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Show THE f If ft f TIMES-NEW- NEP1II. UTAH. S, H MTIONAL 2 tfyY'rtf xz, 2I2d OMAL AFFAIDS N More Power to the President's Elbow siihl KMiyon today, "I shall introduce) the amendment anil press for its con- -' I have f'cen surprised at sidcMition. the interest it has attracted. 1 hav received letters from practically every, section commi'iiUing it and ti rj;i r.jjr it tiiihiiiisslon to the .people. The ailtnors of these Idlers have linen men from ninny different walks of life, including iff . srscar zurmrYvv'VH Mr Widespread proposal M give Harding power to veto Items in appropriation bills through liio adoption of an .amendment to the Constitution is being ma ni Ce'-- ed In scores of letters received. ays Senator K nyon of Iowa. According to him the public has boon quick lo sense the value of this dele::;:, t ion of power not only as a measure of economy, but also in putting a check on the practice of adding legislative "riders" to appropriation bills. ".lust as soon us I can complete the necessary examination of the Constitution itself and determine the precise phraseology that must be employed," WASHINGTON. Prenlib-i.- ? V c. V . ACTI are as lunch a part nf I hi' ilwort as t'.c siiiid and t!. liMndinj! Slurp am! thi lac!; .if wn'er The ilcsoit vi !.oi:t the caolns wculiriit. Jr1,;("Hai:;!'.'t" '.villi Hamlet out. jv iiniiuii:iiK iikg l:vi million sl::re miles of tlrsei 7 sc:;t- im-cnlmut t!.e K''l)e anil it rauos about a thousand species of cuctl to no round. lft gQJ ... -- t i . ! "p r d In short, the cactus Is almost nurni (American of the Southwest and to the Mexican as Ithe buffalo used to be to the plains Indian. It 19 no wonder that the cactus Is seen on the flag tof Mexico and many of the a!d-tcoins and (that It Is the state flower of more than one of the American states of the Southwest. Manifold as are the present uses of the cactus there Is every Indication that Its usefulness will be extended by the evolution and development of special varieties. For example, there Is probably a future for the spineless enctus as a food Xor cattle. Any forage that can be grown on he desert without Irrigation and has a food value something like half that of nVulfn Is hound to have a future. The world t0 lear further from Luther I?urbank presumably experiments Dr. P. L. Sherman, experimenting with spineless varieties, found that they were rich In sugar and Vere fitted for the manufacture of enndy It Is also easy to imagine conditions cheap a few years ihence under which It will be wortn w.hne develop the fruits of the cactus family. So, all In all, the cactus family Is one of the post Interesting In the world, to say nothing of Its "value, both actual and potential. Dr William . jA. Murrlll of the New York Hotanlcal garden Bias written for the Scientific American Magazine a most Interesting article outlining the uses of encti. The article is Illustrated many from Photographs by courtesy of the United Stutes (National museum. Says Doctor Murrlll: It Is estimated that there are three hllllon acres of desert land In the world; and, If these unattractive and unproductive wastes are ever to "blossom like the rose." It will be the cacti or plants similarly adapted to desert conditions that will furnish the flowers. Desert plants were like other plants once, but the vltaj for preserving moisture gradually wroughtnecessity a wonderful change In their appearance and strurfare Few of the cacti now have any conspicuous Heaves, their place being taken by flattened or which are Joints, pads, modified portions f the stem ; and even the sap has become nous or milky, preventing the loss of mucilagiwater to the hot. dry air by which these plants are continually surrounded. Spines of various and sites serve to protect them against shapes grazing animals that are often billed when driven by hnnger and thirst to devour these plants In spite of their spines. The few forms of spineless cacti that occur In the wild sfnfe always frenuent rocky ledges and other Klluatlons that are Inac cesslble to most animals. If not to all. The number of species of cacti- - recognized Is large, amounting to about one thousand, and half of these are found In Mexico. They vnry from tiny plants no Mgger than one's niiircr lo trees r.n feet In height, presenting all manner of qtieer and Interesting shafts and furnishing the botanist with tin end of knotty problem. Kxtenslre collections of living plants may be seen under glass at the New York liotanlcnJ garden, the ni of Agriculture In Washington, 'and the Missouri I'.ntnnlcal trden In St. Louis; while 'others In the open are to be found at Hlvertldc California ; Tucson, Arizona; MesIIla Park, New 1 Ie-pnrti- r ' iv" . vl ; ' sin-jL'l- o two-third- Uncle Sain and Railroads Negotiating the. - looking to NEGOTIATION'S railroad indebtedr ness of approximately ,$S00,KMUHHl to fue the ian the government and the settlement of t the claims of lie railroads against the SV.. . government are under full way bei tween government ollicials and the railway executives. These negotiations have resulted in progress toward definite conclusions. Railway ollicials estimate that the net amount due the railroads from the government is somewhere between $.j7j,000,00J und $000,000,000. They railroad administration will owe th4 admit that It is difficult to make a railroads apprixomately $358,000,000 definite estimate of the total amount for the government control period. The due because of the Items In dispute. government owes the sfl ort lines about Roughly, however, they place the $25,Ot)0,000, making a total for the govamount yet due for the period of gov- ernment control period of $3a3,000,000i It is further estimated that the government control at $383,000,000 and for the guaranty period of six months af- ernment owes tho railroads a total ot ter federal control at $229,000,000. approximately $632,000,000 for 0m' Director General Davis estimates guaranty period. Of that amount that the claims of the railroads $403,000,000 has been paid in advances, against the railroad administration leaving a balance due of about $229,- ; ooo.ooo. Forty-seve- n will aggregate $l,2o0,000,000. The government's Indebtedness to railroads have already settled with the government, and they were the railroads, therefore, which Is not allowed approximately 28 per cent of disputed. Is approximately $000,000,-00the amounts claimed by them. The total claims of these roads aggregated Secretary Mellon had tbat estimate $124,040,807, of which $35,480,914 was in mind, it is believed, wfen he said would be allowed. approximately Applying this percentage In the paid to the railroads In the next six total estimated claims against the months, provided the funding provirailroad administration, rullwny off- sions go through and the railroads, icials figure it would appear that the agree to settle with the admi listration ' . cactus areas, where this curious and interesting Jilant may be found in bewildering t variety one end of the scale the desert wayfarer sees U!e giant sagunros, 50, 00 feet bji'h, fluted, forms with branching limbs and curving' Jines. Qose to the other end is the dreaded choyas little round patches of glistening, frosty jvhlte. And tinder every bunch are the discarded points, like little frosty pine cones covered with spines. Old desert travelers claim that the choyn Is alive and leaps at man and horse. Certain It Is that it seems impossible to avoid the steel-lik- e thorns that pierce leather and flesh. Apparently they are poison thorns, for the pain is like ho other and almost unendurable; sting 'and burn and at the same time seem they to freeze and they stick like a barbed V h On tho OtllOr Iinrt.l lw fishhook. . t " ",u: 't,. .1. e- i. 2 uisigni cactus lch has saved uncounted lives of those who Iknow. Its barrel-shapemass contains a fluid resembling water; and it is cool. Theu, again, there is the cactus that furnishes n etlmulant of which the Indians are so"pevote" fond that congress has thought of passing legislation to control its use. Again, there are cacti furnish delicious fruits. Some of the cacti that are good eating. Some are used for the a variety of articles ranging frommanufacture of toothpicks to chairs. One kind of cactus hn hon 4 'i inn lmvt o visit ail the deserts if earth to find variety 1 wvn U;'" " ,,orl!'the tinted: States and Mexico there are between famous . ' f t doctors, lawyers, college professors and business ineii." Senator Kcnvon is convinced that his amendment should lie so drafted-nto L'ive tn tlic President thi right to veto, "riders" where they occur in aa appropriation ''ii! us well us being empowered to cut out ninu'e appropriations vi'h'ttit destroying an entire supply hill. t!,i fund In whieii are appropriated fur carrying on Ibe business ef a M'eai of the government. He relti r.it.-Ids belief that , th a constitutional adoptlon of e;i-amendment would he of immense value In the drive for economy and says that when the public understands th Importance of the matter, sentiment will lie sullieiciuly strong in its favor to obtain ratification by the necessary s of the state legislatures. . I'' I I ' -- 1 rKfiy,J - ,y- ' - mm 'ill V-"- 111 $ $ Jfexlco; Laredo, Texas; Miaiui, Florida, and elsewhere. Cactus plants are certainly not ornamental in the ordlnury sense, but beauty Is relative. A forest of giant cactus trees stretching mile after mile In the desert with nothing to rival them may be decidedly attractive. In Mexico the cactus ornaments the national banner aad is stamped on many of the older coins, whUe in Arizona and New Mexico it has been selected as the state One of the most curious and interesting of the cacti is the "mescal button," or "peyote," which Is a strong stimulant and allays all hunger and thirst and fatigue for the time being. The Tara humare Indians and Huicholes of Mexico maka. a cult of the "peyote," going on Jong pilgrimage in search of it and employing it both medicinally The cactus family Is noted for the of its flowers, which are usually magnificence large, often g fragrant, or tubular, diurnal or nocturnal, evanescent or persistent, and In color from white, yellow, or orange to vary deep-reor purple. The calyx and corolla are not distinct, but the numerous stamens In the center are often dlfferentJy colored and lend an added charm to the flower. The fruit is often brilliantly colored, highly ornamental ns well as useful, and lasts for a long time. The cactus plant has indirectly added much to the attractiveness of certain manufactured garments by supporting the cochineal Insect, from which the fajnous cochineal dye Is made. This Insect occurs on n species of Opuntla, the cochineal flg. and Its near relatives, along' with other mites and scale-I- sects, but It Is so minute and difficult to distinguish with the unaided eye that It as long thought to be the seed or bloom of the plant Itself. Ieeuwenhoeck, in 1703, discovered that It was the female of an insect (Coccus cacti), which never moved from a certain spot on the cactus, the male being the active member of the family, but colorless and therefore useless. These Insects are harvested three times during the dry season, being swept from the cacti into bags with stiff brushes and killed In boiling water or hot ovens, after which they are dried In the sun and put up In small In this thoroughly packages for the market. dried condition 70,000 Insects are required to make a pound. The omnmentnl vaJne of cacti, although m. port a nt, is not uppermost in the mind of the average Inhabitant of arid regions. The trunks furnish him material for houses, corrals, firewood, etc.. and. when planted close together, thev form bodges that are lasting and Impervious. It Is here behind a shield of thorns that the little cactus wren finds a refuge from hawks where she can build her nest and rear her young In safety. The enctns trunk Is composed of a wood axis or skeleton, surrounded by pulp. From this skeleton table legs, chairs, napkin rings, canes veneering, etc are mnde. The spines also are useful, serving as needles, toothpicks and pins for mending leather or cJoth. Some are curved and supply ready-mad- e while the straight ones are hound to slivers of bone to form very efficient harbs. One species of cactus bears fruits that resemble great chestnut bars and these have been nsed by the Indians for ages' as hair brushes. The pulpy parts nf the stems and fruits are highly valuable ss fond bfth for man and beast The young pads, or Joints, may be cut Into strips and cooked like string beans, or boiled as greens or stewed like nkrn, or fried like eggplant, or Hckled, or made Into sweetmeats like citron. "Tuna cheese" Is made from the fruits of certain cacti, while the Juice of red fruits I often Used In coloring Ices. Jellies and candles, and even H water-colopainting. The traveler who "knows how" need never lack for water where there are cacti. He may cut off the top of a barrel-cactus- , pound up the' pulp and squeeze the water from It Into his drinking He will find It slightly salty and bitter, cup. but clear and rather palatable. Or he may support a cactus trunk on stones, build a fire under each end, and make a hole In the middle, from which the water will gradually trickle. The Indian traveler also uses the milky Juice of Mnmillaria for healing cracks In his feet or for Internal complaints when on long Journeys. cactus fruits when, they are In season. "They1 them In gardens and orchards and ofteni gather them at dawn when they are coolest, ali though their temperature is always below that of the surrounding air. They are also used Inj salads, preserves, pickled with lemons, dried, fer mented as a beverage, made into a syrup called, "tuna honey," a thin paste called "melcocha," oi a thick paste similar to guava Jelly. Even thq seeds are sometimes dried and saved to use when the fruits are gone. The Rarbndos gooseberry, used for tarts and sauces in the West Indies, Is and decorated with small leaves or bracts. The plant, Pereskla aculeata, Is a straggling shrub with slender branches, recurved prickles, glossy-greeflowers. leaves, and clusters of The prickly pears, or tunas, are abundant and much used. They are or globular, weighing from an ounce to a pound ; red, yellow, or purple In color; and usually sweet, though sometimes ncid In flavor. TI e skin contains clus ters of tiny spicules, or glochldia, which aro very irritating If taken Into the mouth, so that care Is require! In peeling them. They are sometjme called Indian figs or Itarbary Acs because of tha numerous small seeds which they contain. Sev eral species of Opuntla are cultivated for their fruits ns weJl as for their edible Joints. Thq itowers are large, usually yellow or orange, rarely rose or red. Delicious fruits are those of Cereiis pltnhnya and Its relatives. This species grows to the Irelght of 00 feet and Its trunk reaches two and n half feet In diameter. The fruit Is gathered at dawn with long reed sticks armed with sev eral prongs. The fruits of Cerens giganteus. a handsome cactus of ibe Southwest, are also much esteemed either In the fresh state or preserved. They are, tvfc or throf Inches long, green on the outside and crimson within. The strawberry , pear, obtained from Cereus triangularis, bright-red- , with slightly acid pulp, mak Ing It deslrntle In the fresh condition or as an Ingredient of the "pcpcr pot" of the West Inare also produced by dies. Kxcellent fruit I.emalreocerens thnrberl and certain other larga and these "pltahayas" do not have the annoying prickles found In the fruits of Opuntla. "OaiKmhullas" are the small currantlike fruits of Myrtlllocsctu. They are eaten fresh or dried like rnlslns. The melon cactf produce a number of small edible fruits resembling tiny scarlet radishes or red pcpP'". The Mexican strawberry, found on a iecle of hedgehog cactus, I salmon-coloretwo Indies In length, and very sweet In It gets Its name from Its numerous miflavor. nute seeds. Tetezo figs, so Important to the natives of southern I'uehla, are the fruits of a siwcles of Pachycereus. Although many of the wild cacti furnish valuable fond for man and beast. It must be admitted that there Is room for Improvement wth In the quantity ami tne quality or this food. have visited Mr. P. ur hank's experimental grounds In California and fully realize the difficulty of his task In dealing with the cacti and the Importance of his results. His problem was t take n vagrant, forbidding plant, and divest It of t thorns atid prickle, breed out Its Indigestible woody skeleton and Improve the size and flavor of Its fruit. The fruits of the Hiirbank creations are owt ' three Inches long, usually yellow or red in ,.ol r and have flavors all their own. reveinliliiig tlm ; ff peaches, melons, pineapples, etc. flower. rose-colore- n wlde-monthe- d fish-hook- and religiously as a, cure for all bodily ills and a powerful aid to abstinence. In certain parts of Mexico, Sicily and elsei where, the natives live nJmost entirely on fresh,1 grow apple-shape- 0. is Uncle Sam Now Penalizing Marriage? d n pale-yello- pear-shape- egg-shape- 1 tree-cact- SAM penalizing marriage ISInUNCLE the government departments? Miss Elsie Hill of the National Woman's party slates that several of the government departments which are now reducing their payrolls have Issued questionnaires to their women employees In order to find out which are married and which are single. A questionnaire sent out by the air service Is evidently designed to gain further Information about the circumstances of the married women. It asks each of these to tell whether she Is living with her husband ; if not, whether she Is legally separated from him; whether the husband is dependent upon her for support, and whether any members of her Immediate family arc employed by the government, and If so, how much each earns. pear-shaped- i, ) sj j I i Following the Issuance ot these questionnaires. Miss Ui;i states, aJ large number of married w.imen have been dropped from the rolls of the departments, without regard to their' efficiency. In many cases, she says,1 married women of long experience and established value have been dropped for no other discoverable reason than, that they are married. At the same time, she says, the civil service Is holding examinations for employees f similar grade and kind. The object of the various departments In dropping married women from their rolls Is pluln. They are compelled to drop those win will suffer least hardship as a result. Obvioun-lthe married woman wflo has an employed husband Is less apt to suffer from the loss of he'. Job than the single woman entirely dependent upon her own resources. The women recognize this motive and Its prnctlcnl Justification. They realize that the bureau chiefs are not trying to strike a blow it marriage, lint they claim that In effect It Is a blow at marriage, and nlso at the right of a woman to wort and be Independent. It Is this latter phase of the question which chiefly Interests the women politicians. y, Hays Would Coax Out , Timid Savings savings THROUGH the ioston"lce tJeneral Hays Is trying to run the American Stocking-bank out of business. He plans to take the money now hidden a way and put It In circulation by encouraging the people to put their money In I'ncle Sam's bank. As a banker I'ncle Sam stands supreme. lie has the confidence not only of the American horn but of the foreign born. Half a mile lion depositors have funds hi the r cent bank, drawing but two year Interest. How many more persons, particularly of the Immigrant classes, are there who are keeping their savings In their stockings because the Interest rate Is tod very at tractive? The postmaster eral Is seeking to bring Into circulation and profitable employment the SI.hoo.ikm.inhi which he claims Is now being hoarded ami therefore lost to Industry. In order to accomplish the end be has In iew he Intends to hnve the postal savings system revised so as to make It more attractive to potential small depo-to- r lie makes eight suggestions, of I'M t''c ones art to lo-- j post-offic- crease the rate ef interest from 2 to S mt cent, to pay Interest on deposits, held less than one year, to remove the restrictions against depositors under ten years of afe and to give greater, facilities for this class of buslm-s- s by, establishing savings branches n r.009 isisfolll. es Instead of the present 6.314, Mr. Il.iys ha no design to pn the postal savings sytein In cmi t :''on with savings banks, lie recog. nize that thai would be nn tinf Ir s Well as n iliiitro'is policy. As a matof fact the trtvvth s' a I logs wilt Inm-- to the ' i of (;!. , vale banks, for the "P! be rs-deposited w i n i tio .1, l,v ment. P.ankers elready n i, io lO fuvnr o V.I' rt..!"'t I. V tr e , r--- |