Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1899 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

The reports received from various parte of the country by the surgeon general of the marine hospital service and published in the official bulletin show that the epidemic of influenza is rapidly subsiding, and that, although it has been more general than ever before, the disease was of a milder type than in former years, and the mortality comparatively small. The indirect mortality, however, is not given, although it is believed' to be much greater than the direct mortality. In other words, while few people have actually died of the grip many have been so weakened by that disease and have had their vitality so reduced that they have been unable to survive attacks of pneumonia brought on by imprudent exposure aud other diseases which have been chronic, or lurking in their systems. The physicians report that if there is anything wrong witlr a patient it is sure to develop when he lias the grip. The retaliation clause in the agricultural appropriation bill now under consideration in the Senate committee provides that whenever any Government shall impose unreasonable restrictions upon foods imported from the United States, or shall refuse to accept the certificate of the food inspectors of the United States, the President shall have the authority to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to inspect any article of food imported into the United States from that country in order to determine its purity and wholesomeness. He also has the authority to examine toys and any other articles which may be suspected of containing poison or being in any way injurious to the pubfic health. The importers of such articles and other parties interested may be allowed to attend the examinations and may have the right to appeal to the courts for relief on questions of facts. Mrs. John A. Logan has invented the “grip luncheon,” which is the latest thing socially. When she was recovering from an attack herself she sent invitations to luncheon to six of her friends who were confined to their beds with the prevailing epidemic. The time was axed with the usual formality, but the place was made the home of the invited lady. At the specified time Mrs. Logan sent out six trays which were delivered at the houses of the afflicted guests, with a little note containing the names of the other parties and the good wishes of the hostess for their recovery. The proposed vote of thanks for Lieut. Hobson has never been indorsed by the House Committee on Naval Affairs. The members of the committee, in examining the precedents, find that Congress has rarely, if ever, voted thanks to naval officers, except for gallantry in action. Engineer Melville was not thanked for his valor in the Arctic, nor was Schley When he made a voyage north in search of Greeley. Some are disposed to doubt the propriety, with such precedents, of thanking Lient. Hobson, although he was under the fire of the Spanish batteries. Serious consideration is given by the ordnance department of the army to a request for an allotment of $65,000 to be expended in the construction of an 18-inch gun. The plans are submitted by the promoters of the Gathmaun system of firing high explosives. If the request is granted. the 18-inch gun will be the Largest modern weapon ever manufactured in this country. It will accommodate the huge Gathmann shell, which will contain about 400 pounds of high explosive. The gun is to be 400 calibers in length, a single tube weapon and jacketed. Philadelphia ministers sent a strong memorial to the Senate protesting against the proposed repeal of the Alaskan prohibition law. Another memorial was sent from Susan B. Anthony and the other officers of the National Woman’s Suffrage Association, insisting that women in Havana should have voting privileges the same as men. Senator Mason introduced a resolution providing for the transmission of a copy of Washington’s farewell address to every college in the country, and to the Governor of each State, with the request that a copy be furnished every school, and that teachers be called upon to have it read to the pupils upon Washington’s birthday. Speaker Reed has announced the appointment of Sereno E. Payne of Now York ns chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. Also the appointment of Mr. Richardson of Tennessee as a member of the Ways and Means and Rules committees, in place of Mr. MeMillin of Tennessee, who resigned. Col. C. W. Hard and Capt. Koons of the Eighth Ohio regiment, accompanied by their wives, were in the city on their way to Santiago, to perform the task of exhuming aud bringing back the bodies of twenty-five men of that regiment who laid down their lives for their country in the recent war. Senator Gear of lowa introduced a resolution authorizing the President to appoint Osman Deignan of Stewart, lowa, one of Merrimac heroes, to the naval academy. Representative Hager of lowa introduced a similar resolution in the House. Many applications for positions as chaplains in the army and navy are being received by the departments. There will be no vacancies in the army until February, and none in the navy until Jane, 1901. President and Mrs. McKinley entertained a dinner company of seventy guests at the White House in honor of the five young women who have been their guests for several weeks. The Senate passed the House bill reappointing Prof. James B. Angell of Michigan a member of the board of regents of the Smithsonian Institution. The pure food congress re-elected Joe Blackburn, pure food commissioner of Ohio, president. -