metulton County News McConnellsbnie, Pi. MY8TERY OF GLASS. A correspondent recently reported what bo described as the "curious freak" of a blackbird flying against a parlor window many times at the same spot Such an Incident Is not uncommon. Birds bare been known to fight for hours at a time, day after day, with their own Image reflected in a pane of glass, pecking and fluttering against the pane and quite exhaust ing themselves in their fury to de molish the supposed rival. It Is anoth er Instance of how the arts of our cl lllzation corrupt and confuse the birds. It Is the same with fishes. Darwin tells) a story of a pike In an aquarium sep arated by plate glass from flab which were Its proper food. In trying to get at the flsb the pike would often dash, with such violence against the glass as to be completely stunned. It did this for more than three months before It, learned caution. Then when the glass was removed the pike would not at. tack those particular fishes, but would devour others freshly Introduced. It did not at all understand the bltua tlon, but associated the punlnhrnent It had received not with the glass, but with a particular kind of fish. Dar win's American monkeys proved them se ves more "knowing." When they cut themselves once with any sharp tool the would not touch it again or else would handle It with the greatest caution. Thus they gave evidence of the simpler forms of reason of which monkeys are no doubt capable, but birds are evidently lacking In reason ing lowers. Whatever may be nald of the ex king of Portugnl, he has a saving sense of humor. Incontinently dumped out of his regal position, he makes bis: home near London, from which van tage point ho can watch the efforts of those who dethroned him. Down In his heart, of course, there must be anger combined with regret that ho Is no longer the official head of his coun try; but If we may believe the reports, ex-King Manuel Is not eating his heart out on that or any other account. The most recent International gossip that the duke de VIzeu has fallen heir to the role of the Porttuese pretender, and Is endeavoring to so Interest an American woman that she will back up his efforts with her money (her laughter Is his wife) must amuse the ex king, says the Cincinnati Times Star. Those close to him say he Is most 'rank In declaring that he has no anx iety to gain his throne again Just yet." Portugal, according to Rev. Dr. Caster, who U said to know the situation, "will not he a republic long." But Dr. Gaster believes that If the throne is regained It will be for Manuel, not the Duke de VIzeu. Meanwhile the young Bragunza. doing his own thinking, mnkes use of that excellent old say ing: "Patience and shuffle the cards." The old question. "Do lightning rods protect?" huH been referred to Thomas A. Edition, and Mr. Edison re plies: "One or more metallic con ductors nt least one quarter Inch In diameter of cither Iron or copper, without Joints, when connected to a proper amount of metallic surface connected with a permanently damp earth, will certainly protect a house from being affected by lightning. Any metallic surface on roofs, etc., when connected with rods, will In crease protection." That ought to set tle that. Not long ago a New York tea drink er was reported ns saying that CO cents' worth of tea would make twice us many cups of beverage as the same value represented In coffee. This has brought forth a calculation showing still more In favor of the economy of tea. A pound of coffee that costs the public 30 cents. It Is asserted, will make only 45 cups of good coffee, while a pound of tea, costing 60 cents, will make 25 to 500 cups of tea. So tea costs from one fourth to one-third as tiuch as coffee. Statistician tells us that Edmonton. Canada, has only two hours of actual darkneus in summer. Bltulous per sons In that vicinity cannot use the old excuse about being afraid to go home in the dark. Rev. Mr. Mllburn says that woman considers herself the whit') of the egg and clings to the yolk, which is mnn. Sometimes an egj is found with a double yolk. A VVathlngton pastor has given In somnia as his reason for resigning. In other words, If he couldn't sleep he wasn't going to stand up every Sunday and watch his congregation Blumber. , A horse thief In Pennsylvania was sentenced to 20 years in prison, and a white slaver In New York to two years and a fine. The comparative valuation of the law In the cases cited carry their own comment It may be that the awakening of China Ib due to too introduction of American alarm clocks. You never can tell. Two Duluth hunters pursued a deer Into the heart of the city and shot it In I ron t of an ofllce building. This was exciting, but was It sport? Meanwhile that Chinese revolution continues as persistently as a dog chasing a rabbit 0 TURN MM MILLIONS LOOSE Corporations Will Disburse $207,000,003 First cf Year. STOCKS AND BONDS RETURNS Harvester Company Will Distribute $500,000 To 2,000 Employes Other Companies Give Bonuses. New York. Stockholders and bond holders of the United States will have a great deul to be happy over In the first mouth of the new year, which will start off with disbursements by the corporations to holdets of their stock and bonds, exclusive of mining cor porations, of $207,000,000. This would be at the rate of mare than $2 to every man, woman and child in the United States. This disbursement, with the Christ mas bonus, will make money easy dur ing the first few montlu of the year and will probably do much toward causing a revival In trauu lu all branches. Not only are bunks und trust companies and corporations mak ing largo distributions, but private firms are doing the same. The International Harvester Com pany has made an appropriation of J500.000 to be distributed among 2,0UU employes of the compuny. Officials of ho corporation declare that tho gift "U to no sense a Christ mas nrpKf nt." but merely a sharing of I the year's profits of the organization among worthy workers, embracing all ' ueparimeuiB, iium mu v. ... the shops to the managers. The sum to be presented is a fixed percentage of the net earnings of the company and Is about the baiue as tho amount given to employes a ear ago. In the matter of disbursements, dividends will total more than 0b,-; Ouo.ttuO und Interest charges will be considerably In excess ' of $140,OU0,-! UUP. Of the dividends, the nmntiril will rnnin frrmi the with I32.S87.259. The railway! will contribute I21.B0S.769. street or elec j tric railways 4.3(i9.014 and New Yoik riiv hunk ..ml trust pomnanies $7.-' 292.MO. The total capitalization upon which the dividends are bastd amounts to $3,446,204,828 and the dis bursements are equivalent to more than l'i per cent, on this amount. Dividends for the month which will exceed $1,000,000 are Canadian Pa-. cillc, $4,500,000; Southern Pncitlc, $4,-; 090,359; New York Central, $2,i91, 21a; Chicago and Northwestern common, I tion 'hpro an,i elsewhere sought to so longer fully responsive In various the staunchest of the Imperialist dele $2,270,928; Swift & Co., $1,312,500; I i,.arn the urgent physical needs of the ' respects to the needs of the political gates admit that Manchu rule is American Tobacco preferred, $1,180, 338; United Gas Improvement, $1,109, 638, and International Harvester com mon, $1,000,000. WOMAN HIGHWAYMAN GUILTY. Held Up and Robbed Washington Man Of $106. Washington. Mrs. Margaret Lafey. j Washington's "highwaywoman, who holds up her victims mere men at the point of an unloaded revolver, was ; found guilty by the Jury which tried : her cute in Criminal Court No. 2. She was charged with having held up ; vigorously Intelligent life was due to i value attached by the Government of C. M. Mattfeldt, ninnnger of Pyle's the wearing out of vital organs. He 1 the United States to the hlhtoric rela Store, at 652 Park road, northwest, hail expected its coming. Siuco Mon-ltions between the two countries, and and robbing him of $106 on July 8 day night his tongue had been I the desire of my Government to"6pare laut. j paralyzed and he was unable to speak j no effort to make tho outcome of tho MARYLAND WOMAN DIES AT 107. Lived In Kentucky and Was State's Oldest Inhabitant. Ellzabethtown, Ky. Kentucky lost I's oldest Inhabitant in tho death at Flaherty, Mead counry, of Mrs. Henri etta Jones, aged 107 years. Slio was a native of Maryland, hut had lived in tins Maie lor mosi oi i.er iuu. r i, o of her offspring survive her. I 25,630,000 Pounds Of Paper Sid. Washington. Tho Joint Committee on Printing directed the Public Print er to advertise for bids on 2.",iiMi,0o0 "'"vL? E.mCh 7l19r 1 l. n , ' Bids will be opened by the committee January 15, 1912. Rev. Richeson Desperate. Boston. The Rev. Clarence V. T. Richeson, whose trial on the charge of murdering Miss Avis Linnell. his former sweetheart, 1s scheduled for would find It useless now. January 15, mutilated himself in u shocking manner In his ceil at the Truets and the Square Deal. Charles Btreet jail early Wednesday j Washington. The universal estab morning. With a piece of tin, np- llshment of righteousness, tho square parently the top ot a mnrmalnde Jar, I deal, the golden rule and the princi- which he hod sharpened to a rough but keen rdgn on tho cement floor, Richeson cut himself In nn Indescrib able manner In the groin, and when four physicians reached hlH side they found It necessary to perforin an operation to save his life. Peary Honored By French. New York. A communication re ceived here from the Acadamy of Sports of France states that a gold medal has been awarded to Admiral Penry for the "admirable lesson of physical energy and moral courage that you have given to the entire world In pursuing, in the midst of fatigues, sufferings and difficulties, the conquest of the North Pole." Tho resolution was moved by Dr. Charcot, the French antarctic explorer. Russian Treaty Finale. Washington. Congress ratified the President's notification of tho termina tion of tho Russian treaty of 1832 and sent the measure to the President for his signature. The House disponed of it, according to program, within 75 minutes. Speaker Clark signed It nt 2.56 P. M. Vice-President Sherman signed It at 3.51, after the Senate had remained In session purposely to per mit him, under the rules, to allix his signature while It was In session. LIFE'S DISAPPOINTMENTS UNCLE I IS fULL Of 1 :- ... . ' V pi APPoiNt .-.-- rr.rr ---h-.y Poper'abt Ifll.l WABASH flOAD IN RECBK HANDS Gould Property Unable to Meet Interest on Bonds. EQUIPMENT IS RUN DOWN Wet(nflhouie Airbrake Company Files Claim Against the Railroad In Pittsburgh Court After Closing Hours. St. Louis. Judge E. B. Adams, of Ih United States Circuit Court, ap- pointed F. A. Delano, of Chicago, president of the Wabash Railroad; toward B. Pryor, of St. Louis, vice- president of the Wabash, and William eminent and In pursuance of the con-1 ousted, tho premier evidently hopes to he greatest K. liixby, chairman of the board of di- versntlons held by the Secretary of I retain tho Imperial form of govern ie Industrials, i rectors of the American Car and ' State with the Russian Ambassador at ' ment. possibly with the present Lm- Foundry Company, receivers for the i Wabash, In answer to a petition filed by the Wcstinghoijse Air Brake Com-1 n.nv thr,.i, .,..,.. w a lin. i Beur Uu.lr attorneys. The claim in ti, petition Is for $18,000. Each of j the receivers is required to give bonds ! in the sum of $300,000 within 10 days to qualify. qualify. On behalf of the road It was stated recently that $7,500,000 wu3 required Immediately for new cars and equip ment. The committee In its Inspcc- ruuu. i GRAND OLD MAN DEAD. John Bigelow Passes Away In His Ninety-fifth Year. New York. John Bigelow, "tho first citizen of New York." died Tuesday I Jlllillllllti ill ilia iiuiiiu ut i uminvivj 1 I., U I 1, ... n. 01 r!r.i.nit-s.v square, where the veteran Journalist, diplomat and author had lived for over 3ij years, and where, on November 25 last, his many friends gathered to celebrate his ninety-fourth birthday, Tho end of his busy, high minded, to those about him when he realized how close he was to death. In tho last few minutes he opened his eyes, smiled lovingly to those about him and nodded weakly. Only three weeks ago, when Andrew Cameslo, as part of his own birthday celebration, called on John Bigelow for the exchange of birthday greetings, he sr.ld to the fine old genileman: "You look well. I hope to be here on JV)1r i,,.,,,.,!,!, birthday." No.. Rni(1 Ml. ,;lf.t,low, but without sadness, "this Is my last birthday, friend. I am fast wesirin:; out. 1 shall be here but a short time." Lobs Of a Key Expensive. ' ashingon.-Becuse a new police- '"an !n 3,- OI!1('e ' one Key the government has been obliged to spend $1,300 changing the tumblers In the hundreds of loc ks in the big building. Since tho loss of the master key the big building has been doubly guarded. Whoever had It might have unlocked state secrets but Dies and teachings of the Kingdom of God Fhould be tho recognized bases for the foundation of all business, ac- cording to It. L. Klmhrough, of Harris - burg, Pa., who addressed the Senate Committee on Interstate Commerce on the trust problem. Now It's Nicaragua, Washington. Information reached the State Department that Julian Irlas and Hudolpho Esplnosa are about to starts a revolution ngalnst the govern ment of Nicaragua. It Is reported that a shipment of seven rapid-fire guns Is on the way to theso two men from New Orleans. They are now In Costa Rica. Irlas and Esplnosa were , formprIy identified with tho Zelaya and Mudrlz governments In Nicaragua, Irlus ns minister of foreign affairs, und Esplnosa ns minister in Washing ton. Two Children Burned To Death. Clarksburg, W. Va. llatt'e Miller, aged 2 years, and Mildred Miller, aged 4 years, were burned to death In a fire which damaged their parents home. Tho mother of tho children was In tho parlor of the homo and learned of the fatal fire only when the celling crashed, blazing, about her. The children hud been playing on the B?con4 floor. In Mexico cigarettes are in tor a cent. P-iCie Kovernmeni imposes no tax on nul ol acco. 7w.om liilix PEAu I I TAFT TELLS OF NEG3TIATI0NS Congress Informed In Message Of Notice Given To Russia. Washington. The President, In bis mesFuge to Congress, said: "By instructions which I caused the jKang and Tang Shao-Yi opened with Secretary of Stute to transmit to tho surprising smoothness and there was American Ambassador at St. Peters-( a complete absence of any sense of burg on the 15th day of December, . strain which might have seriously lm Itill, there was given to tho Imperial I peded the diplomatic progress of the Russian Government uniier dale of conference. It is unmistakably evi the 17th day of December, 1911. offl- d'nt. however, that the continuation cial notification on behalf of this Gov-1 of Manchu rule, even us concerns the eminent of Intention to terminute tho Imperial throne at Peking, is conslder operntlon of the treaty of commerce 1 ed unlikely by either side. In this and navigation of December IS, 1832, connection much significance is at between the United States and Russia ' tached to the statement of Tang Shau upon the expiration of tho year com-1 Yl that he does not represent the ineneini! on tho 1st of January. 1912. 1 throne, but rather the premier. the notification contemplated by Arti cle 12 of the existing treaty having been embodied in the following note addressed by the Ambassador to the j .Minister of foreign Affairs: Under Instructions from my Gov Washington 1 have now tho honor to give to the Imperial Russian Govern- ment on behalf of the United States the olllcia'. notification contemplated by Article 12 of the treaty of 1&.J2, , whereby the operation of tho said I treaty will terminate in accordance with Its terms on January 1, 1913. "Your Excellency will recall that I pourparlers between the two govern- j ments during the last three years have 'lent. I he revolutionary delegates ue fully recognized the fact that tlis ! Heve that they will be victorious In iinriviit treuiv. ns Ih nultn natural. Is I their demands for a republic. Even anu iiiaieriai reunions oi me iu and material relations of the two countries, which grow constantly more Important. The treaty has also given rise, from time to time, to certain con troversies equally regretted by both governments. " 'In conveying the present formal notification to your Excellency I nin Instructed to express the desire of my t - 1. 1 1 .. t ........... , t. : nu.vl IIIIMIII lllt'UU v Hi ik m ivta-n mu effort to negotiate a modern treaty of friendship, commerce mid navigation upon baHcs more perfectly responsive to tho interests of both governments. I am directed by the President, at the game time, to emphasize the great proposed negotiations contribute still further to the strength and cordiality of these relations. "1 now communicate this action to tho Senate as a part of the treaty making power of this Government, with a view to its ratification and ap proval. "WILLIAM II. TAFT." SURPRISE FIRE' DRILL. Three Thousand Empoyes March Out In Safety. New York. Members of the New York State Factory Investigating Com-' mission made a fire drill test in nnEast Side cigar factory. No one in the ; luiing knew o? 7he dril.it never .hHess the employe, responded to the the sound of tho fire alarm without ex citement and in a few seconds leB3 than four minutes all the 3,000 per sons In the building were on the street with their personal effects. OPIUM POURED INTO SEWER. $100,000 Worth Destroyed By the Authorities. San Francisco, Cal. More than $100,000 worth of contraband opium was poured into a manhole In the rear I of the custom house here Monday. As the drug In smoking form is prohibited 1 to this country, all seizures must be destroyed. Since the last destruction 2,fi85 tins, weighing over 1,300 pounds, have accumulated. Plan a Big Banquet. New York. Arrangements nre being completed for one of the largest peace dinners ever given in New York. The committee of arrangements announced that a special car had been chartered to bring 3S foreign ambassadors and representatives to this city from Washington for the dinner. It will bo held at tho Hotel Waldorf Satur day evening, December 28, and it Is expected that 800 persons will be Bent ed at the banquet. Pupils Aged 18 to 80 Years. Washington An enthusiasm for education has seizsd Rowan county, ono of tho Eastern Mountain and feud counties of Kentucky, accordlnR to a detailed report of the work there to tho United States Bureau of Edu cation. Nearly everybody In the coun ty, regardless of age, seems to be going to school, the report says. It adds that the pupils range In fine from 18 to 86 yenrB, many of thorn beini past CO. SI FOR E Brings the Six Great Powers in Movement for It. PROTECT THEIR INTERESTS Conferences Of Wu Ting-Fang, Rep resenting the Revolutionists, and Tong-Shao-YI, For the Im perial Government, Eegun. Shanghai, China. Promise of pence in China became more definite Tuea- jday with tho announcement that all tx oi ino great powers japan, uirai Britain, the United States, Russia, France and Germany are united In a co-operative effort to assist Dr. Wu Ting I'ang and Tang ShaoVl in their negotiations. There was rejoicing when It was learned that the repre sentatives of the six powers were pre paring to offer formally their assist ance for the speedy conclusion of an understanding. It Is clearly under stood that this action by the powers lu taken In a most friendly manner. The pourparlers between Wu Ting- Coupled with Wu Ting-fang's curly In sistence upon the establishment of a republic this is taken to mean that Yuan-Shi Kul Is prepared to concede the ending of the dynasty. Even though the present dynasty is peror designated us the first ruler or a new Chinese dynusty and with iuan- ShI Kal as regent, The personality of 1 uan bhi Kal uominnica me contention. fight among the delegates will bo I to whether the form of government Is to he Imperial or Republican I an empire. mn will be regent. If a republic Yuan will be the first presi- uvwint-u. FARM EDUCAYlON. Report Of the Director Of Expert- mental Stations. Washington. Rapid development of public Interest In the bronder phases ot agricultural education is noted by Dr. A. C. True, director of the ollice of experimental stations ot tho De partment of Agriculture, in his annual report, Just made to Secretary Wil son. "There is evidence," says Dr. True, "that the right solution of the problems ot country life and agricul tural production will depend very largely on an effective lybtem of prac tical education, which will reach the masses of men, women and children on the farms." Owing to the Im mensity ot the task, he declares that the work of his bureau has "been en tirely Inadequate to meet the situa- I l..n " lln rurnminnnda thlif nt ltnut $10,000 be added for the next fiscal year to the appropriation of the agri cultural education work of his ollice. Recqnt state legislation and tho ap propriations made for such education Indicate pretty c early, ho finds, that tills country Is definitely committed to the development and support of agricultural education in all ltd differ ent phases, and from the elementary grades up through tho ecllcge and the graduate school. Ccit Of Mexican Revolution. Mexico City. Congress, after up printing $5,000,000 to pay the expenses of the revolution which plnced Mndcro on the scat ot power, adjourned Satur day afternoon. Carnegie's Partner Dead, Pittsburgh. The will of Thomas N. Miller, the mnn who Induced Andrew Carnegie to eater the steel Industry, and who was his first business part ner, was filed for probate here. It provides small bequests for a number of near relatives anil his housekeeper, and tho remainder is left to the Wom an's Hospital of Pittsburgh, founded by his wif-.'. Tho estimated value of the estate ,s $2,(00,000. Morse Not Ssrlously III. Wusliit'gton. rrcsldeiit Tnft and Attorney General Wlckershnm have made it r'aln that for the present no further ao 'on would be taken by the government in tho case of Charles W. Morse. Mr. 'Wickersham, following a meeting of the Cabinet, said thut Morse was not In a critical condition and would remain in the army hos pital at Fort McPherson, near Atlanta, where he was removeu irom tno At lanta penitentiary several weeks ago. True Friend Of France. Paris cable to the Sunday World says: "Henry Whltb, formerly American ambassador tc ranee, still has his home nere in int old aristocratic Fauberg St. Germain but he pays only occasional flylnf visits to Paris. Few diplomats sen' by America to France have left i more favorable Impression In Frencl ... .io than Mr. White. He I' emembered as the true frond o Vance, who proved h!s friendship t m Alr;pf Irsi conference. IN CIA TAFT ON FINANCES CONDITION OF FEDERAL TREAS URY IS REPORTED TO B3 EXCELLENT. CURRENCY REFORM 13 Prompt Action on Report of Monetary 'Board Is Recommended For First Time In 27 Years Postal Depart ment Shows 8uiViu--Cut Ih penies Shown. Washrrgron. A special mefrage on the subject of finances was read to coiigies. A synopsis lol'ows: The Anunrlal condition of the govern ment, aa Mhnwn at the close of the laitt (Ural year. June 30, Mil, wug very mnm fHctory. The ordinary rwclple Into the general tund, excluilltiK poMiul rcvenui-e, amounti-d to 1701. i:7t.W. and the dle buracmente from the gent-ml fund (or current expenses and capital outlnys, ex cluding poalal and Panama Caruil dis bursement, ineludlntt tho Interest on the public debt, amounted to $t.377,'J07.8, having a aurplua of M7, ill. 377. 10. The pi'Ktnl revenue recelpla amounted to $:'37.S7!l.S:'-).60, while the payments made for the postal service from the pmtal revenuea amounted to 2l7,fii'itf.7 whleh left a surplus of postnl receipts over dis bursements of J'.'l!i,li! 12. the first tllne In 27 ycura In which a surplus occurred. The Interest-lieurlna; debt or the United States Tunc 30. llill, amounted to $.UV 302. IPO. Teh debt on which Interest hnd ceased amounted to $1 .870.S3O.ir8. and the debt benrlnn no Interest, Ini lud'HK (trcen bn"k, national hank notes to be redeemed- and fractlonul currency, a.nountetl to f.'iSe,7M. 917.43, or a total of ir.tereHt and non-lntr reit bearing debt amounting to $1 33,9H, 937.CO. The actual d'sbiirsnncnts, eiclnrlve of those for the Panama Canal and for the postal service for the veir ending June .V. mil. were Kr,4,l3;.P!i7.K3. The actual dlwhiirsi mints for the yhr ending .tune 30. W 0. exclusive of the I'nniuna Tanal nnd the postal srrvlce dlshurrements, were f..ri "Mi 3!1. d8, making a decrease of tri.BT7.JW3. 19 In yearly expenditures In tho year 1911 under that of I9!0. For the year ending June 30, the estimated re ceipts, exclusive of the pns'al rei-enu-s, are sryJi.OOOMki, while t (. to:al cHtlmates, exclusive of those for the 1'anainn piy able from the postnl revenues amounted to l4 S42.7M 3t. This Is a decrease In the 191? estimates of 11.5.14.317.22. I rnr the year endintt June 30. It'll, the fstlmnted receipts, exclusive of the pos tal revenues, are tiK7.oor! oeo, while the total mt'mated appropriations, exclusive of the I'anama Canal and poMal dls busements payable from postal revenues, will amount to .37.fc".i-3.35. This Is a decr.ase In the 1913 e::t!nit--s from that of th 1912 estimates or V.Kl.Vi9. As to the postal revenues, the expan sion of the business In that di p irtne-nt, the normal Ini p-nse In the post ofllce and the extension of the service, will Iti rrease the outlay to the sum of f'j'ifl .KS. M; but as the department was self-sustaining this year the post muster general Is nssured that next year the receipts will at bast eipial the expenditures, and probably exceed tliem by more than the surplus of this year. It Is fair and equit able, therefore. In determining the econ omy with which the government lias been run. to exclude the transactions of a de partment like the post, ofllce department, which rellca for Its support upon Its re ceipts. In calculations heretofore ninde for comparison of economy In each year. It has been he prop..' custom only to I Ineludo In the statement K'.e deficit In the post ofllce department whhJi waa paid out of the treasury. In the treasury department the efficien cy nnd economy work has been kept steadily up. I'rovlslon Is made for the flitninatlon of K!4 p slllons during the coming year. Two hundred nnd sixty seven statutory positions were eliminated during the list year In the of flee of the tiensury In Washington, an 1 HI positions In fin year 1910, making an diminution tit "" statutory positions since .March 4. 19. 'tnd this, has been done without the rtls I ;e of anybody, because the nor mal '' 'gnntlons ami deatha have been pnual ;n the elimination of the places, a aystcm of transfers having taken enre nf the persons whose positions were dropped out. In the Held service of the department, too, 139 positions have been eliminated down to the present time, mn klug a total net reduction of all treasury position! to the number of 1,801. Mean time the efficiency of tho work of the department has Increnscd. Monetary Reform. A matter of llrst Imp-iriance that will rome before congress fer action at thin !esslon Is monetary refor:n. The con gress has Itself arr ioged an early Intro duction of Ihls great question through the report of ItH monetary commission. This commission wns appointed to rec ommend a solution of the banking and currency problems so long confronting the nation and to furnish the facts anil data necessary to enable the congress to take nctlon. In order to ilo Its work with thorough ness nnd precision this commission hns taken some time to m ike Its report. The country Is utnlouliie.il v hoping lor as prompt nctlon on the report ns the con veniences of the cone, iesa can permit. Tho recognition of the gross; Imperfec tions and marked Inadequacy of our hanking nnd currency system even In our most quiet financial periods la of long standing; and later there has matured a recognition of the fact that our system Is responsible for the extraordinary de vastation, waste, and business paralysis fif our recurring periods nf panic. Though the methods of tho monetary commission have for a considerable time been work ing In the open, and while large numbers nf the people have been openly working wllh them, and while the press has large, ly noted and discussed this work aa It has "proceeded, so that the report of the commission promises to represent a na tional movement, the details of the re port are still being considered. I can not, therefore, do much more at this time than commend the immense Importance of monetary reform, urge prompt consld Frntlon and action when the commission's report Is received, and exp.-ess my satis faction that the plan to be proposed promises to embrace main features that, having met the approval of a great pre ponderance of the practical and profes ilonal op'nlon of the country, are likely to meet equal approval in congress. No Doubt About One' Thing. j "It does not always take brains to make money, observed the Inther of the college boy as be looked over thut yiiutig man's expense blil, "but It sure does take money to make brains." Too Busy for Serious Things, Tho growing indifference of the age Is Appalling; men are too busy witn their pleasures, their money-making, their politics, and a thousand things. Exchange. Pedagogue at His Worst. An Ohio schoolteacher has declared that both the Declaration ot Inde pendence and the Constitution are lacking In literary style. It would be too great a risk to trust that man with either tho first chapter of Genesis or the Gettysburg speech- Cleveland Plain Dealer. True Devotion.' -Do you love me,, 'darling." sbe asked. "Sweetheart, 1 love every hair on your bureau!" he reverently an wered. Michigan Gargoyle. There l! now before the purpose of which Is to li-.ase u efficiency Hnd decrease the expense (, the army. It contain! four prlno.pal fro. turei: First, a consolidation of the gen eral ata.f with the adjutant fenerai'i and the Inspector general'! department; lecond, a consolidation of the quarter maater'a department with the aubaatenr and pay department; third, the creation of an army service corpa, and fourth, an extension of the enllnment period from three to live year. With the establishment of an army service corpi. ai proposed In the bill I am thoroughly In accord and am con vinced that the eatabliahment of such a corpa will reault in material econ omy and a very great Increase of em clency In the arn.y. It haa repeatedly been recommended by me and my predectaaora. 1 alao belUve that a consolidation of the staff corpa can be 7"de with a resulting Increase in ef ficiency and economy, but not along the llnea provided in the bill under consideration. The anry of the United Btatca la In good condition. The Panama Canal. The very aallsfactory progress made on the i'anama canal lust year has continued, and there ta every reason to believe that the canal will be com pleted as early aa tho 1st of July, laij unless something unforeseen 'occurs This la about 18 months beforo tlni time promised by the engineers. Waterway From Lakes to the Gulf. The project for a navigable. wtr. way from lke Michigan to the mouth of the Illinois river, nnd thence via the Mississippi to the (lulf of Mexico, Is one of national Importance. In view of the work already accomplished by the sanitary district of Chicago, an agency of the state of Illinois, which has constructed the most riltllcult anil costly strelnh nf this waterway and made It an asset of the nation, and In view nf the fact that the people or Illinois have authorized the, expendi ture of S20.noo.nott to carry this water way miles farther to t'tlca, 1 f,el that It Is lilting that this work should he supplemented by the government, and that the expenditures recommend ed hy the special hoard of engineers on the waterway from t'tlca to the mouth of the Illinois river be made upon lines which whllo providing a waterway for the nntion. should otherwise bent-tit that state to the fullest extent. The limitation nf the liability of the muster to his servant for personal In juries to such as are occasioned hy his fault haa been abandoned In mot civ Iliied countries and provision made, whereby the employe Injured In the course of his employment Is cotnpin snt.d for his loss of working ahlllty Irrespective of negligence. The prin ciple upon which toch provision pro ceeds Is that accidental Injuries to workmin In modern Industry, with Its vnst complexity and Inherent dangers arising from conmlicateil madinerv and the use of the great forces of steam and electricity, should he re garded us' risks of the Industry ami the loss borne In some eqiiltalle pro portion bv thore who for Iheir own profit engage therein. In n cot-mtnm of this the last corner, sh nut tn.ni d the appointment of a commission to Investigate the subject of etiipl'ivera' liability nnd workmen's compensation and to report the result of tin ir inves tigations, through the presnl. nt, to congress. This commission was ap pointed and has been at work, holding hearings, gathering data and consider ing the subject, and it is exi tul will be able to report by the llrst of the yenr. In uccorrtnnce with the provi sions of the Inw. Parcel Pont. Steps should be taken Immciliatrly for the establishment of a rural parcel post. In the estlmntts of appropria tions needed for the maintenance of the postal service for the c nsii,ng fis cal year an Item of Slao.oou has been Inserted to cover the preliminary ex pense of establishing a parcel post on rural mall rout is. ns well as t oer an Investigation having for lis onj.it the final establishment of a gi neral parcel post on all railway anil Me.mi bont transportation routes. The suggestion that we have a pn eral parcel post has awakened great opposition on the part of suae who think that It will have the effect to destroy the buslm ss nf the country store keeper. Instead of doing this, I think the change will greatly Increase business for the benetlt of all. The re duction In the cost of living It will bring about ouht to make its comin" certain. The Navy Department. On the -d of November Inst 1 re viewed the fighting II". t of battleships and other vims. Is assembled in New York harbor, consisting of i'l battle ships, 2 armored cruisers. 2 cruisers. 22 destroyers. U' torpedo boats, H sub marines, nnd other attendant vessels, ninkintf K vessels of nil classes, of a tonnage of f.7ii f.34 tons. The fleet was deficient In the num ber of torpedo destroyers. In crulser.-t. nnd In colliers, as well as In large battleship cruisers, which are now be coming a very In portnnt feature of foreign navies, notably the lHUlsli. German nnd Japan, se. The iMilld.ng plan for this year con templates two battleships nnd tv.0 colliers. This Is because the other and smaller vessels can be built much more rapidly In case of eno rcm y than the battleships, and w c r: t.my ought to continue the no icy of two battleships a year until aft.r tin I'anama Canal Is t.nlshe.t and until ' our llrst line mid In our restrve line we can number 40 available vessels of proper armament and size. .Like the Treasury I n partin.nt and the War Department, the Nav, De pnrtnient has given much attention to economy In administration, and ' cut down n number of unnecessary penst" nnd reduced Its estimates ex cept fr.r construction nnd the incica.su that thnt Involves. 1 wish to renew again my rei om mcndntlon that alt the local "H"'0 throughout the country. Inclu.lin.: ' lectors of Internal revenue, co lectors of customs, postmasters of all f'"'r classes. Immigration commissioners nnd marshals, should he by law cov ered Into the classified s.rvue. the necessity for vonllrmatlon by the m -ate be removed, and the presnl "i and the others, whoso time Is now t ' en up In distributing this patron i. under the custom that hns prevail since the beginning of the Knv.rnn . nl In accordance with the recotnii 'i tlon of the senators nnd congress"!. n of the majority party should be r lleved from this burden. 1 " dent that such a change would r" reduce the cost of administer tig t o government, nnd thnt It would "' greatly to Us elllclency. Luxury In Cigars. The Rothschilds smoke the most costly cigars that ar tnado-m Henry Clay Sobranos-whlch cnai $1.50 each. These are wrapped in gold leaf and packed In little Inlaid cedar wood cabinets. Lost ."sr Good. Redd "Did you hear about mT neighbor loning control of his motor car?" Greene-"No, I didn't." nedd "Well. he did. The sheriff's got n now!" New Excuse for Husbands. Iluhbands who spend their even'"' bitting the high spots, encounter diffi culties In finding the domestic keyhole and bang their boots on the gas fix tures, uiHy now explain that they have been afflicted with etheral asphyxia. New York Tribune. Guarded Against Dishonesty. In the city of London at the Uui ot King John every vintner was required to bang outside his shop an Iron ves sel with pegs marking the dlOreot quantities sold. -
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers