The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-02-29
DOWN AT WASHINGTON
Interesting Notes from the National
Capital by 6. A. Wood, Special
Reporter Correspondent.

uCpVl SOs OVusVOpVuuVVUSs
Washington, D. c., Feb. "a, 1912.
The "Houn'" song, with all Its
variations, has struck the east.
Among the other bugs in DR..
Wiley's collection has been discover
ed a presidential bee.
The use of aluminium in the Unit
ed States has increased from SO
pounds in 1883 to 47,734,0OO pounds
in 1910.
An employee of the Treasury De-
partment is suffering from strained
back caused by lifting money. 49,,
Atlantic City is greatly excited
over the capture of a mammoth
lobster. Reports mention not his
name.
A bill to limit the service of the
President and Vice President to one
term of six years has been introduced
in the house.
So numerous have been the de-
mands for relics of the battleship
Maine that it has been found nee
essary to send for another ship load.
swat the Fly" agitation has be-
gun in Washington, but SO severe
none left to be swatted.
During the year 1911 7,67O,OOO,-
900 pounds of sugar were consumed
in the United States, or an average
of S1,7S pounds per capita, accord
ing to an estimate of the bureau OF
statistics, Department of Commerce
and Labor.
After picking over all the avail
able timber, President Taft has sent
to the senate the nomination of
Mahlon Pitney, chancellor of the
state of New Jersey, to fill the va
vancy on the Supreme Bench caused
by the death of Justice Harlan.
The Cummins resolution providing
for the right of appeal to the Su-
preme Court of the United States
from the New York decree approving
the tobacco trust reorganization has
been reported adversely by the Sen
ate committee on the judiciary.
The conscience of a veteran of the
civil war living in Indiana has been
working overtime lately and in con-
sequence the old soldier has sent to
for 5000 to reimburse the govern
ment for mule stolen by him dur
ing his enlistment in the army.
Representative Cary, of Wiscon-
sin has introduced bill providing
for an Investigation into the conduct
of Mt. Vernon, the home of George
Washington. The bill is the result
of a protest in Virginia against
charging admission fees to the home
of Washington.
The house has passed by vote of
17S to 1877 the Underwood bill re-
vising the schedule of the tariff act
relating to chemicals. The majority
voted solidly for the bill. Insurgent
republicans refused to join the dem
ocrats on the ground that in many
instances the bill carried increases
over existing rates.
President Taft on Thursday sent
to Congress a message repudiating
Postmaster General Hitchcock's plan
for government ownership of tele-
phone and telegraph lines, indorsing
the findings of the, postal commission
raising the rates on secOnd-class
matter from l cent to 2 cents, and
approving the establishment of the
postal savings bank.
The Supreme Court has decided
that the Oregon initiative and refer
endum is valid and that congress
alone has the power to change the
law. The decision was based on the
claim of the Pacific States Telephone
and Telegraph Company that a tax
upon it imposed by the initiative
and referendum method in Oregon
was unconstitutional.
A canvas 1854 feet long and % feet
high, containing what is said to be
the most realistic portrayal of the
Battle of Gettysburg, is on exhibition
at the Pension Office The painting
is by Paul Phillippoteaux, and is
valued at 100000. The picture is
being displayed in compliment to
Mrs. Pickett, widow of the leader of
the famous charge.
Democratic members of the house
committee on postoffices have agreed
to incorporate in the appropriation
bill provision for the establishment
of general parcels post system,
with a general domestic rate of IL
cents and a maximum package of II
pounds. There will also probably be
provided rural parcels post, the
rate to be cents for one pound and
2 cents for each additional pound.
The Navy Department has issued
an official order for changing the
stars of the national ensign and the
union jack in use by the navy to
show the addition of two new states
to the union. The change will take
effect July A. and after that date
the national flag will contain forty
eight stars arranged in six rows of
eight stars each, with the CORES
ponding stars of each row in verti-
cal line.
Probably the first speech ever
seen by the House of Representatives
was delivered during the past week
by Representative Akin, of New
York, an Independent republican.
Mr.. Akin asked that five minutes be
allowed him in which to make a
speech, and unanimous consent be-
ing given, he walked solemnly down
the aisle, unwrapped large pack
age and displayed to the actonished
members the first real tariff speech
without words mr. nuSi6 Tho coma