Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1908 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

The Signal Corps of the War Department has made public specifications for the construction of a dirigible ballooa to be used in a series of tests at Fort Myer next spring. Proposals for furnishing the balloon will be opened at the department on Jan. 15 next Tho balloon Is to consist of a gas bag of silk, to be covered with an aluminum (preparation. Tbs material for the bag and the hydrogen with whkfh it will bo inflated will be furnished by the government The dimensions and shape of the bag will be left to the bidders, except shat the length must not exceed 120 feet. It must be designed to carry two persons having a combined weight of 850 pounds; also at least 100 pound* of ballast. A speed of twenty mites an tour In still air Is desired, and the scheme of ascending, descending and maintaining equilibrium must be based on shifting weights, movable planes or some method which. will not necessitate balancing or changing of position by the aeronaut The balloon most have all the fittings jneeesaary for successful and continuous flights. It will be accepted only after a trial flight to be held at Fort Myer next spring. In a recent address at New Yoife City Francis E. Leupp, commissioner of Indian affairs, tobk occasion to reply to some of the criticisms that have been made regarding the treatment of tho Indians by his burean. He outlined ■ the present policy of the government as that of absorbing the Indian Into tho white man’s civilization, thus reversing the old policy of assisting him in bio ardent desire of keeping as separate from the white man as be possibly could. He expressed the opinion that the final solution of the problem would be reached by intermarriage. He doscribed tho success of the government In making the Indian work; even tho Utes, he said, were now working on tho railroads and helping to build up tho country of which they were a part The commissioner said it was true that about 85 per cent of the Indians tbst went to Indian schools, such ss Carlisle and others, and went back to tho reservations sooner or later reverted to the blanket But their children started away ahead of where their parents did so that the schooling was by no mean* wasted. ■ - An nnnsnai view of the army ha* lately been presented In a complaint over the decrease in strength of too coast artillery regiments. The Tenth Company, for Instance, which mastered a hundred and one men in 1900, wao able to get out only fourteen in too ranks in October. Tho explanation offered is that the men in the coast artillery receive training In some branch of mechanics, and can get employment outside at good wages. One officer instructed his company in the art of telephone repairing, and made to* men so efficient that the telephone company in the neighboring city offered them sixty and seventy dollars a month, and in some cases bought the discharge of the men, so that they might begin work before their enlistment expired. If too army can train Its men as effectively as this, it ought to be a pretty good school. •’ If there are not forty-eight star* on toe flag within a year or two It will not be for lack of effort on the part of Arizona and New Mexico. A convention of delegates from every part of New Mexico adopted resolutions the other day demanding the admission of the territory as a Stats The governor of Arizona has reported that tbs statehood sentiment in tost territory Is stronger than ever before. Bills were Introduced In the Senate on the first working-day of tbe session of Congress, providing for the creatloo of two new States ont of the territories. As the effort to pass a joint statehood Mil has been abandoned. It Is now necessary for the two territories to convince Congress that they are worthy to be admitted to the family of States.

• k -5 > According to Terence V. Powderly, formerly grand master of tbe Knights of Labor and now connected with the government Bureau of Immigration, extensive railroad building In Italy, tbe approach of tbe presidential election and scare headlines ln the newspaper*' aside from tbe flnaoclgl flurry, are the causes for tbe present exodus of alk-as from the United States. “No alarm need be felt because of tbe ebb In the tide,” be eaya “There is more work to do In this country than there ever waa before; there is a necessity tor men and women to do It, and the tint months of tbs next year will sea a return of aliens, who will he able to Sad remunerative employment In this corns* try" „ -5-*!* x . ' -"J The War Department has published a general order of the President requiring every field officer to make each year practice marches of three oouseestlvs days of not leap than thirty miles eaeh. In his order the President says It to Just as much the duty of army otoeem “to pursue each habits as will ms I ate to a physical condition fit tor active service as to cmltJrgts their minds tar thn Intellectual duties off their pos> tototo*”