Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1902 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

In round numbers, 75,(XX) postmasters help Uncle Sam in carrying on his business. Nineteen thousand clerks in offices of the first and second class render their assistance, and 18,(XXI city carriers distribute daily the mails from house to house, while 10,000 rural carriers - perform daily the same service in the thickly populated country _ districts. Ten thousand railway postal clerks cover the country night ami day over the great iron spider "web of railroad lines, gathering and distributing the mails as they fly. An army of contractors and sub-contractors, operating daily and weekly schedules, penetrate the remotest and most isolated communities, distributing them to another army of fourth-class postmasters. One hundred and sixty thousand, in round numbers, counting everybody, from the Postmaster General down to tin* ;>ostmaster in a fourth-class office, with a salary of $1 per month, or even less, is the number of Uncle Sam's employes in t-hc postal service. About 111,000 is the number in all the other branches of Lis civil service. About 271,000 is the grand total. Among the long list of government employes who draw pay from Uncle Sain, the distinction of being the smallest salaried of any falls to Charles- Henry Gibbs, keeper of the “hug light” at Nantucket, who annually about June 20 receives a check for sl, his year's salary. What is known as the “bug lighthouse” Is situated on a hill near Monomoy, Mass., oil the south side of Nantucket harbor, and at the same time when the island was at the height of its fame as a whaling port, was considered an invaluable guide to vessels entering the harbor at night. For twenty years it has not been used at all, but the government still retains the lighthouse and is willing to pay a man $1 a year to live there. The keeper has no work to do. but is allowed to keep hens and breed cats for a living. The Agricultural Department has received a copy of the new German regulations for meat inspection and importation. which says that fresh meats eau only be imported in whole carcasses; carcasses of cattle and hogs may he split in half, but the halves must be left together and be accompanied by the head, lungs, heart and kidneys. Cow beef must have the udder attached, and pork must include the tongue. Except hams, bacon and intestines, no piece of smoked or preserved meat weighing less than S.B pounds is allowed, and acids of all kinds, as preservatives, arc prohibited. The State Department finally has decided how to treat the people of the Philippines in relation to other countries. The first precedent is the ease of Eduard Fancixo, of Manila, who applied to Ambassador White at Berlin for a German passport. The Ambassador’s decision was that the man should have protection ns a Philippine native loyal to the United States, but not being an American citizen he is not entitled to a passport. Representative Littlefield, of Maine, who is expected to represent the administration in the formulation of an antitrust law, has confided to a Washington correspondent the main features of his ' iilan, as follows: Federal control of corj ywrations engaged in interstate commerce; power given to the government to inspect the doings of corporations having capital stock: regulation by the government of increase in capital stock. An old soldiers’ association, intended to spread over the country and to include soldiers of all wars and their sons in national political organization, lias been started in Washington. I>. C. It will be modeled after existing political parties, hut will not interfere in party [xditics except in the effort to control nominations and elections of men favorable to soldiers. J The War Department has decided to convert Chickamnuga Park into an imI in ease maneuvering ground, and as a first step Secretary Root has allotted S4SO.iNNi for the construction of barracks and I quarters to form an army post with ae- ' eonimoiiations for one regiment oUcaval- ! ry and one company of field artillery, on property adjoining the park. Secretary of the Treasury Shaw 1 lias j ordered the enforcement of the law dej in. • Hiding answers by aliens to a list of questions, without exemption of cabin j passengers. As the questions are very personal and somewhat embarrassing, much indignation has been shown by pasi sengers compelled to submit to the ordeal. Secretary Root, accompanied by Adjutant General Corbin. General Wood and Colonel Randolph, made a trip of seventy miles to and from Leesburg, Va.. where they went to inspect the District of Columbia national guard camp, in an army wagon drawn by mules. Secretary Shaw lias placed laborers and all unskilled workers of the Treasury Department under the classified service, thus disposing of the last of his political patronage. He denies having favored a five-year limit for division chiefs. The Navy Department will hereafter pay no attention to recommendations of Congressmen for discharge of enlisted men, un order to this effect having lns-ii signed by the President. Colonel R. M. O’Reiley fins been np- ! pointed surgeon general of the army to succeed General Forwood, who will reI tire. Revenue officers provided with stamps nre to be stationed on New York piers, ! in order that incoming passengers bring- • ing cigars into this country may purchase, in payment of internal revenue taxes. The Postofflce Department has revived nn old plan to have nticauccled and nnservloeuble isistnl cards redeemed at 75 l>er cent of face value, pnyahle in stamps A flue of SSO and one month's suspension is the penalty imposed on Major j Glenn for torturing Philippine natives.