelt would rather have his title
of Colonel in the Spenish-American
War, and go down in history by that
title than to be remembered only as
having been President of the United
States. Over in Africa the newspaper
men are making the most of this desire
of the President evidently, and he will
come back from his year of exile with
all his military honors thick upon him
again. But even in Africa he is not out
of his own environment. In Nairobi,
British East Africa, they gave him a
banquet one night last week, and fac
ing him was Spanish banner with a
history. Itwas captured by an Ameri-
can sailor at the naval battle of San
tiago. The sailor finally settled in Mai
robf. and his flag was loaned to help
make up the wealth of decorations with
which the banquet hall blazed.
The people of Nairobi are desirous
of entertaining Col" Roosevelt, but
he has specifically declared that he can
not accept hospitalities further than
the one public dinner, as he must have
quiet in which to do some writing.
The "beneficiai'' effects of crime de-
picting novels and moving picture
shows came near being practically ex-
emplified in Washington the last of the
week. Three young boys, probably
about IL years of age. who are moving
picture crazy. and beg, borrow or steal
money to see everything that comes
along in the shape of a moving picture,
nearly hung a fve-yeaT-old boy in their
efforts to initiate a hanging scene they
had viewed the day before in one of
the moving-picture shows. The young
ster was coaxed into barn and induced
to stand on box. They then adjusted
a rope around his neck and threw it
over a beam. then the boys kicked the
box from unoer the boy, and left him
struggling in air, while they yelled in
glee at the success of their experiment.
A boy who saw the performance from
distance ran to tell the little fellows
mother, and she came in time to save
his life, but his face was purple when
the rope was cut. A good sound thrash
ing would probably teach the boys some
sense, but in lieu of this sort of parental
discipline the courts will take the mat
ter in hand. and three boys who might
have been pretty fair kids with any
sor. of home training will probably get
a chance to learn what institutional life
in a corrective school is like.
Gen and Mrs Henry c. Corbin have
gone to Ohio for brief visit, and on
June II will sail for Europe to spend
the Summer Gen. Corbin has been
berths, but he is not sure that he cares
to expatriate himself fer SO long time
rs foreign office might demand.
Now, what do you think of that ?
Senator Penrose was illustrating some
inv in INIT Ctata m n
other day and raised an umbrella. 1t
Is thought he was demonstrating to
some of the recalcitrants that ii would
be a good plan to get in out of the rain,
80 to speak, but he surely did not re-
member that it means trouble and dire
woe to open an umbrella while in the
house.
The Navy Department is quite con-
vinced of the availability and economy
of the use Of oil for fuel, and is arrans-
ing to buy and store in large quantities.
There is one objection to the use of oil
for fuel in battleshipg, and that is that
1t Is hard to get in some ports, SO that
the ships viii be equipped with coal
burning engines as well.
Accompanied by several members OF
the House, Speaker Cannon started
Thursday evening on an automobiling
trip UP In Pennsylvania which took h;m
as far as Valley Forge. He was the
guest of different friends at dinners while
away, and came back looking "iust
fine" and rather tanned. Summer days
in Washington viii do more to hurry
the tariff bill than anything else. Just
wait till the mercury sixties up to 9s in
the shade, and you'll be astonished how
easy tariff bill can be wound up.
Meantime the Speaker of the House
only counts quorum every three days,
and the remainder of the time goes on
automobiling larks.
The Post Office Department has just
been notified of the death of the oldest
Postmaster in the service; not only the
Oldest in age. but also the oldest in
point of service. HIS name was Milo
2. winchester, and he had served for
So year, without a break as Postmaster
OF Amenia, Dutchess County. n. Y. He
was So years old. Mr. Winchester was
appointed Postmaster of Amenia by
Jacob 5Collamer, Postmaster-Genera
under President Zachary Taylor. Fol
Al years he was Justice of the Peace
of his town. He was also Supervisor.
Sometimes stupidity is so dense as t;
become absolutely humorous. After
having been used as shade to keel
the sunlight out in Summer and {
screen to keep the wind away" in Win
ter. valuable oil painting of Speaker
Cannon, which disappeared mysteri
ously" nearly a year ago, was discoy
cred last week by an. amateur sleuth in