The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-03-07
DOWN AT WASHINGTON
interesting Notes from the National
Capital by 6. A. Wood, Special
Reporter Correspondent.

SNVPVu W. OVsuVOpVssSVsSs
Washington, D. c., March 2, 1912.
For an ordinary SLOUGH, T. RS
Stetson made a big noise when it
landed in the ring.
p Washington is trying to persuade
herself that she is metropolitan
enough to afford subway system.
President Taft can now add good
old friends" to his recent dictum to
college men that 1.-The good old days
are bad"
How to prepare cheese in 81 ways
is told by the Department of Agri-
culture in a second edition of its
cook book, just issued. !
: 1t is predicted that a combination
of Washington summer weather and
a democratic convention will bring
the present session OF congress to a
close along toward tho latter part Of
June.
According to a report Of the bu-
reau of manufactures, Department of
Commerce and Labor, the export
business of the United States during
the fiscal year 1911 amounted to the
grand total of $2,000,000,000, of
which sum fully one-half represented
the value OF manufactured articles.
4 In a remarkable demonstration of
single-handed catch-as-catch-can fill
clustering, Representative Rodden-
berry, of Georgia, held up the pas
sage of the pension bill for six hours,
and was squelched only by a hasty
meeting of the rules committee and
the PRONUNCIATION of what the victim
termed gag rule"
Any of our lady readers who
would like to learn how to raise a
nice mess of mink boas or muffs in
the kitchen or parlor would do we'll
to communicate with the Biological
Survey, Department CT Agriculture.
In response to numerous requests
from persons all over the country
who want to raise wild animals for
their furs, the Survey has compiled
set of rules for mink raising at home.
Census Director Durand's propo-
sition to take a five year census OF
the population does not meet with
much favor with the powers on the
Hill, and there is no chance Of legis-
lation in that direction at the present
session. The taking Ut a census is
costly business and the carrying out
of Mr.. Durand's idea would also
ncCessitate a reapporticnment of the
House of Representatives every five
years.
fore a meeting of the House naval
committee advocated the sale for
100000 of the navy yards al
Portsmouth, Boston and Brooklyn,
in which the government has invest
ed something like $120,0O0,000. A
big navy yard at Narragansett Bay,
Il small! yard at Key West, and tor
pedo station at Charleston would be
sufficient. the Secretary believes to
take care of the navy.
The rivers and harbors appropria-
ton bill for the next fiscal year car
ries $25, 900, the smallest
amount since 1894. Among the
larger appropriations are 100000
for Improvements to the Columbia
River; $5,4OO,0O0 for the Ohio;
$3.50, 900 for the Mississippi; $780,
900 for the Missouri; 100000 for
the Delaware; and $350,000 for the
Tennessee. An appropriation of
of the Albemarle and Chesapeake
Canal, and 100000 is appropriated
for Biscayne Bay, Miami, Fla.
A bill has been introduced by Rep
resentative SABBATH of Illi1ois direct
ing the interstate commerce commits
sion to make valuation of all the
express, telegraph, and telephone
companies in the United States, and
the president to take such action as
may be necessary to secure ownership
by the government of all such prop
critics. The bill would have the COM
mission report in detail ON valua-
tions, setting forth what each piece
Of property cost the present owners,
how it was paid for, where the money
came from, to whom it was paid, and
for what purpose.
The vocational educational bill in
mont, calling for about $2,250,000
next year and increasing each year
until the maximum sum of $4,000
900, lis. reached, has been favorably
reported by the Senate committee on
agriculture and forestry. The bill
carries an appropriation of five mil
lion dollars annually to be used for
the purpose of encouraging educa-
ton in high schools along vocational
lines, including home economics;
81, 100000 to encourage the estab-
lishment of agricultural schools;
100000 for Unconstitutional work
on. farms; 81, 900 for maintenance Of
field test and breeding stations; and
$1,4SO,000f for the education of
teachers at state agricultural col
leges and normal schools.
A provision prohibiting officials of
the government departments from
telephones at their homes
at Government expense will probably
be included in the legislative, ex-
ecutive, and judicial appropriation
bill to be reported by the appropria-
ton committee of the house. Through
letters sent out by the chairman of
the committee to the heads of the
various executive apartments and to
the heads of the various boards, COM
missions and other government in
situations, the committee has learned
that at least 107 telephones are in
stalled in the private residences of