The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1910-09-08
GOSSIP FROM
NATIONS CAPITAL
Especial to Silver State.)
Cotton Abroad.

EskimOs, occasionally unburden them
selves Of information which is also use-
full Probably asting under instruc-
tions, they have contributed much in
formation Of late on cotton industry in
other lands. A recent consular report
deals at considerable. length with the
large cotton crop Of British India. The
finer kinds Of cotton have not proved to
be successful in India and the short
stapled variety is almost universally
grown.
The crop of this year was far above
tn eaverage. being estimated ut 4.g02,-
600 bales of 400 pounds eaeh against
100000 bales for last year. The chief
foreign customers for India cotton are
Japan, Italy, Germany, Belgium and
thirds of the cotton exports 90 from
Bombay. "One Of the extraordinary
features Of the past season. says the
report. "has been the export Of q con.
siderable quantity Of cotton to the
United States, 2265 baies, or 9O6. 900
pounds owing to the short crop and the
high prices of the American product. -
The best Indian variety reached price
of 1927 cents per pound at Bombay
this year, but yarn and cloth failed to
respond to this rise, cloth prices even
declining.
A washingtou Crime.
A successful lawyer who has since
became eminent in his profession once
told the writer that good, ordinary,
common sense was a most valuable ad-
Iiunct in the Interpretation Of the law
He was doubtless right. although many
litigants have asserted with warmth
that they could see no kinship between
the law and common sense.
In Washington one need not be ac-
cused Of any lack of good judgment IL
. he sometimes makes q mistake as to
what is the law Of the district, not to
say the law Of he land. The law oc-
casionally seems to be based ON any
thing but common sense. although II
one CROPPED long enough in the dim
past to learn why certain laws were
passed he might -bseame atisfed tAGi
even the most unreasonnble hws were
in fact based on some reasonable basis
and were intended to subserve some
sensible end. This NAV be said Of the
law recently enacted which requires
that all the dogs in the District Of Co.
lumbia be muzzled for one year. WHY
muzzle dogs in winter. the dog owners
askf But there have been good mapk
cases Of rabies in Washington, and per-
haps the law to muzzle the dogs is
wise one. 1t is doubtful whether all
the dogs in Washington are worth one
human life. although this proposition
Is advanced with certain amount Of
timidity in view of the attitude taken
by the dog advocates.
One would suppose that any man,
woman or child who would undertake to
cultivate a portion of his, her or its
yard and grow therein useful vege-
tables such as corn, peas, beans and
Others OF the sort one pays such high
prices for in the markets, would beheld
to be engaged in work that was praise
worthy. We have seen more or less ad-
vocacy Of cultivating vacant lots in
that way, and the idea has generally
seemed to be approved. But that 10
smething which could not be permitted
in Washington. A resident of this
high-browed community had the temeri-
ty to grow some corn and other "gar-
den sass" in front of his house in the
l"parking or space between the
building line and the sidwalk. A vigi-
liant policeman with highly cultivated
esthetic tastes, saw 1t and his indig
nation was so great that he. forthwith
arrested the person who SO far forgot
himself and hailed him into court. The
victim, who happened to be police
man and so ought to have known bet
ter, was nevertheless treated. with greas
lenity by the police Judge who refrain
4 ed from casting him into a dungeon in
irons. He merely placed him under
500 bonds not to repeat his heinous
offense. Some indignant persons have
declared that the firemen who are cul-
Lot sus-
tagles on them have no more right to
do so than the man who was placed
under bonds had to raise vegetables in
his own garden.
1t might be interesting, but il GER
tainly would be tedious, to cite all the
instances Of unwise, foolish, ridiculus
and just plain asinine laws, rules and
regulations which govern the conduct
of residents of Washington; but with
several hundred senators and represen-
tatives, not to speak of health officials.
fire commissioners, school directors and
Others supervising the District Of oC-
lumbia, probably such a state of af-
fairs is unavoidable.
Want Postal Banks
According to statement issued by
the postofiice department early in this
month, 800 postmasters have applied
for the establishment of postal savings
banks in their Offices, and 923 banks
have asked that they be designated as
repositories for saving bank funds.
Minnesota leads all the states with ap-
plications from 80 postmasters, but
Pennsylvania seems to have the larg-
estt number of enterprising bankers,
102 banks in that state desiring to han.
die funds Of postal bank. Arizona,
Delaware. the District of Columbia,
Idaho. Nevada and Rhode Island have
no postmasters who desire TO be bur
dened with savings deposits. Alaska,
Delaware, Nevada and Utah have no
banks which have thus far asked for
the privilege Of taking care Of such