The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-08-15
DOWN AT WASHINGTON
Interesting Notes from the National
Capital by 6. A. Wood, Special
Reporter Correspondent.

Reporter Correspondent.
Washington, D. c., Aug. 10, 1917.
How far is the Armageddon from
the Salt River country.
That silo booze discovery IS going
to be a big boost to the "back to the
farm" propaganda.
President Taft has partaken OF an
other 'possum dinner. Is he train
ing for the crow to come? :.
Those biologist persons holding a
congress at Boston with the object OF
abo1ishing noise have their work cut
out for them during this campaign.
Bv a vote of "A to II, the senate
has given it's support to that provi-
sion of the Panama canal bill for free
passage of American coastwise ship
ping.
Officers of the army and navy who
risk their lives in the aviation branch
of the service will hereafter receive
double pay, if a bill passed by the
House becomes a law.
There's absolutely nothing in that
Keokuk idea that the frequent
blasts in the dam construction have
caused the seasonable rains in that
vicinity. Otherwise, Chicago would
have been deluged.
The Department of Agriculture Is
worrying over the question of what
makes the holes in Swiss cheese.
Now if they'd only stop the grocer
from charging us for said holes,
we'd be content to let their origin re-
main mystery.
Investigation of the patent office is
provided in resolution adopted by
the House and an appropriation OF
$4,000 is made for the purpose.
The president is authorized to in
struct the economy commission to
make the inquiry with a view to
suggesting reforms.
Requests for troops to attend fairs
and celebrations throughout the
country have come in to the War De-
partment in such numbers as to
cause embarrassment. While the de-
partment has endeavored to grant
these requests as far as possible, the
general staff has decided that no
more troops can be sent without in
terfering with the fall maneuvers.
The House has passed, 1856 to ~,
the cotton tariff revision bill, which
the democratic majority claims will
reduce the duties on cotton and cot
ton manufactured by approximately
FL per cent. The measure is identi-
cal with that vetoed last year by
President Taft on the ground that
it was not based on official informa-
ton.
After giving it full trial, Secretary
of the Treasury MacVeagh has ap-
proved the plan Of laundering old
paper money, and more than half
million dollars of washed and ironed
currency will be soon put in circula-
ton. The first batch of laundry
will be sent to subtreasuries and
banks in the Middle West. Three
additional washing machines have
been ordered, and saving of hun
dreds of thousands of dollars is look
ed for. d..
The case of Federal Judge c. w.
Hanford, of the, Western District OF
Washington, has been finally dispos-
ed of. Upon the recommendation of
Attorney General Wickersham and
Graham, chairman of
the subcommittee of the House judi
ciary committee which Investigated
the charges against the judge, Presi-
ton.
William Lorimer, erstwhile .Sena-
tor from Illinois, Jared the investi-
eating committee by filing a bill for
like $4,000 for reim-
bursemcnt of the expense incurred
by him in his fight for the retention
of his seat in the Senate. 1t is prob
able that the bill will be pruned to
the neighborhood of $500 or $40,-
900 and allowed.
The fight to pass the $15O,0oo,0o0
pension appropriation was lost by |
one vote in the senate and the meas
ure was sent back to the House for
further conference. After a motion |
to agree to the House amendment to |
abolish the seventy outlying pension
agencies had been lost by tie vote, |
the Senate agreed to stick to it's de-
mands that the pension agencies be |
retained. This is the only point in |
the bill in disagreement between the
two houses.
The pure food law has been amend
ed by the House so as to relieve
packers of food stuffs from the ex-
listing rigid enforcement of that Sec
ton OF the law providing penalties
for misleading statements concern
ing the exact contents and weights
of packages. The " amendment
grants to shippers reasonable vari-
atoms" from the printed label
whenever natural causes or general
inability to make every package ex-
actly alike was proved to the salts
faction of the government inspec-
tors. ST..
A clause in the legislative, judi
cial and executive appropriation
bill which is the source of consider
able worry to the government clerk
provides that after August 81, 1919,
to the civil service
shall be made for periods of seven
years. At the end of this period,
IN employe may, at the discretion
If the bureau or head of Office, be
'etained in the service for another
seven year period, with or without
IN examination, as is seen fit by the
leads of Offices. By many this is
'egarded as an indirect assault upon
hn intorrifv NJ tho civil Sorvico an6 |