River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-12-25
WASHINGT1l LETTER
FROM JAMES A. FREAR, MEMBER or
CONGRESS, 10Th DISTRICT

WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. %, 1913.
An appointment as midshipman
at Annapolis has been apportioned
to the Tenth District In order to
afford equal privileges | requested
the State Civil Service Commission
to hold a preliminary competitive
examination in the District at an
early day, and am in receipt of
telegram from Secretary Hazelwood
saying he will arrange for mental
examina alton on Janua airy third next.
All applicants are advised to write
the Commission at Madison as to
place Of holding examination and
for other details and to be present
at that time. Many candidates
have been recommended by Con
gressmen, who after making an eX
pensive trip to Washington, have
been rejected The principal and
three alternates qualifying in the
competitive examination will prob
ably take the regular mental exam
lnation given by the Navy Depart
ment at Chippewa Falls on the
third Tues day in February or the
third Tuesday in April, 1914 A
ubSequent physical examination
will be held at Minneapolis.
Applicants must be between six.
teen and twenty years of age.
he physical and mental examine
ions are both rigid, the latter Gov
ering all common branches includ
ing grammar, geography, history,
arithmetic, algebra and geometry
Fhe pay of midshipman is $500 a
year and the period of service is
tour years at the Academy and two
years at sea. have taken this
method of giving notice, and ap
preciate the aid given by our news
papers in affording publicity.
A letter enclosing agricultural
bulletin and seed franks is being
sent out to all constituents, whose
lames have been furnished to me
rhe letter requests that the franks
De returned with name and post of
ice address plainly written thereon
and these franks will be sent TO the
Agricultural Department. A pack
.ge of both flower and vegetable
seeds and five selected bulletin
will be sent to those who return tn
franks properly addressed. If anN
constituent fails to receive one
these letters before the middle
January, it will be forthcoming up
N request.
This course has been taken at Elk
ira personal expense to avoid the
vasteful methods generally pur
sued, so that anyone wishing bulle
tins and seeds will be provided, but
seeds will not be sent out in hap
hazard fashion. The Department
aas commended the plan of having
seeds and bulletSnS sent out only
~ request and states it is a novel
md approved method of distribu
ton.
A statement has been quite gen
orally published that Government
seeds cost $500. 600 annually and
hat they are of inferior quality
This charge is claimed to eminate
rom seed houses and letter from
he Department states in reply to
nv inquiry, that seeds furnished
for Congressional distribution cost
SI95, 900 annually and are as good
IS can be grown. 1t is food for
bought that 5000, 900, the cost of
)ne battle ship will furnish flower
and vegetable &c s 10 over a mil
lion people annually or seventy-hye
years, while under the rules of naval
construction, a battle ship is ready
or the junk heap in twelve or tlt
cen years. Other large expendi-
lures could be cited for comparison,
but | am not prepared to defend
,eed distribution until it is ascer-
aimed what proportion of our peo-
Die are to be benefited under the
aw
The currency ill &c pissed. Any
one wishing copy of the new law
will be furnished upon request as
soon As the law is printed ready for
distribution. In former letters its
provisions have been discussed and
although altered in some respects
bv the Senate and conference COM
mittee, it covers the same general
scope.