The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1909-04-09
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON
Especial Correspondence.)
Opposed to Senate Patronase.-The

|
he did not consider the appointment Of
judges 10 be part of the patronage
OF United States senators. He thinks
that judicial appointments should be
free from political influences. He
considers himself competent to pass
upon the fitness of men for the bench
and will do so. At the same time, he
said that he would be glad 10 receive
suggestions from senators and repre-
sentatiyes as TO their knowledge OF
| the qualifications of applicants. The
! President has several federal Judge
! ships 10 fill soon, and has received
many calls from senators and repre-
| sentatives from the districts where
the vacancies exist.
Plague Spread by FIeas.-The story
OF the long, hard-fought campaign TO
rid San Francisco of its recent cpl
demic OF the bubonic plague is told
in an interesting report, just made
public by the Marine Hospital SER
vice. The disease was spread by
certain breed of flea, which infected
the rats, which in turn carried the
plague broadcast. approximately l.
100000 rodents were slain in the effort
to wipe out the plague. Nearly 100,-
600 rats were examined, and of this
number more than 300 carried fleas
infected with the disease. The cam
paign consisted of killing off rats and
disinfecting premises and ships
where the plague-infected rats had
been found.
Declines British Mission.--The state
department has officially announced
that Pres. Charles w. Eliot Of Harvard
university had declined the Presidents
his decision was confirmed at the
White House. Speculation as to the
successor TO Whitelaw Reid at Lon
don is therefore once again In the
air. Friends of ex-Vice President Fair
banks are urging his appointment. The
suggestion has also been made to the
President that he should transfer DR..
Hill from Berlin to London. DR.. Hill
in many things resembles DR.. Eliot.
Like him he Is an educator and a
scholar, a man of quiet and studious
tastes, simple In his way OF living.
dignified, yet approachable. He has
the advantage over Dr. Eliot in wide
diplomatic experience, and as assist
ant secretary of state, minister to
Switzerland and minister TO the Meth
erlands, he showed himself to be
man of marked ability.
A Costly "Joker."-Nearly $500, ,000,.
900 has been the additional cost to to-
bacco users in six years in the United
States, because some one "forgd' to
restore the original sizes to packages
of tobacco after the Spanish war tax
es were repealed. Repr esentative
Dawson of Iowa discovered the "jok-
er" in the revenue laws, and has pre-
pared bill to enlarge the package
sizes. He says that statistics show
that the mistake has cost at least so
cents apiece to every person in the
country figured per capita. Under the
Dingley tariff two-ounce packages OF
tobacco sold TO consumers for five
cents, four-ounce packages for 10 cents
a pound additional was levied and in
order that the same prices might be
maintained; the manufacturers were
authorized to reduce the size OF pack
ages from 2, 8 and ounces to l 2-3,
2 1-2 and 1-2 ounces. When the tax
was repealed some one forgot TO re-
store the sizes to their original capa-
city.
A New Washington Pet.-Now that
President Taft has extended the free
dom of the White House lawn to fine
Jersey COW it looks as If bessie were
to supplant the possum as the emblem
of the present administration. Since
Jennie, the administration mixer,
made her appearance few days ago
she has been the cynosure OF all eyes.
Although some of the Roosevelt hold
overs say 1t is a sacrilege TO permit
her to eat up the grass hallowed by
association with the feet OF the late
lamented tennis cabinet, nearly the
whole city has gone COW crazy. Sew
eral of the best families have indorsed
the plan by turning cows loose on
their front lawns. At present writing
there are more lawns than cows, but
every incoming train brings additional
dairy delegates and in few days pro-
badly weighted down. Society realiz-
es that in order to be in the swim 1t
must have a cow about the premises.
According to White House employees
Jennie is a real bright COW. She gives
buttermillx every other day.
Taft's First Payday.-The first day
of April was the Presidents first pay
day, and shortly after 9 o'clock
treasury messenger journeyed from
the money house to the executive man.
sion and gave Secretary Carpenter
the warrant for Mr.. Taft's salary The