West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1909-03-25

and Republicans alike were delighted with
the message of President Taft, and at the
conclusion of its reading, which took hard
ly five minutes, the Democrats i'm the
house joined in the loud and prolonged
applause. Just twelve years ago President
Mckinley sent 20 congress message three
times as long when nc called congress in
extra session on March Is, 1897, to pass
a new tariff bill.
The Democratic members of the full
committee on ways and meansmade every
effort, during the hearings which pro-
cedcd the deliberations Of the Republican
members, to bring 10 light every impor-
tant fact regarding the articles named i'm
the tariff which are produced in the south,
though the southern states are not repre-
sontcd ON the subcommittee which framed
the tariff bill In fact, the securing of
protection for the industries in the south
land formed one Of the features of the
hearings, and sugar, peanuts, lumber,
mica, clays, rice, sca-island cotton, and
southern fruits were all subjects for i'm
tercsting discussion and all seek protec-
ton at the hands of the government
IL is estimated that there will be fifty
six carloads of government exhibits taken
to Seattle for the Alaska Yukon Pacific
exhibition, including the mint and life
saving service outfit, and the work of
loading these exhibits has already begun.
The official OF the treasury department in
charge OF the shipment said that he ex-
pected TO have all the government ex-
hibits in place by the time the exhibition
opens, June next
The bureau of engraving and printing
is unusually active these days and color il
given TO the belief that the new tariff bill
will contain clauses re-enacting the stamp
taxes, levied during the Spanish
can war period, by the fact that machines
arc being installed for the printing Of
stamps, and the entire printing force is
working overtime Millions of stamps for
future sale have been printed within the
last ten days, and the belief obtains that
the bureau officials have received an inti-
nation from the treasury department that
the task 10 produce adhesive stamps for
use on proprietary medicines, perfumery,
chewing gum, ,on checks, notes, and other
commercial paper will fall on the bureau.
-
In view Of the fact that the war depart
ment is simply deluged with applications
for headstones for graves Of soldiers the
quartermaster general OF the army has
made an effort 10 obtain from the com
missioner Of pensions information as 10
the death rate Of civil war soldiers and
others whose graves are entitled TO be
marked at government expense. In many
instances, Of course, the headstones fur
nished by the government are never APP
piled for, but some idea Of the demands
upon the department may be obtained
from the fact that there are destined 90
be somewhere in the neighborhood OF
%, 600 applications for headstOnes during
the present fiscal year, about 1000 more
than can be purchased out Of the funds
available for such purpose In view of
the increasing demands for headstones
about $50, 900 will be required 10 meet
them during the next fiscal year
Tentative plans for the two new battle
ships authorized by the last congress have
been completed and the department is
making every effort b. complete the plans
and specifications with the least possible
delay, that contracts may be placed within
the next three months. IL il believed that
If bids are called for soon enough there
will he sharp competition, with better
prices, a. there is great slackncss Of work
in the shipyards at present. Bids will be
called not only for the two battleships,
but also for the five torpedo destroycrs
and the collier, authorized by the new
law. Wyoming and Arkansas have been
selected for the names Of the two battle
ships, aud this leaves only two states,
Nevada and Oklahoma, for which battle
ships or armored cruisers have not been
named