Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1902 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

President Roosevelt is not so much of a theater goer as was his distinguished predecessor. On the one or two occasions when he has appeared at local playhouses, he has been restless and has left before the production was finished. Mrs. Roosevelt cares more for the stage and generally sees the play to the end. Among the cabinet officers Attorney General Knox is the most regular attendant. In fact he and Mrs. Knox are' quite confirmed “first-nighters.” Lyman J. Gage and Mr. Yanderlip used to go to everything when they were in Washington. Senator Hanna contributes regularly to the box office, as do Senator Beveridge and Senator Lodge. But the best patrons are the diplomatic corps and the set which train with the Conntess Cassini. When in the city the Leiters go to everything that is good, and the De Ko* vens have a box for the season. The mania for illustrations has taken such a firm hold upon the government officials who get np annual and other periodic reports that the powers have been compelled to call a halt. Half-tone photographs have been inserted in almost everything in the line of a report until they threaten to become illustrated mag< azines. In the Department of Agriculture a rule has been issued that only illustrations which are absolutely neens«ary to illuminate the text shall be permitted. The War Department has become so voluminous with its pictures and language that it takes ten large volumes of 1,000 pages each to compass the annual history and recommendations. Books on forestry, irrigation and other special lines of research are being illustrated most extravagantly, some of them being on fine glazed paper, with wide margins and all but de inxe bindings. The nineteenth annual report of-the United States civil service commission announces progress in the competitive system, including rural free delivery, a portion of the field services of the War Department, the census office permanent employes and the employes appointed because of increased work during the war with Spain. Of 66,029 persons examined, 14,983 received appointments, reinstatements or transfer, a large increase over any preceding year. Legislation applying the merit system to the District of Columbia is recommended. The annual report of the general land office shows that 19,488,535 acres of public lands were disposed of during the year, an increase of nearly 4,000,000 acres over last year. An increase of 14,000,000 acres of forest reserves is noted and the withdrawal and proper policing of the forested lands daring the year is shown to have made the work self-supporting and a means of revenue. Besides this, it has placed needed timber supplies within lawful reach of the public. Great progress in reforestation is reported. The annual report of Gen. A. W. Greely, chief of the army signal corps, says that 1,121 miles of land lines and submarine cables have been put into operation iu Alaska daring the last two years. Considering the nature of the country and its remoteness, this is said to be phenomenal. Improvements in Cuba consist of a system of 3,500 mites, connecting all points of importance. Total miles in Philippines is 1,326 submarine cables and 5,108 of land lines. Admiral Dewey, who is to be in charge 61 winter maneuvers In West Indian waters, hgs decided to give the men as many holidays as possible to compensate for the hard work of the summer and to make them anxious to please. The squadrons will scatter at Christmas, for instance, and go to convenient ports, the men to be given a week’s holiday. The Navy Department issued an order to the Naval Academy at Annapolis reducing the usual four-year course to three years. The change, which was made because of the pressing need of naval officers, went into effect immediately. This plan does not shorten the. length of service of a midshipman, which has always been six years. Annual report of the commissioner of immigration shows total immigrants at all ports to number 730,798, an increase of 160,325 over last year. A decrease of 1,423 from Ireland is noted. Money shown to inspectors was $10,485,911. Aliens not allowed to land, 4,974, 3,944 being paupers.

An official report from Robert Wutchom, a government inspector, was made public at Washington which discloses a scheme by which certain steamship lines are scouring Europe for ineligible emigrants, taking them to Canada in order that they may thus get into the United States illegally. Figures by the treasury bureau of statistics show the total exports for September, 1902, to be $115,521,984, the largest ever shown for this month with the one exception of September, 1900, when ths high water mark was $500,000 more. The United States Navy Department is to ask bids for the construction of a floating dry dock for the Philippines, to be bnilt here and floated to its destination. It will have capacity to raise a l<ljooo-ton battleship. It is, announcMNby the general land office at W ashingtou iis9-#ale of nubile lands has increased the irrigat.*on fund to $9,500,000. " ~- The annual report of Second Assist* ant Postmaster General Shallenberger recommends parcels post conventions ■vith European governments and a test with various countries of a universal postage plan. The United Btates Agricultural Department has sent two expert lumberuen to assist in the commercial developnent of the immense forests in ths Phllpplnea. It has been estimated that there ire at least 350 species of valuable timoer. covering over 40,000,000 serss.

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