The Springfield herald., 1910-01-07
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.

According to the report of the Cen
sus Bureau the tendency of municipal
ownership shows itself In some direc-
tions. OF 1853 cities. 116 own and op-
crate their own water plants. Only
seventy-six own their own market.
places.
President Taft went to New York
City on the 3Oth ult. to witness the
wedding OF his niece, Miss Louise
Taft, to George H. Snowden, took din
ner with his brother, spent the even
ing at the theater and whirled back
to Washington again on the midnight
train.
A lawyer at Pau, France, engaged in
settling an estate, gent a $500 Confed-
crate bond to the treasury depart
ment at Washington for redemption.
He had been told that such bonds
were worthless on account of their
age, but expressed establishment. as
the government had always met Its
obligations. The difference between
Confederate bonds and United States
bonds was explained to him.
General Bell, chief OF staff of the
army, has issued circular setting
forth the occasion on which officers
and enlisted men are required to stand
at attention when the Star Spangled
Banner" Ia played. The first is whom
the air is played by band on for
NAL occasion. other than retreat. at
any place where persons belonging to
the military service are present in
their official capacity. in which case
officers and enlisted men stand at
attention throughout the playing of the
air. The second is when the flag Is
lowered at retreat and aboard trans
port when the flag is hoisted at guard
mounting.
President Taft has made 1t plain
that he intends to bring to bear all the
influence at his command to secure
legislation at this session which will
enable the reclamation service to
hasten completion of big government
irrigation projects under way, but
which cannot be finished for many
years to come unless additional re-
sources are made available, including
projects like the Gunnison in Colo
RADIO, Sun river in Montana, Shoshone
in Wyoming, and others. He favors
the Borah bill to issue $30.000,000 In
irrigation bonds, but Is willing to ac-
cept anv measure that will accomplish
the purpose.
II the 15S largest cities of the
United States were to merge them
selves into one great corporation, they
would need working capital of ST.,
25O, ,OOO, 900 The Census Bureau has
made an elaborate investigation OH
what 1t costs to run our municipalities
and how the money is spent, and who
gets it. To maintain the departments
of city government is thirty-six per
cent, of the total cost. During 1877
the 1853 cities enumerated collected
nearly $6O0.O0O,0O0 in their own reve-
nues and then borrowed more than
$40O, 100000 for improvements.
A meeting of the committee of
Western House members, organized
to consider reclamation service mat
ters, was held before New Years. all
of the Western states being represent
ed. After fully discussing the situa-
ton in reference to reclamation pro-
tects, it was decided not to present
any bill for the purpose of raising ad-
ditional reclamation funds until after
the presentation of the expected mes.
sage from President Taft on conser.
walton, and after the senate commit
tee on irrigation decides upon plan
for raising additional revenue.