Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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" PROCEEDINGS OF CITY COUNCIL. The City Council held a regular meeting last Wednesday at 4 o'clock p. m, Present: Mayor pro tern Hurst; Al dermen Boyle, Chandler, Dick, W. H. Epperson and Schwerin. Absent : Mayor Stuckey; Aldermen G. F^ Epperson and Finn., Minutes of 8th inst. were read and approved. Mr. Schwerin opposed their confirmation, though admitting their correctness, on the ground that confirmation makes the minutes of j- ' ? binding force, which should not be i the ease so far as the telephon? ques tion is concerned. He was of opinion that the members of council did not comprehend just what had been done in the hurry and confusion of the meet ing. The finance committee reported as follows : The Clerk and Treasurer's reports for May and June have been examined and found correct. Among usual expenses we find the sum of ?1,96X46 paid out during these two months for work on streets, including: scavenger service. This average wiil be exceeded, for July when the pave ment work now under way is finished. We again warn council that expenses are in excess of income. And if the present rate is maintained our floating debt will soon become too large for us to handle. Our credit will become impaired unless^a more conservative course is adopted and adhered to by council. Our interest on current loans now reaches nearly $1,000 per anntm. There is need of greater care in mak ing contracts, and a rigid economy in finances. We recommend a rebate of 815 be allowed the Postal Telegraph Co. on license tax. Respectfully submitted, E. W. Hurst, D. J. Chandler. Finance Committee. The finance* committee returned without, recommendation a bill of $44.65 in favor of The Electric Light and Ice Co., for removal of an arc light from corner of Magnolia and Mill ? streets to Harvin street. Also a bill of $251.21 in favor of The Sumter Wa . ter Company for. extension of water main to Telephone street. The report w?s adopted; Mr. Schwerin voting "nay." A letter was read from Dr. . T. Hof man accepting appointment as a member of the Board of Health. The police and fire department com mittee stated that they thought- it ad visable to defer painting the Hose Co's. buildings until cool weather. Mr. Chandler for the special com mittee reported that the paving on Ma? street was- progressing satisfac torily and now near completion. Letters were read from the Atlantic Coast Line Cmpany in regard repairs and improvements of streets and cross ings demanded by council. On motion of Alderman Dick the ^several mat ters involved were referred to a. spe cial committee consisting of Aldermen Chandler, Hurst Dick and the Clerk, with power to act, and authority to employ counsel if necessary. Letters from the League of Ameri can Municipalities, asking that coun cil send delegates to their meeting in Detroit Mich., during the. latter part of August was received as informa tion. A letter from J. Ryttenberg & Sons, caHing attention to the fact that a part of the Tobacco Warehouse scales liad been taken away or misplaced by the county chairj gang, was referred to the committee of public works. Several'applications for appointment on the police force were presented, but no action was taken. Mr. Schwerin suggested that the, Kitson light. at corner of Mill and Magnolia streets be removed to the front of the Opera House. And the arc light recently ' taken from that corner be replacedthere. Several bills and financial matters were referred to the finance commit tee. Council then adjourned Clarendon News. From the Times, July 23. That Manning has a solid, steady growth can be noticed by every visitor, and it is the subject of rsmark from them. We understand that the estate of Moses Levi expects to build two more brick stores, M. C. Galiu chat, Esq., two brick stores and Capt. W. C. Davis a fine residence. These additions are in the very near future, in fact, part of the material for the Gallucnat stores are upon the ground now. A very unfortunate difficulty occur red at Brad ham's mill about two, miles east of Manning last Saturday, between Messrs. Lawence Wilson and Clyde and Jallie Warr, in which Mr. Wilson was painfully cut. It seems that the party had been in the swamp fishing, and when they got back, Wil son and Clyde Warr g?t into a scrap; while they were fighting, Jallie went to tbe assistance of his brother, and cut Wilson in the side and back, Wil son was brought to Manning, and Dr. Brown gave him surgical attention. A warrant was issued for the Warr beys and they were arrested and gave bond for their appearance. "From the Farmer, July 24. The Methodist |congregation has granted their pastor, Rev. P. B. Wells, a months' vacation. During that month there will be no preaching unless some visiting ministers drop in. A few of the brethren "chipped in" and raised him a nice little purse to aid him in enjoying his trip abroad. He left for the mountains Tuesday. The Manning Band proposes to have a musical concert in the near future. This concert will be given by the Sum ter orchestra, under the leadership of Prof. Shoemaker, and the net pro ceeds will be applied to the interest of cur home band, which is now taking lessons in the up-to-date band music. The date will be announced later. A few nights ago while on their way home from a fish supper at Scarbor ough's Mill, a couple of boys in a buggy were held up on the road ih Jesse James style by two men, one of whom held the horse while the other went for t?ie boys in the buggy. The boys threw up their hand and de clared they did not have a cent and the robberst might do what they pleas ed with lihem. They were consider ably relieved and regained their cour age however, when they found that it was ali a joke, and" tbe robbers were two of their party who had got out of their carriige and waited on the road c??i the boys drof& up. Daughter of Rev. C. B. Smith Bit < ten by a Mad Dog. Bennettsville, July 28.?About ten days ago a three-year-old daughter of Rev. C. B. Smith* "Methodist pastor of this town, was bitten by what was supposed to be a mad dog. Recent developments in the child's condition aroused the suspicion of the parents and-, acting on the advice ?of their physician, Mr. Smith left this morn ing with the afflicted child for Atlan ta, where the patient wiil be placed under the Pasteur treatment. The town is very much interested in this case and developments ar? anxiously awaited. Morgan and the Kaiser. Dispatches from Germany a while .back announced that J. Pierpont Mor gan had had several interviews with the emperor which had lengthened into long confidential fand interesting chats. We were told that the emperor seemed greatly interested in the great American financier. He seemed to be trying to find out by study and person al contact what manner of being this recently developed creature was. We are now told that the emperor was dis appointed on the results of his inves tigation. Mr. Morgan did not come up to his preconceived idea of an American multi-millionaire and inter national trast manipulator. The em peror does not tell the public what his expectaions were, but he gives ut terance to his disappointment in the following : ' ' Try as I coula, his conversation failed to reveal to me that he had any clear comprehension of the vast har monies and conflicts of the commer cial universe. I was amazed to find him not well informed regarding the ! historical, and philosophical develop ments of nations. His political econ omy leaves him unconcerned regarding socialism, which undoubtedly will soon constitute the most stupendous question everywhere. Mr. Morgan confessed that he had never been sufficiently interetsed to study into what socialism means exactly." The emperor made a mistake in se lecting the subjects of conversation. He should have tackled Mr. Morgan on financing bankrupt railroads, form ing trusts and combines and buying up interna tionai steamship lines. There he wonld have found the great American financier had something in teresting to sav. A Memorial Arch to Schley. Baltimore, Md., July 28.?A memo rial arch is to be erected in this city in commemoration of the deeds of Ad miral Winfield Scott Schley. With j this in view the Schley Triumphant Arch Association, of Baltimore city, was incorporated today by Dr. Henry V. Walls, Dr. Meicher Ekstromer, Charles L. Burkhart, James Gorrell and Henry G. Brady. It has no capi tal stocck. As explained, by one of the incorporators, the plan is to raise by popular subscription ? fund suffi cient to pay for a handsome arch 1 ' in recognition of the services of -Mary land's hero of the Spanish war." Morgan & Co. Deny Report. New York, July 2S.?Reports that the Atlantic Coast Line has acquired or will acquire control of the Louis ville and Nashville road are emphati cally denied by J. P. Morgan & Co. The two interests are said to be work ing in perfect harmony. "Temporarily Deranged." Woodsfield, O., July 27.?Mrs. Eved et Spence, aged 19, today shot and killed her husband, aged 21, while he "was asleep, and then killed herself. They had been married less than two months and both were well connected. It is thought she was temporarily deranged. Gen. Fitzhugh Lee is reported to ; have said: **I b?lieve that the crisis in Cuban affairs is now. The Cubans were promised an independent govern ment and they have it. Now they will have to prpve that they can give security to property and maintain or der in the island. Ii they don't come up to the mark the island becomes j either a part of the United States or a dependency of this country. ' ' Selma, Ala, July 28.?The first bale of Alabama cotton of the season was \ sent to this citv today bv Capt. J. F. j O'Brien, of Burnsvill?. The bale i weighed 740 pounds and was classed good middling. The cotton was sold at auction to J. W. Marshall for ten cents per pound. C. W. Hooper & Co. added a cent to the price and the warehouse in which it was stored al lowed a cent more, making a total of twelve cents. Austin, Texas, July '28.?Central Texas was tonight visited "by one of {the most terrific rain storms ever known in this section. The rain came down in a regular deluge, flooding the principal streets of the city from curb to curb and washing into many of the stores. Rivers and small streams are way out of their banks and rail road traffic is practically interfered with. A number of business men are still kicking vigorously against the order of the Inspector requiring the closing of the Postoffice lobby from 9 p. m., to 7 a. m. It is a serions inconven ence to them and interferes with the prompt and systematic dispatch of business. As two gentlemen who are engaged in manufacturing said to the writer, this new postoffice regu lation throws their day's work out of gear entirely. Their places of business are located on the railroad and it has been their custom to stop at the post office on their way to their offices at 6 o'clock, get their mail and give atten tion to letters requiring immediate at tention before going to breakfast at 7 o'clock. A reply by return mail often means a geat deal to a business man and closing of the postoffice which prevents access to the lock boxes is as has been said before a serious incon venience to business men. If there was any necessity for closing the lobby there would be no complaint, bnt as the necessity does not exist and the order is simply an arbitrary exercise of authority by the inspector no one feels like submitting to it without a complaint. Cause of Mine Explosion. Johnstown, Pa., July 28.?The coro ner's jury investigating the rolling mill mine disaster oft the 10th inst. filed their verdict today. They find that the explosion was accused by some person or persons, to the jury un known, taking into room No. 2 sixth right heading, where gas was known to exist, an open lamp, using the same in direct violation of the mine rules and regulations of the Cambria Steel Company. _ St. Jim, The Martyr. . Jim Tillman seems to have made a very unfortunate simile at the Chester meeting. In discussing the Gaffney incident and other newspaper attacks he said : "They may crucify me upon a cross of slander, but God in heaven knows it is as unjustifiable as when they pinioned to the cross the lonely Naza rene."" / Reports from Yorkville are to the effect that'DeCamp gave Tillman every opportunity, in public or private to take up the matter again but he said he did not care to reopen it. To the people at Yorkville he said that his hands were bound, that he could not engage in a brawl and compared him self to Prometheus,, who, bound to a rock suffered the vultures to gnawout his vitals. This kind of stuff just runs some of his hearers, wild with enthusi asm, he is now posing as "Saint' Jim the Martyr." ; Battled For a Girl. Portland, Ore., July 27.?Frank Carlson and George Baldwin, each 19 years, quarreled over two girls, to whom both were paying attention. Carlson challenged Baldwin to fight. The fight took place with bare knuckles, in the presence of relatives and friends of both boys in an unfre quented part of the city. The fight lasted about 20 minutes. At the end of that time Carlson received a blow in the stomach and fell to the ground. When picked up he was dead: Bald win is in jail. Deadly Bali Follows Festive Dance. Khoxville, Tenn., July 27.?Berry , Donahue, a justice of the peace and a well to do farmer living near Lutterell, Tenn., shot and killed Sherman Dyer this morning. Both men attended a dance.last night and while they were going home the tragedy occurred. Bad feeling had existed between them over the outcome of a lawsuit. Donahue escaped. We never really appreciated so much what the real meaning of the word "sacrilege" was until we read what Jim Tillman said at Chester, referring to newspapers: "They may crucify me on a cross of slander, but God in I heaven knows it is as unjustifiable as I when they pinioned to the cross the lowly Nazarene." Could blasphemy possibly go any further??Columbia Record. "Black Jack" McDonald, a noted border desperado, was shot and killed in his saloon at Juarez, M?x., on Sat urday by an American whose name is unknown. The fight resulted from a game of dice in which "Black Jack" and three Americans were engaged. Two of the Americans fied and have not been captured. The other is held insommunicado. Mme. Edmond Sempis," who before her marriage a year ago was Miss Louise Rutherford, of Brooklyn, N. Y., has been set upon, says a Paris dispatch to the World, by two hunger maddened Great Dane dogs, which had been secured to guard her husband's ccintry house at Annecy Lake, and so terribly injured that she died two Hours after the attack. The Southeastern Cotton Buyers' Association, says the Mobile Register, has issued a circular announcing that the members of the Association have resolved to put a penalty of not less than fifty cents on any bale that has on above six yards of bagging and six bands, the announcement being de signed to effect the wrapping of cotton in^ Georgia and Alabama, where, it was said, more tare was put on cotton than in the western portion of the cotton belt. The Mobile merchants generally declare the Association ruling arbi trary, since eight yards of two-pound bagging and six two-pound ties "can be placed on a bale and even then the tare will not be as much as the Euro pean buyers deduct from the price they make when they buy the cotton. The announcement that the war de partment will take no steps to dis cipline Gen. Anderson for contradict ing Admiral Dewey's version of the attack on Manila is made, says the Norfolk Landmark, as if the depart ment were acting with great self repression and magnanimity. "As a matter of fact," the Landmark thinks, "it is more than probable that Mr. Root doesn't prod Gen. Anderson be cause he 'dassent' prod him." Tennessee's World's Fair exhibit may be transported all the way to St. Louis by water, just to show the people of the world that river navi gation is open clear to Chattanooga. It is proposed to load the entire exhibit on the steamer Avalon at Chattanooga, carry it down the Ten nessee across Northern Alabama, back across Tennessee and Kentucky to the Ohio, thence down the Ohio to the Mississippi and up the Mississippi to St. Louis. ~Vhile at St. Charles last Tuesday, we were informed that the huckleberry crop around there amounts to no small matter. Last season as high as forty bushels were bought for shipment in one afternoon. The sup ply has not been so heavy this year, but it is common to ship several bush els in a day. They go to northern markets, yielding the shipper a profit, besides helping the local merchants, as they are mostly paid for in the stores.?Bishopviile Leader. Con way, July 29.?Miss Ruth Bur roughs, of Con way, was drowned at Myrtle Beach this afternoon while surf bathing. GLENN SPRINGS WATER For the liver. I For sale by A. J. CHINA, J. F. W. DeLOBME. ADULTEEATED COFFEE. GROCER WHITE FOUND GUILTY OF VIOLATING OHIO'S PURE FOOD LAWS. Interesting: Facta Concerning the Roasting; of Coffee Brocsht Ont by Scientific Experts?Presence o? Bac teria. Toledo, O., Aug. 3.?The jury in Judge Meck's court in this city has found James White, a local grocer, guilty of selling adulterated coffee. The prose cution was based on a package of Ar buckles Ariosa coffee. The State of Ohio, through the Pare Food Commission, prosecuted White. The case was on trial for nearly a month "and attracted national atten tion. The manufacturers of Ariosa coffee conducted the defense for Grocer White. The best attorneys in the country -were/ retained to defend him, but, after a short consultation, a ver dict of guilty was returned by the jury. The State of Ohio considers this a big victory. Pure Food Commissioner Blackburn has been waging a warfare on spurious food articles and the de partment has been successful. The complaint of the State of Ohio was that Ariosa coffee was coated with a substance which concealed defects in the coffee and made it appear better than it is. The State charged this coating or glazing was a favorable me dium for the propagation of bacteria. Prof. G. A. Kirchmaier, of this city, a well known chemist, was the princi pal witness for the State. He had made scientific examinations of sam ples of Ariosa purchased from Grocer WTiite in the open market. He found that each Ariosa berry contained an average of 300 bacteria. Mr. Kirch maier further testified that other cof fees he examined contained few bacte ria or none at all. He declared that the glazed coffee was not a wholesome *food product Chemist Schmidt, of Cincinnati, cor roborated the testimony of Prof. Kirch maier. The State did not present fur ther testimony. The defense through the Arbuckles, who prepared this glazed coffee, se cured some of the most eminent chem ists and scientists in the United States to give testimony In their behalf. Prof. H. W. Wiley, of the United States Ag ricultural Department; Prof. Vaughn of Ann Arbor University; Profs. Bleile and Webber, of the Ohio State Univer sity, were called to defend Ariosa. Dr. Wiley had made a careful examination of the method of manufacturing Ario sa. He told of the 19,000,000 eggs used by the Arbuckles yearly in the prepara tion of this glazing. On this point in cross examination, the State's attorney deftly drew from him the Information that these eggs might be kept in cold storage by the Arbuckles for a year or two at a time. The experts who heard Dr. Wiley's testimony were pleased to be able to "catch" so famous a chemist The doc tor at one point in his testimony ex plained very clearly how it is that the egg put into the coffee pet by the house wife settles the coffee. H? said that the heat coagul?tes the egg, and as it j sinks to the bottom of the pot it carries the fine particles of coffee with it and thus clarifies the drink. It is the act of coagulation in the coffee pot that does the work. Later on in his cross exam ination, he had to admit that when the egg was put on Ariosa coffee at the factory it became coagulated, and as egg cannot be coagulated but once, that the coating on coffee was practically no value, as a "settler" when it reached the coffee pot. Prof. WTiIey acknowledged that the glazing might be a favorable medium for. the propagation of bacteria, al though he would not testify positively either way because he was not a bac teriologist Prof. Vaughn, of Ann Arbor, also a witness for the Arbuckles, said he found bacteria on Ariosa coffee? Prof. Bleile, another witness for the defense, found any number of lively bacteria on Ariosa coffee he examined, and he agreed that glazed coffee surely was a more favorable medium for the propagation of bacteria than unglazed coffee. Pure Food Commissioner Blackburn says: "The State is very much elated over its victory against this corpora tion. We are now considering the ad visability of informing every grocer in the State of Ohio that it is an infrac tion of the laws to sell Ariosa, and at the same time give warning to con sumers that the coffee is an adulterat ed food article." The verdict of the jury in this case is of national importance because a great many other States have pure food laws ike that of Ohio, and it is natural to suppose that similar action will be taken by other Pure Food Commis sioners to prevent the sale of glazed coffees. Wise to Escape. "Sir," said the rash young man, "with a forked twig from a hickory tree I can locate water?pure water, sir"? "ShShShShSh!" warned the sturdy Kentuckian. "Get out of the state quietly, boy. Let that get around and the crowd'll hang you before you can get your collar off!"?Denver Times. Circumstances Alter. "What an effeminate boy young Doodley Is." "Yes; he's always smoking ciga rettes." "His cousin Mabel is quite the other extreme?very mannish." "Is that so?" "Yes, she smokes cigarettes."?Phila delphia Press. Her Miscalculation. "And so this is the end!" he exclaim ed bitterly. "Well" she replied, "if you haven't any more nerve than to give up right at the start. I suppose it'll have to be the end. But I thought you were more of a PERSONALITIES. ? _ The neckcloth worn by Louis XVI on the way to the guillotine is owned by Archbishop Feehan of Chicago. General Leonard "JVood has been made a member of the Academy of Science of Havana, a most exclusive society limited to forty members, all elected for life. Mrs. Deland, the Bosron novelist . Is very fond of flowers and so fixed in her belief in their beneficial influence that she never writes but with a pot of some sort of flower on her desk. Edwin Ginn, who is to build several model tenement houses in Boston, has made a long study of social conditions In that city, where he is one of the largest real estate owners. A man who played in the first Ox ford and Cambridge cricket match 74 years ago is still alive. He is Mr. Herbert Jenner-Fust, who pra cticed in doctors' commons and is now 95 years of age. The Rev. H. T. F. Duckworth, who has been appointed professor of divin ity in Trinity university, Toronto, is a graduate of Merton college, Oxford, and is rated as a brilliant scholar in England. : Joseph Chamberlain at 65 is slim and alert and looks ten years younger. He has never indulged in exercise as a practice or a fad. Perhaps that is one reason why gout gives him an occa sional twinge. Henry P. Davenport, Jr., of Clay Court House, Va., has a set of Black stone with Washington's autograph on the first blank page of each volume. Presumably the books were in the library of the first president 'Mark Twain was recently calling on a friend who, to show him the good training of a horse, fired a gun under the animal's nose without the beasfs moving. "What do you think of that?' asked the host. "I think the horse is deaf," said the humorist Tu Heng, the Chinese embassador at Paris, is quite as adaptable a Celestial as our own Wu Ting Fang. His wife is only half Chinese, having had an American father. His children speak perfect English, and the family takes, In western style, to excursions, ama teur photography, private theatricals and other fads. THE GLASS OF FASHION. Fine tucking and accordion plaiting are used extensively on handsome silk petticoats. Chinese and Japanese embroideries are well placed upon waists of dark blue, poppy read or beige colored silk. A large monogram embroidered on the back of a glove or at the top of the long gloves worn with elbow sleeves is a recent fad. Fashion prophets say that feathers aro to be worn more than ever the coming season, especially the long, handsome ostrich plumes. Hosiery must match the gown, say the arbiters of fashion, no matter what the color of the latter. Some of the new green hose are striking, but at tractive. A graceful trimming is made of rows of narrow velvet or satin ribbon put together with herringbone stitch in heavy silk twist of the same or a con trasting color. Guipure and Arabian laces and mock jewels will be employed extensively lor trimming this winter. Embroidery ? the fabric has returned, and a charming effect is produced by an ar tistic arrangement of leaves and blos soms?New York Tribute. ORCHARD AND GARDEN. The budding knife should be sharp. Put a quart of soot into two gallons of water and use it as a liquid fer tilizer. Among all the wasted matter on the farm bones are the most valuable as a manure. The dwarfing of a tree occurs by the slight disagreement between the scion and the stock. The pear is dwarfed by several dif ferent stocks?the quince, the moun tain ash and the thorn. If strawberries are grown without much attention, the weeds and grass are certain to assert themselves. No farm is complete unless it has or chards. Not only should the apple be given a place, but all other fruits. The small fruits should be grown, especial ly for family use. There are two points of danger in manuring trees. One is too much ma nure and the other not enough. Too much manure induces too late a j growth, not giving time for the wood ! to fully mature before cold weather I sets in. Rather Be First. "Your wife is fully a head taller than you, is she not?" "Yes. She had a chance, though, to marry a man a head taller than herself, but she said she couldn't bear the idea of playing second fiddle in a family of freaks."?Chicago Tribune. Getting: on Well. A Georgia man who moved to Kan sas some time ago writes to say, "This Is the best country I ever saw. My wife Is chief of police, and she has promised me a job on the force."?Cin cinnati Enquirer. Amiability Itself. * am afraid that my conversation le uninteresting," said Willie Wishington. "Don't let the thought trouble you," answered Miss Cayenne sweetly. **l was a little bit Bieepy anyhow."? WASHINGTON LETTER [Special Correspondence.] Persons visiting tbe United States supreme court these days are permit ted to see what has been discovered to few of the millions who have gone through the capito! building. The inte rior of the chamber has been torn out admit?of the renovation and repair of the room and to allow the erection of a new roof. The beard floor has been removed, the marble bench before which the venerable chief justice and his associates sit is gone, the beautiful ly chiseled busts of the chief justices have been taken down, the heavy drap ery which, with the black satin robes of the nine members of the court, gives an air of somber dignity to the scene when this exaitod body is in session. has been folded away, and the room is simply a wreck, a confused mass of mortar, brick and lumber. But in the center of the chamber, under that sec tion where stood the long marble bench, is a small dais of brick in the form of a semicircle eight or ten feet in width. That forms the platform on which sat the presiding officer of the United States senate in the old days prior to 1859 and before.the north and south wings of the cap?tol were built. Some of the greatest men in the history of the republic have sat on that dais. The last vice president to sit there was John- C. Breckinridge of Kentucky, who presided over the senate from March 4,1857, to March 4,1S6L Among his predecessors were Thomas Jeffer son, Aaron Burr, George Clinton, El bridge Gerry, John C. Calhoun, Martin Van Buren, John Tyler, George M. Dal las and Millard Fillmore. In addition to these there is a long list of distin guished men who served as president pro tern, of the senate. This interesting semicircle is being;pointed out by the cap?tol guides to visitors and its histor ical associations explained with more or less accuracy. The Refurbished White House. Upon the return of President and Mrs. McKinley from Canton in the fall the interior furnishings of the execu tive mansion will have assumed a look of freshness and elegance. According to Colonel Bingham, who has charge of the White House, no ex pense has been spared to make the apartments at the executive mansion more sumptuous than ever before, and especial care has been exercised in decorating the apartments for Mrs. McKinley's private use. The furniture in' the red room of the state, apartments has been covered with rich crimson damask, and the feet . of the visitor will sink deep in the pile of crimson velvet carpet. New elec trical effects bring out the gorgeous coloring of this room most vividly. The green room has been refurnished more quietly, but in the same elegance. The exterior of the executive mansion has also been refurnished. Skilled and Unskilled Labor. ' The Building Trades Council has writ ten to the district commissioners pro testing against the employment of un skilled labor on District work, such as school, station and market houses. The council says it has been informed that tinners and painters are* being em ployed at a rate of wages much less than are paid by outside employing painters and tinners, thereby encour aging unskilled mechanics in prefer ence to skilled ones. The councij deems it of great im portance that if the District is to do its own work it should be done by the best skilled mechanics instead of those . who have only partly learned their * trade. G. B. Coleman, the District superin tendent of repairs, has reported to the commissioners that the department is paying identically the same rate of wages for all classes of mechanics that was paid last year. "We do not employ unskilled labor'in any portion of the work," he says. Expiring: Bank Charters. 'One important act of legislation for the coming congress," said Mr. J. Wirt Cullinane of San Francisco, a business man identified with several financial institutions on the Pacific coast to a group of Washington acquaintances, "should be tbe passage of a bill for the extension of national bank charters. I would not attempt to define the fea tures of such an act hut it should cer tainly be considered and approved, otherwise more than 1,500. national banks in all parts of tbe country will cease to exist. In other words, their lease of life granted by the government will expire. Bank officials are turning their attention toward the next session of congress for relief. The charters of the thousand and more banks which will go out of business unless congress acts expire July 12 of next year and cannot be extended without congres sional action." Tavrney's .Ftgrht on O?eoxn&rgjarine. Representative Tawney of Minne sota purposes to renew his fight against oleomargarine with vigor on the as sembling of congress in December. He believes a check has already been pro duced in the growth of that industry, due to state legislation and to the more rigorous enforcement of the federal law. lie notes that a man in Illinois was fined $10.000 a few days for viola tion of existing federal law, and he also calls attention to the stern meas ures for the repression of oleomar garine which the virtuous states of Pennsylvania and Illinois have already enacted. ^ ^ ^^^ The rivalry that is developing in the postal department between, the star |ervice and the rural free delivery fiervice is promising to strengthen the rural service rather than help the oth er. The rural free delivery experiment, costing this year something like $3, 500,000, may be expanded next year to cost $7,000,000. One of the effects of the introduction of the rural free, de livery is to dispense to some estent iwitb tbe star service. Carl Schokeld, ?t Is a mistake to suppose that It Is always the last straw which breaks