Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1906 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

:In a letter to Public Printer Stillings, directing that changes in spelling advocated by the simplified spelling board be observed in all publications of the Executive Department, President Roosevelt says that criticism of this step is evidently made in ignorance of what is proposed. He asserts that there is no intention, of doing anything revolutionary, and that the purpose is for the government, “instead of tagging behind popular sentiment, to advance abreast of it, and at the same time abreast of the views of the ablest and most practical educators of our time, as well as of the profound scholars, men of the stamp of Prof. Loundsberry and Prof. Skeat.” He explains, further, “that if these changes in the spelling of 300 words do not ultimately meet with popular approval, they will be dropped, and that there is ail there is about it.” After quoting several examples in word shortening in popular use, he declares that this reform is not an attack on the language of Shakspeare and Milton, Is not an attempt to do anything farreaching, sudden or violent, but is an attempt “to cast what slight weight can qlar forces which are endeavoring" to make our spelling a little less foolish and fantastic.”

We have stopped the importation of: the little Greek boys who have besa coming to this country in thousands in recent years,” says Commissioner of immigration Sargent. “Practically the large cities have scores of bootblacking establishments filled with firight-eyed Greek lads of from 12 to 18 years. These were all brought over here by a European syndicate. But we have broken up the business. We reject these lads now on the ground that they are under age, unaccompanied by their parents and liable to become public charges through sickness or other ailments. We satisfied ourselves that the boys were coming here for the purpose of opening bootblaeking shops, and not to go to school and secure educations. It was not desirable to increase the population with this class of material, and we shut down on them. We were also satisfied that the boys were under the control of some kind of organization or syndicate, for as soon as we began to reject them the tide of immigration suddenly stopped.”

Eleven head of Galloway cattle from Missouri have been sent to Alaska by government-to begin an experiment in stock-raising in that northern district. They will be kept near Cook Inlet, to the northward of which for two hundred miles lies the Snsitna Valley. The valley is nearly as broad as it is long, and is covered with rich grasses, redtop and bluesteui, which grow luxuriantly in summer. Salt-grass' and bunch-grass, which is an excellent winter food, also are abundant. There are already some Jersey cattle for dairy purposes at Kenai, but they require too much care to be of use for general stock-raising. The Galloways will be crossed with famous butter-making strains, in the hope of producing a hardy breed which can withstand the Alaskan climate and develop a profitable Industry.

A more attractive kind of Liberty is to greet new comers to the shores of the United States. Bartholdi’s statue in New York harbor is to be cleaned, repaired and properly lighted. Parts of the foundations have never been more than temporary. Iron doors to the pedestal will now be substituted for the old wooden ones, and iron stairs will replace the present wooden structure. The statue is to be repainted, and a more suitable light will replace the present melanhoiy glow-worm effect in the torch. The sculptor's design called for a torch the light of which should be a great flaring blaze of gas; but that was regarded as too expensive, and electricity was substituted. The result has never been Impressive or satisfactory. i

A statement made by Postmaster General Cortelyou defines the administration’s attitude toward the organization of postal employes. Attention Is called to the paragraph of his aunual report pointing out that organizations must have for their object Improvements In the service or fraternal benefits In order to be approved, and also reminding employes of their supreme allegiance to the government. During August the Treasury receipts were $50,007,590, which Is an Increase of $8,577,104 for the corresponding month of last year. At the same time the expenditures show a decline. At the end of August the deficit was $5,355,722, as compared with $18,515,724 at the same time last year. m * • • * “Bad roads, no maill,” ds the rule the government has adopted for the rural free delivery service. Local authorities must keep the ways In passable condition If they are to benefit by the rural delivery, and so It comes about that this branch of the postal service Is not only an agent of communication wihleh brings farm hinds nearer the center, but a direct Incentive to road building, and hence to general improvement sad prosperity.