Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 August 1901 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

A series of experiments, unique even in the history of the Agricultural Department, has been approved by Secretary Wilson at the instance of what is known as the Pomological Bureau of that department. There were some misgivings as to the legal aspect of the proposition. vorable decision of the Comptroller of the Treasury. It is proposed by the Agricultural Department to go into partnership with a number of merchants and exporters, the terms of the partnership being that the United States shall stand all losses and the exporters reap all the profits. Y'et it is claimed by the pomological experts of the department that the government wili reap profits enough in the form of scientific knowledge to. compensate for any loss that may be sustained through the otherwise unequal partnership. At the late session Congress made the following provision for pomological investigations: “To investigate in co-operation with other divisions of the department and experiment stations of the several States the market conditions affecting the fruit trade of the .United States and foreign countries and the methods of harvesting, packing, storing, and shipifiug fruit and vegetables, and for experimental shipments of fruits to foreign countries for the purpose of increasing the exportation of American fruits, and for all necessary expenses connected with the practical work of the same." The huge lottery that Uncle Sam has conducted in Oklahoma for land taken from the Indians has brought to light ti peculiar phase of the homestead law. Judge Ryan, first assistant Secretary of the Interior, said that under the homestead law a married woman could not make an entry for a homestead because she is not the head of a family. A single woman, however, can make an entry. This ruling was given in answer as to the correctness of the report from K 1 Reno that Miss Minerva McClintock of Oklahoma City, the young woman who drew ticket No. 18, entitling her to make an entry for a homestead near El Reno, had forfeited her right because of her marriage. In continuing, Judge Ryan said: “If the young woman who lost her chance for the homestead had only waited until after she had made her entry for the land before getting married it would have been different. Had she perfected her entry and waited sixty days she could have relinquished her claim and the land would then have become public domain. The man she married could have made an entry for the land and thus have saved the homestead.” An official report of the biting off of the leg of Quartermaster S. McKie, third class, of the gunboat Annapolis, by a shark or other sea monster at Iloilo June 24 has been forwarded to the Navy Department by Admiral Keiupff. A party was sent out from the vessel for rifle practice. Commander Rohrer,” in command of the Annapolis, states that permission was given to several of the men to go swimming while others were engaged in firing. McKie made a dive and a moment later appeared on the surface and shouted: “Shark! Shark!” The water was stained with blood. McKie started to swim and, although crippled, reached the boat and was pulled in by his companions. His leg was bitten off near the knee. He was taken aboard the Annapolis, where the surgeon found it necessary to amputate the limb between the knee and hip. ,

One of the greatest thoroughfares in Palestine, according to Consul Merrill, at Jerusalem, is that between Jerusalem and Nablous, in ancient Shechem. For centuries it has been only a camel path, in many places rough and stony, and in spite of the vast amount of traffic it was not until 1900 that an effort was made to connect the two cities by a carriage road. Early in that year the route was surveyed and specifications sent to Constantinople, whence orders for the construction of the roads must emanate. Work was begun the follow’ing autumn, and in March of the present year the first carriage passed over the completed section between Jerusalem and Bireh. Carriages go from Jericho to the Dead Sea and the River Jordan, but there 1s no road, the carriages driving across the plains. Only a few of the letter carriers of the country have availed themselves of the privilege granted by the Postmaster General, after several years of petitioning, to wear shift waists during the summer season while on duty. A. W . Mnchen. geuernl superintendent of free delivery, said the other day that the shirt waist had not become, popular among the carriers and that in most cases when the official permission had been taken advantage of the garment had not been a shirt waist, but merely nn ordinary shirt of the color prescribed in the Postmaster General's order. The second largest claim yet presented w’ith thexSpanish treaty claims commission was filed the other day on behalf of Francis Zeiglie of Havana. He was owner of a sugar estate of 2,970 aerea., worth $1,000,000. which was laid watte by Spanish troops in May, 1890. For this he wants $722,427. Indignities were heaped upon him hy Spanish soldiers nnd he was compelled to flee for his life. For his shattered henlth and the persecution of his family he aAks un additional $150,000. /

The Postofflce (f)epartment lias issued an order that is designed to be of special advantage to business men. Those firms aud business houses that have been in the habit of sodding money order blanks to their customer* will be supplied free of cost with ihe special money order blanks in whi(4h the name of the payee or firm sending Wm out will be conspicuously printed id red Ink. Tbn department announces ribat if the uae of these •fowna-be-adoptedAunall-oeina and stamps ns a means of the exchange of the values may disappear froth the mails.