Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1904 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

The very great change which has taken place in recent years in the nationalities which predominate in immigration to this country is well shown in some figures recently compiled by the Department of Commerce and Labor. It appears that In the period between 1821 and 1902 Germany and the United States sent us 12,170,727 immigrants, while Italy, Austria-Hun-gary and Russia contributed only 3,781,873. In the fiscal year 1903, on the other hand, the first group of countries sent us but 101,605 Immigrants, while the second group sent 572,726. Making the comparison by percentages between the total Immigration from 1821 to 1903 and that for 1903 alone, we find that in the first case the Ger-many-Untted Kingdom group contributed 56 per cent of the immigration and the Austrian-Italian-Russlan group 21 per cent, while In the second case —1903 alone —the first group furnished but 12 per cent and the second 68 per cent. There are few facts about the America of to-day more significant for the future of the country than these. -* !- President Roosevelt has selected Judge Beakman Winthrop of the Court of First Instance, Philippine Islands,

to suceced William Hunt as governor of Porto Rico. Judge Winthrop is from New York. He Is a member of one of the oldest families of New York, a graduate of Harvard, and a personal friend of President Roosevelt. He went to the

Philippines as the assistant executive secretary to the Philippine commission. He made a record for efficiency, and' during the temporary absence of Mr. Ferguson acted for several months as secretary of the commission. Judge Winthrop will not assume office In Porto Rico until the beginning of the next fiscal year, July 1, It having been decided Governor Hunt shall continue iu the office until then.

The United States, with $680,000,000 In silver on hand—a mass of metal that would fill 500 cars, and which It costs SIOO,OOO to recount—now deliberately proposes to forever store this enormous mass and to add to ths amount. With the good business conditions now prevailing, It would seem to be the wisest course to follow theadvice of the Secretary, of the Treasury and the director of the mint and gradually change over the dollars which will not circulate Into a form of money which not only will circulate, but which will remain absorbed In the currency of ths country. On July 1 next the bullion of 1890 will be exhausted and we Shall have on hand 580,000,000 sliver 54,000,000 of which are In circulation. The highest amount ever in circulation was 79,000,000 in 1902. It Is manifest therefore, that $500,000,000 can only bs circulated through means of certificates. , Austria, Russia, Germany, France and Japan have within the last ten years recoined into subsidiary coin, age more than $194,000,000 of full tender silver Instead of buying bullion.

The Navy Department has ordered that when the colors are raised In the morning and when they are lowered at night the band shall play “The StarSpangled Banner.” Probably most Americans regard It as their best national song. The only objection to It Is that It is hard to sing. “America” can be sung, and would no doubt take precedence over all the rest If Great Britain would consent to stop using the tune as Its own national hymn. There ore several stirring military songs, but their Civil War origin makes them unavailable. The Navy Department Is right Even it most of us cannot sing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” the band can play it, and we can think of the words.

“Clean money,” free from microbes and the filth gathered from constant circulation, Is In sight If the currency bill reported to the bouse from the Committee on Banking and Currency by Congressman Fowler la adopted. The bill provides for the removal of the limitation of the issue of small bills and for a greater amount of small coins. It is proposed to recoin the 578,002,099 sliver dollars now in the treasury into fractional currency.

The Department of Agriculture has prepared a bulletin on weeds used in medicine. It suggests that although the price of crude drugs from this source will not be large enough to pay any one to gather them as a business, It may be handy to know. In ridding a <nrm of its pest, that It has some commercial use.

President Roosevelt has always believed that It was useless to have guns on the ships of the navy unless the gunners could shoot and hit the mark. As he remarked In one of his messages to Congress, “The shot that hits is the only one that counta” Accordingly ho has had presented to the navy a gold trophy, for which the various ships are to compete each year. The ship that makes the beet score in its class at the annual target practice will hold the trophy for the succeeding yhar. , _

JUDGE WINTHROP.