Newspaper Page Text
Write samples Brown sun8tings Rrowns in especially rich <-had. s. \ on know, arc to he J |!| the tiling thi> Fall. W'c inlcl like yon to sec ! tin i nalitv of cloth, too, that into our Si 5 suits to tnea-iire. 011 11 wonder how we can build vou a suit of the very latest style, of the \ t rv newest fabric and interlined with French can vas and haircloth, at such a modest price. \V? !i satisfy yon ( <>m|?letely on this point when yon rail. Writ*- f? ?t" Fall Style Book Newcorn <& Green 5 332 F Street N. W. Oi'KN SATURDAY KVENINGS. WANTED. Boys w!t!h Ibfcycles cam o^ni^iioyiinieinit inn our Messenger Department. Apply to Postal Telegraph CabSe Co., 1345 Penmai. Ave. ftlO-414 Credit for All Washington. ? We Have Furnished *> (? if # if t i t So many homes that we are able to anticipate your wishes and provide an assortment of furnishings such as you will enjoy choosing from. The pat terns we show are both prac tical and beautiful, and there is a sufficient variety of de sign to suit every taste. CREDIT. We Invite you to choose whatever you wish from our splendid stock, have It delivered at once, and pay for It In small weekly or monthly amourfts. such as you can conve niently spare. Peter Qrogam, 817-819-821-823 Seventh St. -%r "Rpf re 1 ualn* Oasearets. I had a had con;pi- t'.'O, pimples on my fire, and my food was ' not !!ge*ted a* It should hare been. Now I ?m ?nr Ires', y and the pimples have all disap peared from my face 1, can truthfully mj that i'nr- aret* ure Just as advertised, I have taken only two K.ie? of them." I LAKKVK K GRIFFIN. Sheridan. Ind. Beat Tor The Bowels avaewtew CANDY CATHARTIC PLenF.tr t Palatable. Potent. Taste G.n>d, Ho f1<<? N.-.-r SI ken. Weaken --r Gripe. 10e, 2T?c. . \?v*r Hold In hulk The genuine taMet stami^'' ? C r. Guarantee.] to cure or your in?'H?i> hark Merlin* Remedy Or- Chicago or N. Y. 600 5 New Pianos For Rent. W. Fo Frederick Music Co , E328 F Street, ryC\tiS & ' ** CAPSULES ,c 54 ^ HIS ANSWER TO CRITICISM DELAY IN CONSTRUCTING SCHOOL BUILDING EXPLAINED. District Inspector Ashford's Version. Places the Blame oil Board of Education. % In answir to criticism of his department for the delay In the construction of the annex to the McKinley Manual Training ! Si !.<?)!. for which S 135.000 was appropriated In July. !!?<?>, and for the foundation for which building ground has not been broken, .Mr. Snowden Ashford, Dis trict building Inspector, who has super \ vision of tiie construction of all buildings foi lie local government, has Issued a statement. Iji t he explains that his de partment is in no way to blame for the de ; lay. and lie has no hesitancy in blaming i the board of education, lie contends that j had the hoard not Interfered and insisted ' on a eiiang In tile s ?ml plans drawn for the school annex tile work would have com ' mt need last April. | His statement follows: " I I,? site for tiie McKinley was acquired in July. 1:HThe president of the board of education advised me to consult with the director of manual training as to the plans for tli ? budding, ami a very compre hensive and good plan was submitted by him and tin architect began the working plans in October, l'.M!. The old frame buliu nigs were removed from the site In De cember. 19ns, preparatory to starting the work "January IE!. I!?i7, the Engineer Commis sion. i wrote to tlie board of education call ing attention to the insufficiency of the ap propriation for a building of the size indi cate! by the ski tches submitted by the director of manual training, and the archi tect estimated that, on the plans prepared by him. tin- building would cost $100,000 more than the appropriation. Halt in the Work. "January .'11, 1907, the director of manual training informed the Engineer Commis sioner. by letter, that the board had de cided to ask for an additional appropria tion. and "that the architect will do nothing toward completing the plans until it is known whether or not there are to be addi tional funds,' and suggesting changes in plans prepared In respect to an assembly hall. "February 13. l'.'oT. the Engineer Commis sioner wrote to the director of manual train ing. who had previously communicated*wlth him and expressed the wishes of the build ing committee of the board, calling atten tion to the fact that the appropriation had not been included in the Senate appropria tion bill and a_-king what the board desired to do as to the plans, with the money avail able. "April 3. 1007. the assistant superintend ent of schools asked for < opies of the plans prepared by the architect, and the second set of revisad plaxrs was forwarded to him. "About April 15 a conference was held be tween the assistant superintendent, the d:rector of manual training, tihe principal of the school and the architect and the in spector of buildings in the Engineer Com nrisioner's office, and the school people de sired further changes In the plans. The Engineer Commissioner directed that the plans be prepared acording to their wishes, and the architect was allowed additional compensation for the third set of plans. Objections Filed. "April 15 the president of the board of education wrote to the Engineer Commis sioner and said that they objected to the ar rangement of the assembly hall and wished the plans changed so that the corridors on the first and second floors would run straight through and cut off the assembly hall. "April 22, 1907, the Engineer Commissioner wrote to the president o? the board of edu cation, referring to the conference with the Above-named school employes and explain ing their wishes as to change in the assem bly hall, and explaining that the change de sired by the board of education would re duce the seating capacity by 150 seats, and asking that all suggestions from the board of education be sent in at once, to avoid further changes In the plans. No reply was received to this letter, and May 20, after a trip to Boston and other cities, the Engi neer Commissioner again wrote to the scihool board, calling attention to the prac tice In other cities, and asking if the board of education still wished the assembly hall reduced In size. "May 27, 19<>7, the inspector of buildings wrote to the Engineer Commissioner, calling attention to the fact that the delay In an swering the communication as to the as sembly hall was holding back the plans and would throw the work into winter weather. "May 2H. l!N)7, the Engineer Commissioner called attention to the fact that no answer had been received from the school board, and asked that the matter be brought to their attention. Both Corridors Omitted. "June 24. 1907, the president of the school board replied that: 'On motion the board or dered that both corridors be omitted,' which restored the assembly ball to the condition originally intended by the architect and in spector of buildings, but necessitated a fourth revision of the plans. So that it will be seen that the architect was not per mitted to proceed with the plans until this date, and they were completed in August and submitted to the inspector of build ings. who has prepared the specifications for printing and distribution. It requires about t?o weeks to advertise, and. therefore, the bids should be received In October. "If the school board had not insisted on the changes in the second set of plans, which action they reversed in their letter of May 24. 1907, the plans would have been completed last March and the work started In April. But even under the most hurried and unusual conditions the building could not have been ready for occupancy this fall, as It is a very large fireproof structure and will take nearly a year to build. "The law provides that school plans shall be prepared under my supervision, ahd if I had been permitted to prepare these plans without the three changes required by the board of education they would have been ready for the market last January." TO SEE PRESIDENT S DAUGHTER. Demand Made by Visitor to the White House. "I want to see the President's middle daughter." a young man who called at the White House about 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon said. "You know the President has three daughter, and it's the middle one I want to see." Policeman (Jllbert heard the statement and asked the visitor what was his business at the White House. He repeated that he was there to see the second daughter ot the President because he was to become her husband. The caller went to the watch box with the policeman ar.d was searched. "He came clean," was the remark made about him when it was seen that he was without anything In his pockets. Fred Rosenberg was the name given, his age as twenty-five years and his calling as that of a sailor. Bos<*ni'erg said he had been in the navy and that he had recently lived in Philadelphia. He l.ad become tired of working and thought that as the son-in law of the President he could have an easy time in life. The prisoner offered no ob jection to going to the police station, and shortly after he reached the first precinct fie was fast asleep on a cot. It was alleged that he was of unsound mind, and Sanlta-y Officer Sroufe will have his mental con dition determined by the police surgeons. Charge of Permitting Gaming. A party of alleged poker players were surprised last night about 10 o'clock at the house of Thomas Petty. 1244 Union street southwest, by Detective Reinhardt of the fourth precinct and Policemen Hutchinson and Davis When the police entered the house they found nearly a dozen men there. Some of them, it is alleged, were found seated about a card table. One of the three officers took the "pot." which contained less than $4, and Petty and a friend named William Jones of 1119 ?lth street southwest were arrested. They were taken to the fourth precinct station and held to answer charges of permitting gaming, the alleged players being sum moned as witnesses. Two packs of cards and the money taken from the table were lit Id a* evidence. COURTS TO RESUME SESSIONS OPENING OF THE FALL TERM WILL OCCUR TUESDAY. Heavy Dockets in All the Branches. Plans of Appellate Tribunal. Davis Case. The summer vacation of the District Supreme Court is practically over. Tuesday | next will witness the assembling of the chief Justice and his five associates for the opening ot the October or fall term of court. In the corridors of the city hall, which have had a deserted appearance, will again be seen arriving Justices, law yers, Jurors and litigants, and the buzz of exchanging greetings will be heard. The court rooms, all but one of which have been out of use for three months, will re sound with the time-honored Oy ?! OyezI of the court criers as they formally an nounce the opening of the session in the several courts. There will l>e no change of presiding Justices. Chief Justice Clabaugh and Jus tices Anderson. Gould and Wright -ire al ready here and Justices Barnard and Staf ford are expected to arrive tomorrow. Little or no business beyond the rormal opening of the courts and tiie examination of jurors will b" transacted "uesday. as :t rarely happens that a complete par.el ol jurors is secured at the first examination. A large docket of cases awaHs each justice, whether he hears equity, civil or criminal business. Twenty-nine causes aro set for hearing in October before Chief Justice Clabaugh in Equity Court No. 1. and thirty-two before Justice Gould 'n Equity Court No. 2. The difference is accounted for by the fact that three more cases were left over from the June term in K juity Court No. 2 than in the other equity branch. Seventeen ras?s on this docket are for divorce. Justices Anderson and Wright face a calendar of 534 civil cases, x!ie dis position of which is to be divided b twetn them. In the criminal courts, in add tion to '-he important cases of Mrs. Bradley. Gaston Philip, the handbooks, the bucket shops and the ice trust, there are to ba t:ied aboiit seventy-five persons now in jail and easily as many more who are at liberty on bail. Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals will also meet for the October term next Tuesday, and the clerk has already assigned him the first ten cases on the special calendar for ne<i.n*ig that day. The first case is th * appeal of William Davis, the New York bOjkm::ker, who was convicted of violating the iavv against setting up a gaming table by making books on the races at Banning. Chief Justice Shepard of the Appellate Court is in the city and Associate Justice Robb is expected tomorrow. The other member of the court. Associate Justice MeComas, will not sail from Europe uatil October 1?, and is not expected in Washing ton before October 18. Justice MeComas, who is on his bridal tour, was taken ill while In Paris, and on convalescing went to the German springs, where, it is under stood, he suffered a relapse. He has, how ever, fully recovered and expects to sail next week. As Justice Robb has also been In poor health, it is not improbable that the court may determine to hear no cases unttl the arrival of Justice MeComas. As that will be late in the month the hearings may be postponed until November. That course, if adopted, would not dis please many of the lawyers, who, owing to vacation apathy, have left the prepara tion of briefs until the last moment. The delay would perhaps upset the plans of United States District Attorney Baker, who had hoped to secure an opinion by the Court of Appeals in the Davis case before the opening of the fall meeting at Benning The court, however, Is empowered to ask one of the justices of the District Supreme Court to sit to complete the full bench. Such course may be adopted, and the ab sence of Justice MeComas have no effect on the court's disposition of business. NORTHEAST SUBURBANITES. Meeting Held in Langdon Hall Fri day Evening. The Septemner meeting of the Northeast ern Suburban Citizens' Association was held In Langdon Hall Friday evening when Messrs. Omar Nigh of Langdon, John Steige of Woodridge and Robert S. Campbell of East Woodridge were admitted to member ship. President Lawson reported that he had made a special visit to the District build ing relative' to the washout along the rec ently filled portion of Rhode Island avenue between 10th and 18th streets northeast, and was assured that it would receive prompt attention; also that 24th street will be improved. He also stated that he was hopeful of getting the right of way granted by the director of the National Lutheran Home for the proposed opening of Evarts street westwardly to Rhode Island avenue. He said the Catholics had already granted the right of way through their property. Secretary L. H. Patterson reported that he had conferred with Mr. L. R. Gabril relative to the condition of several streets in the northeastern section and was assured they will receive early attention. He had also interviewed the sewer department offi cials relative to the status of the north eastern Intersecting sewer and was inform ed that under the present contract about three thousand feet had already been com pleted, but that they were now meeting with obstructions imposed by certain prop erty holders who refused to grant the right of way. He had also conferred with Mr. Ashford, inspector of buildings, and was assured the plans for the engine house were ready and that the contract would be awarded and the work begun early in Octo ber, and that the plans for tiie six-room addition to the school house were nearly completed. Mr. g. G. Mason, chairman of the com mittee on schools of the association, had also been investigating schoolhouse mat ters and confirmed the report of the secre tary. Mr. C. P. Hunt stated he proposed to have offered to the District appropriation bill an amendment providing $1,21*1 for low ering and grading Brentwood road between South Dakota avenue and Central avenue northeast, and he requested the indorse ment of the association, which was granted. A petition was presented by Mr. Joe H. Langford from citizens residing on Frank lin street, east of 24th street northeast, re questing the association to endeavor to get the District authorities to grade the street on that square and also 24th street, from Franklin street to its intersection with Mills avenue at as early a day as possible. The petition was approved and referred to the street committee. On motion of Mr. J. L Knopp the Com missioners were requested to provide in tKeir estimates for grading and macadamiz ing Lawrence street from 18th to 22d street, and 22d street from Lawrence street to Rhode Island avenue. After an interchange of views relative to different street improvements requested by Messrs. A. L. Teele, D. D. Love, J. L. Kause, H. A. Veith. G. W. Crane. William Gochenhour, F. X. Higdon, J. J. Baker, Le land Barton. B. Adams, Frank Hatley, W. A. Love, S G. Mason and others the fol lowing named members, representing the several subdivisions, were appointed a com mittee to consider the different requests for street improvements: William Gochen hour, Thomas S. Collins, M. E. Sabin, G. W. Crane, Walter Phelps, A. L. Teele, J. L. Knopp. F. M. Hatley and S. G. Mason. Mr. A. L Teele, chairman of the commit tee on lights and streets, made an encour aging report relative to the prospect of hav ing the gas main extended along Rhode Island avenue as far as gra.'ed, and stated that Mr. Hart of the gas company had as sured him that it would be extended to other populous sections when petitioned by a sufficient number of citizens agreeing to take the gas to justify the expense. A pe tition was immediately started for North l>angdon, Woodridge. Elllston Terrace, Irv ing and Jackson streets. The association adjourned subject to the call of the president. Fire Quickly Extinguished. Occupants of house 327 13th street south west were aroused last night about 11 o'clock when a blaze was discovered in a rear room on an upper floor. A pedestrian who was passing at the time an outcry was made turned in an alarm from box 4t2. summoning several companies of the file department. Some clothing In the room in which the blaze originated was de s'royed. but the building was not damaged. | Mrs. Henry Cowan occupies the house. Our Stock of Carpets, Rugs And other Floor Coverings is ex ceedingly attractive this season. All sorts of rich patterns and beautiful color effects are shown in every good make and the val ues we confidently believe are bet ter than you can get anywhere else in this city. Velvet Rugs, size 27x54; new and very pretty pat terns. Special at Axminster Rugs, size <p> ^ r>>o, 9x12: rich designs and 11 (I DQ D colorings. Special at J1 Room-size Tapestry Brussels Rugs, 9xl<>.&; elegant effects. Spe cial at Velvet Rug?, size !!xl2: a fine assortment of new patterns. Special at Tapestry Brussels Carpet / Q _ of excellent quality. Per yard.. OoC Ingrain Carpet; yard wide; /\ (T\ good assortment of new pat- ttV'C terns. Yard Oilcloth In new and pretty patterns. Per square yard Heavy I.inoleum; good ef fects. Per square yard Inlaid Binoleum: handsome patterns. Per square yard 98c Store Service== Blunders. A cinder in the eve is a little thing, but it hurts a whole lot. A slight inattention, a peevish word, neglect to show goods prop erly may drive you to another store?it hurts vou and us. A slight mar in the finish on a piece of furniture?it hurts. Good as our service is we arc always striving to avoid blunders and correct blunderers. Human heads and hearts and hands?willing hut fallible. Fach striving to do his best; but best comes only through experience and experience comes with years of service. If today learns from yesterday, there's reason to believe that to morrow will gain wisdom from today. We've learned from the yesterdays what we think will be best for today and tomorrow. The system has been simplified; the onlooker se<*s none of it. Red tape has gone to the rag-bag. This must be the best store in the country every dav in the vear. It grew great that way, and it will never forget its best friend? Thoroughness. f ? , i ^ I ,;n?c and <\?mfortable Hooker of this in ?>;>k or mahog.iny finish?well ronxtr lictod and finely fin ished. Only $2.98 II" YOU TAKE PR1DIC in a handsome dining room come and look at theSe pieces. The Sideboard is five feet wide and is richly carved. It is all quartered oak. with very fine fin is'li. French bevel-plate The China Cabinet to match has glass upper shelf and mirror pan els in the two top shelves. Beau tifully made and finished. j| Price only Credit. We are always glad to ar range accommodating terms of credit if you wish. The pay ments can be arranged to siut vottr income. ?r <> ttcrfittcrortt ft A ft ft ft ft A ft A A ft ft ft ft ft S S 8 # S ? S fi S S S S fi S .?. J JS Jf JS.JE. Jf Ji, JS,JS ^ i..i. Long-Range Shooting. Word comes from Provincetown, Mass., that there is Intense rivalry between the battleships of the Atlantic fleet as to which will make the best score at long-range fir ing. The main body of the fleet Is anchored off Barnstable, where the shooting Is now in progress. In succession the ships go to Provincetown to test the accuracy of their guns, by firing at a small target planted near Cape Cod, and return to Barnstable, cleared for action, so to speak, for their long-range practice, which is being watched with the keenest enthusiasm by all the officers of the fleet; and the citizens of Barnstable are also taking considerable interest in the competition, doubtless stimu lated by the presence of a number of the officers' wives, who naturally share the enthusiasm of their husbands. The con cussion of tin- big guns makes all the windows of Barnstable rattle in response to each ihct. though the ships are ten or twelve miles away, but the general Interest In the fhooting is such that this is not considered as a nuisance. Several siuix have already finished their firing, and up to the present time the Ala bama has e;nv:ed off the honors by making th? rernarkaole score of 80 per cent of hits with her liuse thlrteen-inch guns, the fir ing of which was directed by Lieut. I^tndenbe-gvr, who, by the way, was a member of the navy rifle team which won the national trophy at Camp Perry, Ohio, last n-i-ntfc. The la: get -..s.-d for this practice is a canvas screen thirty feet high and sixty feet wide, and it ih remarkable how small it looks at f distance of three to four miles. The thips steam past the target at" a distance varying from 5,000 to 7,000 | yards, according to the power of the guns they carxy, and firing continues as the. ship steams away from the target until these distances are, respectively, about 7,<>0t to 0,000 yards. The Alabama made her splendid record at a distance of about 6,000 yards, or over three land miles. The Virginia and similar vessels fired at greater ranges and made a less percentage of lifts, though their shoot ing was very creditable, especially as this was their first practice of this kind. The Georgia made nearly Ho per cent of hits with her 12-inch guns and over :*> per cent with 8-Inch guns, and the Virginia made something over .'10 per cent with both 12 inch and N-inch guns, which results are re garded as quite satisfactory for a ship's first attempt, considering the small size of the target and the long distances at which these ships shoot, this distance being about three and a half land miles when they be gan firing, while steaming on a diagonal course away from the target, and about four and a half when they finish. Of course, a great many more hits vould be made if the target was as large as a battleship. Those who have witnessed such shooting from on board ship describe the scene as one of Intense interest and enthusiasm, par ticularly the moment of suppressed excite ment just before t..e ship arrives at the po sition to commence firing: but when the signal le given to open fire with all guns the tension is relieved and all hands turn their glasses on the target anu watch the splnedld, roaring flight of the great 1,000 pound shells, which are aimed by the skill ful gunners, who In turn are directed by the gunnery officers stationed high up on the foremast. These latter bear the brunt of the strain, for upon them devolves the greatest share of the responsibility for the success of the shooting?the result of the training of the year preceding the practice? for all of a ship's training has for its object success in hitting at long ranges, or "bat tle ranges," as it Is called;-and, Incident ally, one great object Is to "do up" her friendly rivals. It Is for this reason that the Interest In training Is maintained by every man concerned throughout the entire year. All the gunners strive to make the best scores at the gunners' testing-out prac tice in the spring (for which purpose they fire at a small target, ten to sixteen feet high, at a distance of 1,000 yards), so that they may be selected for the honor of firing the guns at the battle practice In the fall. Wind Effects on Bullets. It has t*een found that the wind has a different effect on the new sharp-pointed bullet, recently adopted for the army, than on the round-pointed bullet which has been In use. Therefore changes will necessarily have to be made la the wind gauges of the JAVYNEWS small arm. Capt. Win. A. Phillips of the ordance department has been ordered to the Sandy Hook proving ground for duty per taining to experimental firings to be con ducted with the magazine rifle, caliber .30, model of 1003. with a view of determining what changes are advisable In the gauge. Ordnance Department Promotions. The death of Col. John E. Greer of the ordnance department will result in the pro motion of Lieut. Col. Andrew H. Russell to be colonel, Maj. \Vm. W. Gibson of the general staff to be lieutenant colonel and Capt. Wm. H. Tschappat to be major. Naval Promotions by Selection. A full Investigation is being made, it Is said, at the instance of President Roo^ev-.-'l. of the question of promotion by selection in the navy, the executive desiring to ascer tain the practicability of that'mjthod <.f advancement In the commissioned grades of the active personnel of that branch of the government service. It Is said that the general projKisition meetii with the favor of Rear Admiral Brownson, chief of the bu reau of navigation, fc ho is expected to make some reference to the subject in his forth coming annual report. Thos? opp iso.l to the system, and It Is said their name is legion, contend there Is no possibility thet Congress will look with any sort of favor on the proposition. Marine Camp on Canal Zone. For strategic and other purposes the camp of the marine battalion on duty in the canal zone will be retained at Bas Obispo for the present. Accommodations there will be made sufficient to comfortably care for the officers and men stationed there. It was recently recommended Uy the commanding officer of the marine bat talion that new marine barracks be erected on a site selected on the Sabanas roads, about one and a half miles from the rail road station, in Panama, but an investiga tion of that location developed the fact that Jt was not large enough to accommodate the garrison. Capt. Pillsbury's New Detail. Capt. J. E. Pillsbury, recently assigned to duty as a member of the general board of the navy, has also been appointed a member of the joint army and navy board. That board considers all matters relating to the military and naval defense of the country. Infantry Going to Annapolis. Orders have been Issued by Gen. Grant, commanding the Department of the East, for the 23d United States Infantry at the Jamestown exposition to proceed to An napolis, Md? by battalion at convenient periods for target practice at the Naval Academy range. Trial of a Naval Scout Ship. The Navy Department has been advised by the Bath iron works that the naval scout ship Chester will be ready for trial some time in November or early in December. Interest attaches to the event for the rea son that the Chester Is the first of the three new vessels of this class to be tried. Army Discipline for Sailors. The unusual anomaly of an army court sentencing to dishonorable discharge en listed men of the navy recently occurred in two cases of ordinary seamen under treatment at the Port Bayard Hospital, New Mexico. The court sentenced these men to dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of pay and confinement at hard labor for ten months. A situation of this kind is unlikely hereafter for the reason that tuberculosis patients from the navy here after will be sent to the Naval Hospital for the treatment of such diseases at Fort Lyon, Ccl Record for Wireless Telegraphy. A new record has been made in wireless telegraphy by the navy, for it was reported to the Navy Department yesterday that the wireless telegraph station near Savannah, Ga., picked up a message sent from the ar mored cruiser Pennsylvania approaching San FranciKcc from Honolulu. The best previous record was made by the Wash ington navy yard station several months ago. when It received a message from the naval wireless rtation at Los Angeles, Cal. Discharge of Short-Term Sailors. The Navy Department has arranged for the discharge of the enlisted men whose terms expire prior to July 1, 1908, and who are attac l.id to the battleships and other vessels of tro Atlantic fleet going to the Pacific ocean in December. These men will be detailed to various ships on the At lantic coast and will await their discharge, their places being filled by other men. Those who agree to ie-enlist in advance of the date of their diwtarge will be retained and kejt on board their respective ships -with a view of raking: the trip to the Pacific. Greater Security of Turrets. Experiments with two types of shutters to take the place of the present device j used in the floor of turrets of ships of war j have been authorized by the Navy Depart i ment. This step Is the result of the c.iti cism which has been made concerning the > resent apparatus and which is regarded by soijne naval officers as unsatisfactory bocause of the possibi':ty of sparks from the charge from guns dropping through It Into the handling room below, thus adding tc the dar.gtr of explosions. New Fire Control Instruments. The naval ordnance bureau has in con templation the purchase of a number of fire control instruments of the latest type for vessels of the navy, but before letting the contract has appointed a board con sisting of Rear Admiral A. R. Couden, Lieut. Commander J. S. McKean of the League Island navy yard and Lieut. J H. Holden of the Washington navy yard, for the purpose of looking into the cost of the Instruments and fixing upon the contract price. Reprimand of Lieut. Walker. "First Lieut. Richard W. Walker, 12th | Cavalry, at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., was re- ? cently convicted by court-martial of charges of disrespectful conduct toward his superior officer, Maj. Thomas B. 1 Dugan, 12th Cavalry, of failure to comply j with orders and of neglect of duty, and was sentenced to be reprimanded by the reviewing authority. Gen. J. M. K. Davis, commanding the Department of the Gulf, approved the sentence arid said: "By this conviction Lieut. Walker is stamped as having shown that he lacks some of the qualities of a good soldier. His future course must prove that this lesson has not been with out effect. He will be restored to duty." Local Court-Martial Cases. Gen. Grant, commanding the Department of the East, lias acted on the cases of five enlisted men stationed at nearby posts recently tried by courts-martial for vari ous offenses. Private George W. Fenrieh, Troop H. 13tli Cavalry, at Fort Myer, was convicted of absence without leave and losing cloth ing, and sentenced to forfeit $50 paid for his apprehension and to be confined at hard labor for three months. The period of confinement was reduced to two months. Privates Howard E. Sonner, 1st Com pany, Coast Artillery, and James W. Eu bank, Company D, 4th Infantry, both at Fort Myer, were convicted of desertion, and sentenced to be dishonorably dis charged and to eighteen months- confine ment at hard labor. Second Class Private Otto F. Skilhn. Company E, 2d Battalion of Engineers, at Fort Myer, convicted of larceny, was sen tenced to be dishonorably discharged and to six months' confinement at hard labor. Private Herman Frank, Troop F, 14th Cavalry, at Fort Myer, was sentenced to te dishonorably discharged and to two ears' confinement at hard labor on con viction of the charge of desertion. The sentence In each of these cases was approved by the department com mander. To Be Completed by Government. The Navy Department has authorized the transfer of the cruiser feouth Dakota from the Union Iron works to the government, which transfer will be made in a few days." The painting and unfinished work on the , ship will be done at the Male Island navy yard at the expense of the contractor, whose relations with the government are thus terminated. Midshipmen to Meet Obligations. The Navy Department lias approved the recommendation of the superintendent of the Naval Academy for a change in the academic regulations so as to permit the reservation of $120 per annum from the pay of each midshipman while at the Naval Academy Instead of $S4, as has been the case hitherto. A very conservative esti mate of the actual cost of the necessary outfit of the midshipmen in uniform and equipment upon graduation amounts to This does not include the uniform overcoat, which he is supposed to take with him from the academy. At least $ir>0 is usually expended for civilian clothes, aud other items amount to J-147. Other neces sary. articles bring the total to which is the least amount the graduate should have at his disposal In order that lie may not leave the academy in debt. The Navy Department believes that the new arrange ment will induce the midshipmen to pay more attention to their expenditures and tend to cultivate the spirit of economy. The Little Girl's School Dress. *254?For the small gfir. who is just l>egin? ning her school career the littl?* frock here pictured will be found most desirable. It is made in jumper effect, with a simulated guimpe, which may l>e composed. If pre ferred, of the same material as the dress instead of a contrasting one. as shown. The frock is very simply made, both blouse and skirt being gathered to the prettily shaped belt. Scotch plaid is here suggested for modeling it, with red surah for the simulated guimpe, but this development is capable of numerous variations, ? plain or as elaborate as one may choose to make them. The medium size calls for ll* yarJs of 27-lnch material for t' e yoke and sleeves, and yards of the same width for the overblous ? and skirt. 4254?5 sizes. 8 to 7 years. The price of this pattern is 10c. PATTERN ORDER 15L.VNK Fashion Dept. The Star. Wash.. D. t". For in cents inclosed please send pat tern to tiie following address: Size Pattern No. 4254 Name Address ClU St ate