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ITHE EVENING STAR. With tutor Moral ag Bdttioa. WASHINGTON, SUNDAY Jwne 8- 1913 THEODORE W. NOTES Editor m ZTUlnf Star lfewspaper Company. ftnaiB*** nfflr*. ltih St. and PeM?sylT?nia Avenue. Now York Tribune HulMlnC Phlra*?. OB'c: First National Bank Building. European CXfce: 3 Regent St.. London. England. Th? K*en<nc Star, with the Snnday morning edition. Is delivered by "-.trier* within the city at 4S .-wito per month: dally only. 2S eent* P*y r-.^tb: Sunday only. a> cent* per ?.r?'? mar be sent by mail, or telephone Main CV.r?rtlon is wade by carrier at the end of each month INrable tn sdr?n< e--by mail. K'St?S' Pr?P?W nailT. ffimdar Included one month. ?> eeilta. T?fil!V. SuTidar excepted. one month. 40<rents. Saturday Star. $1 year; Sunday Star. $-.4? year Entered ?* neeend-elaee mail matter at the post offlce at Washington. I? r: rrin order to avoid del!??. "T'^houM personal letter* to T\IK ? J- ..onno.-t^d ?ot be addressed to any ,n,JlTj ^. ? or to Wi'h the office, but clmplv to Till'- STAR, ?t-.e Editorial or Rn^lnew Department. according to V nor ??r purpose. The District and Public Offices. \V hlle it is perhaps not to be expected ? hat ?"ongress will primarily consider tlie ?welfare of the District tf it should take up the question of the apportionment of offices Taw with a view to its possible ,>eal. this is nevertheless a consideration r>f vita! importance to the local com munity. I'nder the present system of the division of public offices the people of the District have no chance to obtain pre ferment. inasmuch as they are barred by the lack of numbers. Their quota has been lout? since filled, and in order to secure appointments they must go else where and secure ?residences" before they can even get on the list ot' eligible?. This involves a serious waste of time ami means and is moreover a subterfuge that should not be made necessary by the law for any citizen to get a chance to work for the government If the District were free to compete for govern ment places without reference to popula tion it could supply the government with a much larger number of "eligibles" than the public service needs. Its schools are among the best in the country, and they turn out graduates who can successfully ? ???mpete for positions of any grade with the graduates of any other educational system. These young men and women li\e in the governmental atmosphere and are familiar with all the traditions of the public service. They make ideal clerks for the federal administration when they manage to pass the barriers which the apportionment law raises against them. By shutting them out through this absurd distribution of places in proportion to population the povernment Is depriving it self of valuable services which it should, on the contrary, eagerly seek and highly. a ppreciate. The virtual closure of the government -ervice to the District is a heavy handi cap to it industrially. It is the policy ? if Congress to prevent the development of Washington as a manufacturing cen ter, and consequently there are few op portunities here outside of retail trade and the professions for the youth of the capital. Practically barred from the gov ? mment departments because of the ap portionment law, deprived of opportunities to enter trades save in a narrowly re stricted field, the young men of Wash ington are compelled to take up profes sional studies or enter the business of handling real estate or selling insurance or ? some other such line of occupation. No city in the United States of its size affords so few chances to its young citi zens for profitable and advancing em ployment. This is not because of any lack of spirit or enterprise on the part of the community. It is hedged in by congressional limitations and the opera tion of capltal-makiner policies, and the one great industry and field of employ ment to which it should be encouraged to look with confidence for relief from this repressive condition Is, by the illogical and spoils-promoting statute, closed to it. Some of Japan'* agitators are disposed Ot regard as ' racial distinction" the lack of close and sympathetic understanding nevitablv due to differences in language ard custom too deep rooted to be effaced in a few generations. The interchange ?Vat i? sought is not one of art or litera ture or ideas in social economy, but re lates. when frankly analyzed, to conimer rial advantages. ?i??? china has an eminent aviator named Tom Gunn. Oriental pride will hardly reRie< t to present the claim that China th. original kite-flying nation. ? > country that undertakes to conduct legislation without lobbyists and horse racing without bookmakers must be ?v edited w ith considerable uplift I >\ ster T'.a\ epicures do sav that it th' appetite wearies of milk there is noth ing more pleasantly invigorating than a j ., up of cl.nu brorti Eleventh-Hour Legislation. Representative Johnson has made a most portentous discov.ry if his conten tion Is correct that bills passed after mid night on the :id of March and signed by the President are invalid. Not only the Dis trict appropriation bill for the next fiscal ear. with 'ts Important "riders" giving the District its pu:d> utilities commis sion and its new excise law. but a large majority of the appropriation acts for the last century a- 1 a quarter would, bv this construction of the Constitution, be null and void. To *et up the claim that the parage and signature of bills after mid night on the of March is illegal it is attack ti e whole s>stem ?>f legislation from the beginning of the government. No anxiety nee.l be felt in th> District on this score. If a way should be found to carry this matter t > a test, by an ap peal to the Supreme Court to determine the legality .d enactments in these cir cumstances. it is inconceivable that ti:?? ourt w ? >uld rul* against th? *? eleventh hour laws It has been the unbroken pract.ee n' Congre-s from the beginning! to t arry legislative sessions along from one calendar day to another. A "leg!*- J lative day" ha? ofte n lasted over a week. I as in the cas? of u filibuster when ad journment was rendered impossible by virtue of a broken quorum Since Speaker Reed made his famous ruling that everv member physically present was also legislatively present, thereby en abling him to "count a quorum." this practice has been a less frequent feature of congressional proceedings, but it is nevertheless recognized as a proper expe d>!>* As long as it is possible to maintain t:ie fiction of a legislative day extending beyond the limit of a calendar day, for mid-session purposes of the work of Con grfs*. there is no conceivable reason why that principle of procedure should not apply to the end of the session, when there is the greatest congestion of all the year. If the Constitution provided that the session oI Congress should end at midnight on the ::d of March, there would be force in the conteBtfMl that all bills passed after that hour?re gardless of any expedient such as set ting back the clock?are inoperative. But practice and the law Itself run contrary wise to this point. From the beginning the <'ongress has been brought to a close at noon on the 4th of March, legislatively considered since midnight of the ,'5d as an extension of the preceding day. In Hinds" Digest of the Constitution and Rules of Parliamentary Practice it is stated in a note to section "Z of Article I of th?- Constitution: "The term of a Congress begins on th?^ 4th of March of the odd numbered years and extends through two years. This results from the action of the Continental Congress on September III. 17HM. In de claring. on authority conferred by the federal convention, "the first Wednesday in March next' to he 'the time for com mencing proceedings under the said Con stitution ' This date was the 4th of March. 17>s? And soon after the first Congress assembled a joint committee de termined that the terms of representa tives and senators of the first class com menced on that day and must necessa rily terminate with the ,"d of March, 175M. By a practice having the force of common law. the House meets at YZ m. when no other hour is fixed, and as legislative rather than calendar days are observed by the houses of Concress. it iias fol lowed that the ,'!d of March must extend to th?' hour of l;i m on March 4. and this hour has been tixed as that on which a Congress expires."' As for the approval of tiie journal. It is obvious that this is a formality which cannot affect the validity of laws passed in the closing hours. The House and the Senate cannot approve the journals of the days current, and when the House expires with tiie fall of the gavel at noon on the 4th of March?legislatively the J?d ?it cannot have cognizance further of the journal of its proceedings. So long as the fact is recorded in tiie records of the houses and the documents themselves hear witness by signatures and otherwise that hills have been passed and signed by tbe executive at least constructively with in the constitutional period of time, no question can be raised which a court could entertain as invalidating legislative procedure. Mr. Page and the Pilgrims. Ambassador Page received his baptism of kind words in London Friday night, and responded in a felicitous way. The Pilgrim Society was host, and the greatest living soldier of Great Britain presided. Everything passed off delight fully. The world, particularly the political world, is a bit cynical. Some smiling is always aroused by such sentiments as were expressed at this London banquet. There are men who exclaim, "bosh!" Others, who prefer th-- vernacular, say. "rats!" Such men will tell you that tine words butter no parsnips; that the two countries are still at heart deeply distrustful of each other; that their rivalries are fierce, and may produce an early clash; that, as the darkest hour is just before dawn, the sweetest lip service is often just be fore the opening of hostilities. lx>ok out! Think of the Panama canal. And much more of the same kind. Never mind. The two countries are friends today, and every influence should be exerted to keep them so. The Pilgrims Society is a valuable agency to that end. Its meetings in London and in New York are all to be welcomed as contributory to a noble cause; and Mr. Page could not have been introduced to his constitu ency more fortunately than as the guest of this admirable organization. Our representatives abroad are party men, but national in commission. Sec tionalism counts for nothing in their line. | Whether from north, south, east or west, they stand for the whole of the United States in its relations with foreign pow ers. This will appear in Mr. Page's case, as it has appeared in the cases of men be fore him. With the single exception of Mr.?Bayard, he is the first southern born and trained man to represent the country at our London post since the civil war. All the rest have been of northern or middle state residence and connections. But only words of friendship and striv ings for good will have marked the la bors of our representatives to Great Britain. The short flurry about Ven ezuela was not conducted from this side solely through Mr. Bayard, but, in the main, directly by the State Department. To this record Mr. Page is expected to add, and probably will add, effectively. He is an accomplished man of broad, na tional views, and he has received his commission at a time when much impor tance attaches to the broad, national poli cies and purposes of this government. In the discussion of the merits of post office administration Philadelphia is en titled to its doubts about the ability of any Postmaster General to keep up the pact set by John Wanamaker. Applications for appointments may be refei red to heads of departments, but before any definite policies are under taken it is assumed that the White House will be consulted. Mr. Wilson agajn evidences a de.-ire to exerci.su the privileges of an ordinary human being by insisting on carrying a latch ke> to the President's room in the Capitol. Dialf t literature and spelling reform iiave combined to create some doubt as to whether incorrect spelling Is to be considered a fault or an accomplishment. ? ? The soft drinks precedents set by men of national prominence proved very timely hot weather hints. The Tariff in the Senate. t in this; tariff debate soon to open in the Senate the republicans must, and proba bly will, have a higher object than put ting the democrats temporarily in a hole. They must make a record upon which they will be willing to stand and have their party stand in the contest of next year. Ius suppose that the Fnderwood re vision In its final shape does not satisfy"! the country Or, putting tin case in stronger form, suppose wide discontent fallows. Suppose the cost of living is not materially, if at all. lowered. Sup-j pose important lint.- ot business are ad versely affected by the new rate? of duty, j and production is reduced and labor suf fers. Suppose, as the result of the closing of mills and mines and the cutting down of wages, the Secretary of Cot/irnerce takes | the field with his gigantic snickersnee drawn, and b?gins to lay about him with vigor, adding t>> the confusion and dis may throughout the countrj. If such a condition is produced?and if oil the cards of fate it should show it self within a year after the new law be comes operative?the tight for control of the next House and for a third of the Senate will be strenuous, indeed, with the chances favoring the republicans. Suppose the democrats carry the day by only a meager majority, showing a radi cal change of sentiment since last year, when they won a record victory for House membership. Or suppose the republicans capture the House, which would show a much more radical change of sentiment. In either CHse the tariff will be In evi dence again in the winter and spring of lttlR. and the next presidential contest will turn upou that ibsue. The country wfl. want the trouble caused by the new law remedied; and as the democrat? will be responsible for the trouble, the likeli hood will be the calling of the republicans back to power. It will behoove the republican senators then to proceed at this time with next year and 191H in mind. What they now propose as against the items of the T'n derwood bill will be quotable and quoted in the two campaigns to follow They and their party will have to answer on the stump for the amendments now of fered and the speeches now made in sup port of them. And the particular question is in order now, if the republicans do carry the next House, and pass a tariff Mil through it for use in the next presidential campaign, how will they lay the income tax. and what customs duties will they lower or abolish to make way for it? The demo crats in introducing the new tax do so at the expense of both wool and sugar. i The United States and Mexico. It will be necessary soon for the I'nited States to take action definitely with ref erence to the Mexican government, which has not yet been recognized by this coun try. Appeals are coming in from various quarters In Mexico voicing the apprehen sions of Americans there resident regard ing the inability of the Mexican authori ties to protect them, and asking the I'nited States to do something in their behalf. This government cannot do any thing on its own account unless it actu ally intervenes in Mexico. But it is strongly indisposed to do this, which will ' involve a costly and perhaps a prolonged | war. The alternative is to recognize the j .Mexican government so tiiat it will be in a position to deal directly with the au thorities at Mexico City. w ho are now ap proachable only informally. This is an anomalous situation anil should not con tinue longer. If the .'nited States had north ing at stake in Mexico, if its people were not exposed to danger and losses there, it could afford to .withhold its recognition of the liuerta administration indefinitely. But it has more at stake than any other of the powers, and yet it is virtually the only one of the nations to refuse to rec ognize the government now established at the Mexican capital. It is true that the northern and western states of Mexico are in revolt and the authority of the Huerta administration is by no means universally established. But the lack of recognition by the I'nited States is in itself in part a cause of this condition. If the Huerta government is the product of force it will certainly not be relieved of that taint by the application of further force to subdue the now rebelious states. The I'nited States is gaining nothing by delay, but on the contrary would seem to be losdng prestige as well as possibly putting in jeopardy the lives and property of American citizens. With Weston pedestrianizing and Henry Gassaway Davis equestrianizing. Dr. Os ier should again explain to the public that some of his remarks were much misun-y derstood "Senatorial investigation reveals the fact that the wealth of a true philosopher and statesman consists of wisdom and not earthly riches. In all this speculation on the possible effect on business of a new tariff, the Standard Oil Company says nothing and. cuts melons. Charles W. Morse is one of the men who find no sport so invigorating as a brisk chase after the dollar. The question is not "What is a lobby ist?" so much as "Who is a lobbyist?" SHOOTING STABS. BY I'HILAXDKR JOHNSON. A Faithful Copyist. "What's the. trouble with this letter?" asked the manager. "It's full of repeti tions." "It's quite correct," replied the alert stenographer. "The new man who dic tated it stutters." Ancestral Advantage. "Some of the founders of noble lines couldn't read and write." "Yes," replied Miss Cayenne. "If they had been accomplished in matters of language they might have organized as sociations and fought among ^themselves instead of going forth to meet the foe," The Struggle for Altitude. Though Mercury they represent. With wings upon eacli ankle, "This bit of fancy was not meant To make our feelings rankle. Oh, Mercury within the glass. As sumftier warmth grows greater. Don't seek your limit to surpass. Yott're not an aviator. The Audience. "Ar-- you going away this summei ?" "Not if I can avoid it." replied Mr. ? iroin her. "I'm going to stay home w here it s quiet and cool and let niy friends and relatives hustle around and try to aipuse me with post cards." Locating the Hardship. "Is tiiis train running on time? "No," replied the conductor, severely. "It's working overtime.'" An income tax might do some good in j curbing the man who is inclined to throw out his chest and brag about the money he is making Recovery. "Will tuat man who ran into your auto mobile recover?' "His lawyer seems to have hopes. ' ' His lawyer?" "Yes. He thinks the man will recover about damages. A Gilded Experiment. 1 \\ (_? was feelin somewhat sporty, down to 1'ohick on the Cnck. We figured out a hoss race as a neat an lancy trick We fenced the uack off proper an' we laid the d.stance out. An we sent requests fur entries to the neighbors 'round about. We didn't give nobody any chancc to sneer or snub; ! We made all comers members of the I'o nicK Jockey Club. j There wasn t only jes' one little drawback to tne fun; i The bosses was so busy that they hadn't time to run. Joe Struthers had to keep his mare a iiaulin' stuff to town. We couldn't git the bosses that belong to Kzry Blown Because, like many others, they are oc cupied jes" now In filiin' their engagements with a har row or a plow. The only equine candidate fur glory an' fur fame Was Uncle Kben s mule that's been laid up because it's lame. I I s men folks ail went back to work a realizin' quick ITha' boos sense ought to set the pace at Rollick on the Crick. WHAT THE GOVERNMENT IS DOING Uncle Sam is an advocate of the health marriage idea. The policy of ministers over the country Health Marriage who demand physi | .. < ians' certificates be Regulation. fore unjting two people in holy matrimony ha? received its first official stamp of approval Likewise an O. K. if put on the suggestion* of health authorities and social workers who want the enactment in all states of laws hased on the pure marriage idea to pro tect contrai^ting parties again insidious diseases which can be transmitted to offspring, more especially tuberculosis and certain infectious blood diseases. The mating of people in good health will have the effect of not only insuring the right of children to a good heredity, but health marriages will be the most effective known means of checking di vorce, because good health makes for contentment. This is the opinion of of ficers of the United States public health service. the bureau ??f the government which is most interested in every move ment whose followers are working for the improvement of the people's health. Surgeon General Rupert Blue and his as sociates today outlined the government s reasons for its interest in a problem which always lies within the jurisdiction of the individual states to solve. ?The health marriage idea presents a public health question which cannot be left entirely to the consideration of physicians." said Dr. Blue. "Nor is it merely a question for the attention of ministers. It is a great social problem of vital interest to every member of society, and is based on the development of a bet ter American citizenship and a nation or healthier people through the protection of women and men and their offspring against insidious diseases, the existence uf which should be given careful thought by every person contemplating marriage. "It would be an extremely good thing if every state would hasten the day when statutes will be adopted which make n^''" essary the presentation of-health certifi cates before marriage. That these laws should be easy of enforcement. the> should not. in my opinion, be too drastic. Both parties planning marriage should have knowledge whether either is dis eased. however, and the provision for a health certificate before marriage is tbe only method of making sure that ihe> will get this knowledge. "As most normal people look forwaia to entering the married state. I believe that the placing of marriage on a health basis will make all people think more of the care of their bodies?more anxious to ward off diseases?and that the general enactment of legislation of this kind will mark one of the longest steps ?hich has ever been made in the encouragement 01 preventive medicine. "Sentiment will always rule in the mak ing of marriages. I suppose, bui lo\e with health will make for a far more Pfr'*" and happv marriage than love without health. More social problems will be solved by putting marriage on a health basis than in any other way. in my opin ion. Normal persons are usually happj and eon t en ted when they are well, and, therefore the most effective check which can be offered for the divorce evil is the oncourag^inf-nt of th<* marriage of healtn>, happy people. ?The spread of the health marriage idea will mean that inen particularly will come to think more of the care of themselves and of the danger of certain infectious social diseases. The day when thinking people cati give even passive support to the so-called double standard is rapidly passing. Young men who think that they must 'sow wild oats and who gi\e little thought to the dangers which await them in riotous dissipation must be taught that the fathers and mothers of the land will not allow their daughters to enter inno cently into a union which may result in the transmission of disease or in the blindness of offspring, or perhap3 111 the ruination of the health or even the death of the mother. "Not only should people on marrying be protected against those diseases which i mav be transmitted from one to the f other, but there is a great need today that our women should be protected auainst men who are either drug habitu ates or dipsomaniacs. Habits of intern-1 perance endanger the happiness of mai - rled life, and are almost as serious a cause of unsound and defective children as are the social diseases. There are also certain non-transmittable diseases, like epilepsy, which if existing in either party should be known before marriage. I "How far the health marriage laws j should go is a matter to be decided care fullv bv the states which make them. There is a question as to how the exami nations should be made, whether by a physician employed by the state or mu nicipality, by the family physician or by a physician to be selected by the father | of the woman to be married. There are many natural reasons fbr supporting the latter proposition, and the chances are that the right of the bride's father to se lect the examining physician will be the principle adopted by most states. These matters are details, however, and the im portant thing Is to encourage the idea of insuring a better and healthier nation of people by encouraging health mar riages." * ajs Moving pictures are coming in for varied uses by the government today. I.ast week the re Government Uses port was made of ? . ? i the value of film Motion Pictures. shows as a factor in increasing the efficiency of laborers engaged on the big irrigation projects in j ; the west, by keeping the men contented j with wholesome amusement after work- I ing hours, and within the last few da> s plans have been completed for the intro duction of moving pictures to give pub lirity to every detail of the work of all | the bureaus of the Department of < oin- | merce. Secretary Kedtield. shortly after coming into office, approved the idea of using moving pictures to show the work of ! the Department of commerce, providing , satisfactory arrangements could be made to get the pictures produced and the ! many details of such a unique publicity ; j experiment could be worked out. He put ! the whole matter up to a committee rep resenting the many bureaus, with Dr. <ieorge C. Havenner. the chief clerk of his department, as chairman, and after much preliminary work announcement Is made that the experiment is about ready to he launched. i Several months will he required for the making of the films, for the territory in which tiie pictures will be made to show the activities of the department ranges i from the fisheries and sealing grounds j of far-off Alaska to the sponge^ culture | stations in southern Florida, Consider I able care must be exercised in the mak ! ing of every set of pictures showing the work of the individual bureaus. The ! films must have a high educational value | and give accurate pictures of the gov ernment men at work in furthering the j commercial interests of the nation, and at [ the same time they must he snappy and Interesting enough to hold public atten tion as readily as the average picture | shown in the hundreds of "movie ' thea ters throughout the country. I I The activities of the Department of commerce offer an excellent opportunity, I officials think, to test the value of mov \ ing pictures for publicitv purposes, fori THE LOBBY HUNT. From the Ki<-hmon?l Virginian. The Senate probably will not need the assistance of the secret service to find the "numerous and insidious lobby *or which President Wilson has directed a search. From the Jersey <"ity Journal. Anyway. 1'resldent W ilson seems to have a better eye for lobbyists than have any of the senators. He can ' see em even where they ain't." From tUe Knoxvllle Journal ami tribune. If the senators fail to tell about the "insidious lobby." President Wilson will supply the needed informa tion. From the Albany Kvenlng Journal. And what are they that are promoting President Wilson s tarifT bill? Are they not lobbyists, too? Ftom the Charleston N? anil Courier. If they expect to get to the lobby, tb?gr 11 have to go pretty low. the work of the various bureaus goes over a much wider range than the a%er age person would suppose h... reaus of the department the steamboat inspection service, the bureau of tion and the bureau of lighthouses a concerned with matters of safety o tra\ei at sea. the fisheries and fur sealing in vestigations come under another Dureau. the coasts are mapped by the coast ani geodetic survey, the bureau of foreign and domestic commerce gathers lntorma tion bearing on every detail of the na tion's commerce, and the bureau 01 i census handles the statistics on tbe na tion's growth in population. industr> wealth. . . . . With careful selection of subjects ana skillful operating of the moving picture cameras. Secretary Redfleld believes J.hat a series of films can be produced when exhibited in various parts or trie country, will give an idea of the depart ment's work to many people who would never be reached through the medium ot government publications. * The longest advance step which has ever been taken in the .operation of the food and drugs act To Guarantee i** silu? Us en" , actment will be the Meat Products. use Df this law to guard against the impurity or misbrand ing of meats and meat products. This action to protect further the health of the people of the country will soon be taken by Secretary David K. Houston of the Department of Agriculture, who is backed by a decision of Attorney Gen eral McRevnoIds on the point that there is nothing in the food and drugs act which prevents its application to meats and meat products. That the pure food law has not been used to prevent the adulteration or sale of unfit meats in the past will be news to many people; in fact, to some of the most earnest advocates of the pure food movement. When the departmental leg ulations which govern the administration of the pure food law were adopted, a paragraph was included which provided that the law should not apply to domestic meats and meat products. The reason, perhaps, was that the meat inspection laws, which operate where the stock is slaughtered for market, were thought to give sufficient protection to insure a pure meat supply. This law does not cover the purity of meats on the market, how ever, as the pure food law applies to other products. Secretary Houston made a number 01 I inquiries why* the pure food law should not apply t? meats, and finding that no ' one in the department had a good answer. ' he went to the government's highest legal ' authority, and Attorney General Mc Reynolds says that there is no reason why the law should not operate against meats. With the meat inspection law operating at the packing houses and the pure food law covering meats and meat products after they have passed Into Interstate commerce, the people of the country have a better insurance of pure food, perhaps, than any other nation in the world. There are a number of important points on which the pure food law will help the consumer and protect him in purchases of meats and meat products. One of the I most Important benefits will come in the application of the new amendment of tne pure food law which makes necessary the marking of all foods sold In package form according to weight, measure or numerical count. Thuf prepared meat products hereafter will be purchased by weight, the same as are steaks or chops. The application of the adulteration and misbranding clauses of the pure food laws to meats and meat products will guaran tee purity and Insure against misleading branding. The right of the government to seize Impure meats has not been exer cised heretofore, but In the future the ex tension of the pure food law will mean that meats, like other products, found unfit for food purposes will be seized and prosecutions started if it is found that they "consist in whole or in part of a filthv. decomposed or putrid animal substance*." Friends of the pure food movement think that there is nothing which Secretary Houston could have done to inspire the confidence of the people of the countrv more Important and vital than the application of the pure food law. to meats and meat products, which form such a large part of the nation's food supply. * I sjs * I A group of experts representing three departments of the government. Agricul ture. Treasury and Conference on Commerce, will meet _ __ , . tomorrow, in the Food Marking. roomg of the Secre tary 'of the Treasury, in the customhouse at New York, to begin the first series of important hearings which have been called for the discussion of the new amendment to the pure food law which provides for the marking of the weight, measure or numerical count on the out side of all packages In which food is sold. The interests of the consumer will come in for thorough consideration, for it was to Insure the consumer a square deal in all purchases of food products that Con gress passed the weights and measures amendment during the closing hours of the last administration. The amendment allows for reawnablc varlat ons of weights and measures, and the amount of these "tolerances," as they are called, which the government will permit must be decided by the committee representing the Agricultural. Treasury and Commerce departments, as provided by law The committee which will receive the, hrb'fs and ii'-ar the arguments of inanu-| facturers and their representatives will consist of nr. Carl 1. Alsberg. chief of the bureau of chemistry; 1.. A. Fisher, in charge of the division of weights an.I measures of the bureau of standards, and F M. Malstead. chief or the customs di vision of the Treasury Department. To decide the amount o> variations to be allowed in the weights and measures of packages will offer one of the hardest problems which have grown out of the administration of the pure food law. Some foods dry out and slulnk atter they are packed, causing considerable variations In weight or measure at times. Just how much of a tolerance should be allowed has long been a source of con tention among the people who tavored the amendment to the pure tood law. Dr. Harvey W. Wiley, for thirty years chief of the bureau of chemistry, has always insisted that no tolerance should be allowed, unless the product was found on examination of samples to be as often over weight or in excess measure as it was under weight or short measure. Dr. Wiley does not believe in the allowance of any variation "hen the variation will always be under the amount marked on the package. Another Important point to be decided bv the committee on tolerances is jug" how much variation to allow in packages or other containers of food. Many man ufacturers find it Impossible to get bot tles oil tiie same size. In handmade bottles a slight variation is expected Some automatic packinn machines vary sometimes in the amount of product put" in a package. The committee looks for ward to an interesting series of hearings, lasting for some weeks, perhaps, during which all sides of the many tolerance problems will be thrashed out. RAYMOND W. Fl LLMAN. THE LAUREATESHIP. From th<- Omaha Wurl<l-Horald. Poets laureate, however, appear to be made and not born. From the Columbus Ohio %'tute Journal. The poet laureateship is now vacant and Kngland is understood to be looking around for some nice man who can't write very good poetry. From the Indianapolis Newi. And yet there Is doubtless a good deal of widely distributed conscious merit in Kngland that was severely shocked by King George's announcement that the laureate business had been closed out permanently. From the Milwaukee Journal. Alfred Austin has died, thus reminding the world that Kngland had a poet lau reate. From the Philadelphia Inquirer. A lot of Kngland's poets are now try | inp to assume an air of nonchalant in I difference. FIFTY TEARS AGO IN TIE STAR Washington was under a strain of \ keen apprehension as a result of Lee's movement of his army j Watching from the base which it ? j had occupied south of the uCll. Lee. Rappahannock following the battle of Chaneellorsville in the spring of 1863. In The Star of June 1, 1*63. is the following article descrip j tive of the state of public feeling here' relative to the possibility of an attack upon the capital: , "Yesterday was one of the 'feverish | Sundays' in the way of sensational rumors to the effect that Lee. with his talked-of army of invasion, was mak ing his appearance at points widely apart, now at Kellys ford, now at Thoroughfare Clap and now at Har pers Ferry. The only one of the rumors that finally took any reliable shape was that of a raid on the OranRn and Alexandria railroad by Mosbv's pang of KUerrillas. which were, how ever. speedily scattered by Stahl's com mand "From what we can ascertain posi tively from the front there serins to be no doubt that the Confederates are shifting position, and the indications arc that they have moved a consider able force up river in the direction of Culpeper. Persons who have hereto fore prophesied as to the moves of the Confederates indicate a belief that a third battle upon the bloody ground of Manassas mai_occur shortly. "Yesterday there were to be seen but few rebel pickets for a distance of ten miles up and down the river front ing Falmouth, and Barksdale's Missis sippi Brigade (13th. 17th. 18th and 21st Regiments), which were drilling Thursday in the vicinity of Fredericks burg? show now no sign of their pres ence. Whatever the rebels are up to. they will not catch our commanders napping, most assuredly. "In relation to the reports in regard to the appearance of the Confederates in the Shenandoah valley the Baltimore A merit an of this morning says: " 'Our city was full of minors on Sat urday of the reappearance of rebel | troops in the Shenandoah valley and the I driving in of the pickets at Harpers Ferry. Persons who <-anie direct from the ferry before day on Saturday report ed an attack momentarily expected, hut it all turned out to be a few straggling guerrillas who fired from the bushes on some of our pickets, and no enemy was found by the scouts sent out within ten miles of the ferry, and none had been heard from in that vicinity. We learn from Gen. Schenck that he is in tele graphic communication with the differ ent commands in all portions of his de partment from Wheeling. New ("reek, Winchester. Cumberland and Harpers Ferry and that the utmost quiet pre vailed. There were not even rumors among the people, and extensive cavalry reconnoissances through all the mountain passes, from Winchester and down the line of the Potomac to a point opposite the mouth of the Monocacy. failed to discover any signs or even reports of the enemy. There were some bushwhackers discovered and caught, but nothing to indicate the presence or approach of any considerable force. In fact, all was quiet along our lines on the upper Potomac and the Shenandoah valley up to 11 o'clock last night'" * During the civil war considerable race feeling prevailed in Washington, and now and then it broke out Attack On violently. In The Star of __ June lsKt. is a news ac Negroes. count of a serious conflict between whites and blacks: "A riot, apparently a continuation of previous ones, occurred last night at the wagon camp, corner of 23d and M streets, the party being composed of white team I sters and the cause of the riot appearing I to have been from ill feeling between them and the negroes It would seem that the assault had been premeditated from two or three days ago, and the preparations for it were quite extensive. The signal for the attack was to be the lighting of bonfires at the camp above mentioned, which was accordingly done about 12 o'clock. The parties were armed with shotguns, pistols, slungsliots. etc.. and began their work upon the negroes in the vicinity. They entered and cleared out a number of houses on 22d street and that neighborhood. The police, hearing of the difficulties, hastened to the snot. As soon as they were recomuned thev were fired upon, but none of the officers were injured, we believe. A pro\ost charge under Lieut. Brannin was then sent bv Capt Johnson, who succeeded In uuelilng the riot and arresting the fol lowing: Pat Hennv. Thomas Ot onnel. Thomas Porsey. M. Henney. Pat Rus sell M. Kenny. M. McDonough, John Smith Thomas Munn. Michael Smith. John Flaherty. Felix O'Bryan. PMa gulre. Squire I,oder and James Ryan. Thev were committed to the central guardhouse. During the night ?om? 200 other arrests were made of Pa?"'* charged with sympathizing vdth and aid ing the rioters." 1 *. The hope in Washington was that the Federal army at the Rappahannock would be able to stop Lee Threatened from moving northward in . the course of his proposed Invasion. Invasion of northern ter ritory. In The Star of June IW. >s the following news article touching upon the j situation in this regard: j "We learn that there we e indications ! Wednesday nig.H that Lee was massing | forces at 1'nUcd States ford, on Th?- RaP i pahannock. apparently cither to attempt a crossing there or to inalf a feint for a crossing elsewhere. It would not be prop er for us to intimate what preparations Hooker has made to meet the enemy should they undertake to pay this side of the river a visit: but it is sate to say that Lee will find the attempt a hazardous one and that lie will not be permitted to return with impunity when once across, i The rebels have sotne facilities fo- cross ing just now in the very low stage of the water of the Rappahannock, w nich can be crossed almost drvrhod at numerous points, but otherwise than thi> _they find ?Jordan so hard a road to trace* in their proposed Invasion project (as is evidenced by their fluctuating plans and move merits* that I^ee has, it is believed, ad vised the abandonment of the project, and if he undertakes it will do so against his judgment by force of the on to Washington" pressure, which seems at the south to be a counterpart of the ru inous 'on to Richmond' cry. w hieh Pre vailed with us at one time with such dis astrous results." CAPITAL SPEILIM. Thai Washington spelling I' ?? Is Koinj; down in htstoree An ?im> mat shook Tlie spelling l??<k And ripped the di<-tioiMirj. For Instance, on the battle A man who hales our Tbe?idorp M<?1 calmly sppll The name "Roosivell" Thus. "G A R \ Gary. "Spell "free-lUt'!" To our gr<'?t amaze Thev s|m-1i li forty-?even ways. "M-K-A T." Mild James U'G.. And looked around with pride. Kill Weeks of Mas*, announced wiita ?wc?s He spelled t> H-I-D-K-S. And if the tbrotig Should vote him wrong He'd tan acme other hide! "Spell sugar"!" Mr. Ransdell rose. "You'd tread upon iu.t tender toes If e'er I heard You spell that word T-A-S-H'!" said he. "s'pell -steer:" And I'enre- ? row <n might And spelled the word exactly right! And none could llils> His emphasis t'pon the a?cond K! -Spell 'lobhrist*:" In great aurpri.e They looked in one another's eyes. And sat around In thought profound. Ami not a sound was heard I ntll. as one. arising ther?-. They cried In chorus to the Chair. "Define, sir, please. Its propertied We do not know the word!" ?John U'Keefe, iu lb ? New Ycrk World. 1 FRANCE AND GERMANY IN FERMENT While the victorious Balkan state? ' are preparing to sign treaties of peace with Turkev and the ?? Troubles tablishment of neutral p ? xones until the> may *!?* icwill^. flne their respective fron tier*. while the delegates of the powers and the Balkan states are assembling at Paris to settle the financial question arising out of the war against Turkey. I let us turn to events In France and Germans', where In both countries troubles are brewing. France has trouble with her anti-militarists, tier many with militarism and Alsace-Lor raine. The anti-militarists in France have "manifested" their dislik*- of law and order, being rank-and-file rank anar chists. by mutiny or attempts at mu tiny. in the garrisons at Toul. Belfort. Keullly and at other points. The French anti-militarist if a naive sort of a creature who has had the (simplicity to think even for a moment that hits manifestation would not end in a fiasco. But the French govern ment has been governing th^se late years with such a loose rein that the anti-militarist has taken his courage in both hands and tinallv has ended by stirring up the military The holding up?-extending the tune of the class of 1911? for a year longer, from October next?is the pretext upon which the attempt to mutiny the mili tary is made. The real purpose is the desire of the radical socialist to re turn to power, even if on the back of such a catastrophe as ? mutinous army. j The chiefs are such revolutionists i as Combes, Caillaux. Jaures, Vaillant. 1 etc. These, it is said, have formed a I "bloc" against the law of three years' : military service and they are backed I by the General Confederation of Labor. M. Georges Clemenceau. more i?atr?ot than politician now. cave the con spiracy a hard rap by Clemenceau's writing in his journal. p . a new one just started. comment. ,,Homme Libre. Which i must have shaken the conspirators as with an ague. M. Clemenceau de clared that all Europe knew that France was oil the defensive, and tier many knew it first of all. I'nder the iPietext of protecting herself against i French aggression Germany was piling up* armaments till the day she would finish with France unprepared. ?>ne was blind not to see that Germany was mad for predominance. "If the catastrophe was inevitable France mifst meet it with all her strength. Those who saw 1H7<? cannot al low the slightest loopho'.e for a return to those frightful days, of which the hor rors now would be Increased a hundred fold. If my destiny is to indict me again with that nameless Calvary which still haunts me. I have at least re solved not to incur the slightest respon sibility for anything that might weaken my country in her supreme struggle for existence." The Genera1 Confederation of Labor has been found to be the Insidious agent of the " bloc." The offices of the confedem ! tion have been raided and the documents j seized have proved Invaluable to the gov ernment. The Temps, writing on the subject, says: "The essential for the moment is to a<t In accord to maintain the disci pline of the army. On this point then is no divergence. M. Jaures himself ? alarmed at the turn of affair*! speaks of recent incidents as a "work of moral disorganization and national weakness.' j Against that it is necessary to take ef I ficac.ious measures and to show to Ger many that the return to the service of three years is not, as they write, 'the commencement of the dissolution of the French army.' *' The Temps declares that the anti-mili tarist propaganda should not be permit ted to go on. If Protest Against i??r mitted, the a .. . most sacred inter Anti-Mihtarism. ests wlth whlch France was charged would be lost. Gen. f'au, having made his report after a tour of Inspection, said: 'We are not in the presence of a military mutiny, but of a movement of ihjIIMcuI origin"' Here, in fact, is the test of an appeal launched among the garrison at Toul: "Comrades, the moment has come to levolt against su< h a coup d'etat as that voted by the chamber tthe law of three years). Ail men of sane Judfitnent esteem the law of th ee years criminal. You will bear the consequence of that military folly. Do you hesitate? Xo! Have re course to force. Manifestations will take place in all the regiments of France. Your conscience will torce you to partici pate. Liberate yourself from hu^h odious slavery, and if you are the subject of menace remember the proletariat is with you. Down with the military projects: Down w th the three years' law !" In other addresses, according to docu ments read in the chamber, there Is in formation as to the mechanism of the anti-militarist propaganda und the ma chine. which is the General Confedera tion of Labor! In these documents the garrison is al luded to as an "unhealthy circle." The best mode of binding relations with the syndicate was the camaraderie of the workshop and the barracks. The journal Sou du Soldat. or th" Soldiers' Cent, was recognized by the general conf#d?-ra tion of labor as one of the most efflca clous means of attaining the object in view. There is a suggestion in afliHate wjth a companion. aixj finally ih< sold ci should refuse duty. Gen. Andre as early a> ll"?i' proposed that such incendiar\ proDagaiida jliouid be st-pped. But it was Earlier permitted o proceed. .M. p . Alessimy. minister of war. ITOteStS. said in the chamber in 1 & 12 that the C. G. T. proposed to strike at the heart of the nation in "sabotage or blocking the railways during the period of mobilization of strategic transports." M. Messimy characterized the propaganda of the C. G. T. as "the catechism of desertion and the cowardice which dis honored the French language." This criminal propaganda was fruit ful in desertions, which increased from 1901' to 1911, from deserters und mutineers to deserters and lO.OOit mutineers. And > et the govern ment took no measure of rep res sh nl I have before me a journal of recent date entitled "La Voix du People," or the Vohe nt tiie I'eople. organ of the General Confederation of Labor. Of the events at Toul, Belfcrt and I'arls it writes: "Whatever happens we uill continue our campaign: if the government uses reprisals It will lind itself confronted by the entire proletariat. We cry with out fear. "Vive la Classe: Down With the Three Years:'" The Voice of tl? People furnishes notes of the increase in numbers of such societies in the 1'nlted States s'ml'ar to the C G. T.. as "The Industrial Workers of the World." the "Brotherhood of Tlin "COMMONER'S" JOB. From rbr Kn?TTille Sentinel. In selecting Secretary Bryan's associate editor of the Commoner for governor of the Canal Zone President Wilson assures the ' strip"' of his solicitude for its safety. From the Indianapolis star. Without either Metcalfe or Bryan, what is the Commoner to do? Can it be pos sible that there Is a third man in the tountry equal to earning that editorial job? Front the PittclNiritb fitfttf-TiBieti. The selection of William Jenninfs Bryan's journalistic partner for civil gov ernor of the Panama Canal Zone indicafes that the Secretary of State has some in fluence with this administration. From th.^ Milwaukee Free Preps. With Editor Bryan and Associate Edi tor MetcaJfe In public office, what /s the Commoner going to do? I'rnm the Bostoa .Vdrerrispi. The Commoner should develop a fresh view point, if it is published from Panama, j ber W'orkm." etc.. ail of wh'.di hsv bnux'hpn fveiywhfr<> in the south ? w<>?t i>r>lug regulaih thci: fixed (lu^> Thf "I. \V \V." w Mi it* brmioh' ? num bers over li*V??K?. and the Vol.* of the People mentions the great strides in tti?* sfates. that of the gr.-*: i.-\Mle strike at Lawrence, of the silk workers at Pater Hon. comprising aO.?"?i nim women an*' children striker* and I-., k-out*. and that of the rubber ?orke'n Akron. Ohio, who number ;jo.?*1o. The 'laminating note of the Voice of the iVopie is y cry of Joy over the on?onl nisi. h ,(f M-c'.alisni and 'the object in vie*." which is anarchv mid the !??? na' ..f the nnlilen rule Gerniaiiv is employing ,.!t iiei . i>? . jsie* to increase hei efrectlv.-* w htch. accord ing to 11.c project.*- h* - Germany's fore th. r.-i, h*tag ??houid _ _ . ?\cee.l ij ??. ,?f Fiance Effectives. tlw u. ?v ?JT.ymio men. The rac. f>> -ui?eiiority in the number of her eft- ? it suci-es" ful. a? it will be. d?s- - the military equilibrium and const t ^ | . m?nettt state of alarm in l-Itil ? ?j ? A KranciMSertiiun .otif. n? >? ra cetitlv assembled at B ? t? ? I -< uss the <iuontlon <?f ameliorate ^ . t ?? nitons .>f France and ilerinunv in ti. interval the news that tin tiem f?l.til council was considering two p* -i t> t. ndlng to re-establish the regin ? ' .-x .-piioti" In tli. annexeil province M*a> ? ?-!. ?i raine east a shadow o\ < i t ????dings B. "exception" is nnderst ? i t<> m< an thai having been accorded i-i.tuiiun and made an a itolioinoi. etn:?r of tile German Fonfedctatioi. i:?r.' .\l-a?e Lorralne revert* to form* i excep tional state as a .on'j ..-.i province of the German empire Alsace-Lotrainc is a -? of ttoitble to Germany. a thorn i ? ? --!<i. which Bismarck. wiser that r ooldier \>>a Moltke. foresaw and ?tid.-avored t? ? op pos. the taking. Bi*ni?i.k knew th> his toi > of the Pole in tin noii heast th? : Dane in the north, and was .-eTtai!! ! that the Alsatlan-I-ori ..n.-s in th? south i west would prove soon' or later a source I cf trouble and weakness ; ? ? w deli there was no apparent rented > One of the project- consists n Hiv ing to the ministry of t i> It. i? h.-lanU the powet to prohibit t ? I'topagation in Alsace-Lorraine of an> ?; ii< at ion i>rlnt j ed lii a foreign country >v :u the under* i stanuing that the prohi. .t <m is a| plica hie to any and all pal : n:?ni-. ?vn fn I Oetmany, not <n the le '-uan languag*. This measure max .-.is| . ,1 nl piohlolt i by simple U'lmin sti ativ. i-'.oti Jour I nals aii'l reviews in v >rialne in ! French; it will constit i. u absoluti ' violation of the iihettx of I i> pi.-s .mil a I violMtlon of the <-onstitu: .>n I I Tile second project ten f. ;,erniit Iti Alsa. e-l-orralne the supj iessi.?n of an\ _ . so.jetj which may bappression of b< tlen' unced as I Alsace-Lorraine. ^ 1 u,"n*i J pea.-r li\ a simple adinini* tratu? nieus | nre. The object in viev s the sup ?re?sioii j of the French language ..nd sin h so cieties ns the "l.igue Aerienne da Ftanet " and "So<*tete ij?Ancietis l.eiiioii naires Franca s." Nothing has been dona j In Alsace to lead the Germans to thitin i that t':c natives desired to return to tha (conditions that existed before 1?>7a. Tha fact is Germany proposes to siippre.s? J the French in e\ er> way possible ill I Alsa' e-I.ot rainc. The Messin writes. The prop" t Of ; these measures of exception agains ttia i (iiiblic liberties of the annevetl connl rl<s | ??Olistitutes a .singular ie-d\ . tue pacific intentions of the Fiendi <b puti>'S who went to Berne, and to the mani festation* of the loyalists of th. land tap at Strassburg. It is at the sama time a proof of weakness on the part of a government which at the end o| forty years seems to wish to affirm its tnoral iinpotency to win over the con quered populations of A Isace-Lorraine.' The Ktrassburger NVue Zeltung. pro i gresslve uriian. affirms that the project I will encounter determined adversaries I !n all parties in the reiclistag. men j who w ill not tiderate a restriction oi i the rights of association and the liberty j of the press. The Independence Keigc expresses ttia ? opinion that the policy adopted by th* j German gov ernment is a groan error. The measures submitted to the rei? h I atag prove iliat (iernianv is not master I of the sentiments of Alsatians-Lorraine. | It cannot be more ingenuously confessed that notwithstanding all the constraint and oppression of a regime of exception vigorously maintained duritiv forty-two j years, assimilation has not been poa ! sible, and that Germany has not been j able to establish the preponderance of German culture; the German immigiants I who were invited to colonize Alsace-Lor raine were really absorbed l?v tr.a natives The sons of Gel mati function aries and industrials for a tact ranged themselves on the side ot Fren-'i cii' ture and proved oftentimes to (?? t>ia i most ardent defenders >>! tue subtc ted ; peoples j If Alsace-Lorraine hao be?-n :iii< n a ! place frankly as a part of the national family e ^jal i,i i i-x'.ub Embittered and duti. * to the '.thar . - ?? states of tin; empire the 8T* situation would doubt lest have been better than it is today. Treated with suspicion ? ven as enenibl, 1 time has embittered rather than a? j suaged their urief. Alsace-Lorrain. vva.- :? d a < ??n ! Ptitutloii in 1912. but i< has not pro. : cured ilia 11 v benetits. n ? n > ? First o. i all. the promised unto, ha- prov' d I a mv?h. < >f <OU. tile I ? l i 1 ?? 11 ? ? i-as til" dl-ad vantage of causing -i woui.d' to 1 bleed. XciGier Fr?n> ? Alsa< c has forgotten !?"?? I to 111 ia maintained theyi loltv-luo y. ai> i i ? v ? liul of dlgnit v which has ? ? nmarid. I ???? I i ej-pect ??f Gerinanv. i alic. na no <lesir?- for w a i A mill'*' nation wiia a splendid armv it is ? ??.?what sinuu lar that she bus chosen : ther tin patUa of pea< e than tlo>s>' ol I eiigt . which would lll?*an war. tJermanv liav. ??ii--d b> -i.cii an unlooked-foi situatlo- '? ' she did not Get n.any has always ? < on the alert for war. as if ? Meeting every ( instant to be chalh ng'<1 ?? France to i deliver Alsace-Lortaiii' f'1" armed ' pea ? imposed uooii a I ' rope has be ' come and is sine, ma i\ ais a \ a?t j burden. Man*' l>e|j, v.- t' ? h> situation i is ineupi>o* table and I ' ?oon the furmidabl. ..inflict otne Su? h u ccnllict would b a .-?? r noi onlv for the combatants. t? ? I'.urope and j the world. i Ge manv i>- 'n iroiib ? ? ? i lit- situa tion In Alsace-Lorrailc aid bee des. it Is bv no means certain ti.ai tie- r? ich-tug will sanction the a hit i >v .?rsioti to the regime of ?'xceptlo" hat then .' The tiertn.ui .-niperoi -. lid r?'"i.?un. e lc? rights over th!? so-called ??icIMand." reuffirm Alsatv-LoiTai - constitution and autonomy, and in." . ? stab'isli tie uneietit Uingu.'in of A1 -? i? Lorraine and decl?ir< I h?- Kingdom . "? utral pow.r. This coup w? U:>! iii- a.i . 1 ? and disarm ament for l.urop. It ? ml mean, more over. a Civil I Ol g; - it' ?? for \V|J. he'm II i 11. < 'HAILLE-Lti.VG I WIIITt RADiSHES I j l"r>'ni O.' P.-iillni-.r.* Ptnr. Siiue Secretary Brvai ?'- been receiv ing *o many contr'but -ns of white iad? ishtod, bet he is e ji ry !)? failed- to ment oil that he's fond of beefst. ?k Fr?tn t hf* 1'urtbinl I'n So many white radis ?- have been *,,-m to Mr. Hi v an sinc?- ?t v\as announ.ei that he liked th'-m iiiai he has been forced to cry for help from the Richmond Tiuies ?? h. \> hlte radishes are becoming whit, ele phants on Secretary Bill Bryan s hands. Kroui the HarruthurK Telegrai'li. Bryan says he has eaten as manv as thirty-live radishes at on. sitting Now we understand wh> lie Insists on large white variety. From the (tuffal.. K*pre The information thai Air. Bryan Itk.g whit* radishes has brought him nuniei ous packages of the delicacy from aim,,, ing friends There were no oltnilar taIsa a^out presents of gray juice.