Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1892 — LIFE AT THE CAPITAL. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

LIFE AT THE CAPITAL.

HOW THE PRESIDENT SPENDS SUNDAY. The Church of the Covenant ami 11. Pastor —A Brief Account of IVhat Occupies a Congressman’s Working Hours Some Things His Constituents Desire to Know. Washington Letter.

WASH INGTON correspondence: The President’s church is always the center of attention in Washington Sunday gv •* mornings, and the ||A President at church is the oent r of atH||j> tention within its wa lls. The Prestdent is a regular HHtechurchgoor. By this IfMnt is not meant that >jjßH: ho is every Sunday ESS?in his pew at the ! Church of the CovH®TT)H eluu 't. Sometimes [II I "he goes to other |j b ‘ churches, sometimes he does not

go at all, but as a rulo he Is in his pew before tho organ sounds at the Church of tho Covenant on Sunday mornings. Often the Sunday school children get a glimpse of him just ns the exercises are closing and they are ready to pass out, for the Sunday school sendees are now held in the body of tho church since tho injury to the chapel by fire some weeks ago. The President goes to ohuroh very much as other people do. About 10:15 the carriage from the White House stables puts in an appearance at the entrance of the Executive Mansion, tho door-keeper notifies the President and family that the carriage is ready, and they take their seats behind the pair of spanking bays, with driver and footman sitting high in front, and aro whirled away down Connecticut avenue past tho Russian, Italian and British legations to the door of the church. Tho President and his family always enter at the side door. The main entrance of the church fronts on Connecticut avenue, but the entrance to the chapel is on N street. This is a littlo more retired. There are less gaping crowds and the presidential carriage always turns quietly In on N street and the family utilize this entrance, as indeed, do many other pew holders, whoso seats are well at that end of tho church.

There Is usually a little crowd of peoplo who know this habit of th > President’s, about the N street entrance when he drives up. They are few, however, and very respectful. Usually the President is accompanied by his wife, sometimes by Mrs. McKee, sometimes by Dr. Scott, the venerable father of Mrs. Harrison — sometimes Dy both. The entrance to the church is usually so quietly made that few peoplo are aware of it until tho family are safely ensconced in their pew. Dr. Hamline, who is tho pastor of tho President’s church, is a comparatively young man, a graduate of one of tho great educational institutions of the country, a close student and a hard worker. His sermons are all ourefully prepared, and delivered from manuscript, but so well delivered that tho listener seldom thinks of tho fact that they are being read. Dr. Hamline does not allow tho fact that ho has a President and many other people of social and official distinction in his congregation to tone down his presentation of gospel truths. The income of tho Church of tho Covenant is a very handsome sum. The pews bring a rental of from $25 to S4O per annum for each person occupying them, and the morning collection runs pretty well up to a SIOO a Sabbath. Dr. Hamline receives a salary of $6,000 a year, and has often been offered more than that to go elsewhere. It is stated that he recently received an offer of $12,000 from a Western city, but preferred to remain in Washington. Ho has also had flattering offers from New York, and has persistently, but gracefully declined anything looking to lake him away from his charge here, to which he is greatly devoted.

A Congressman’* Day. One day taken apart from all the rest In the existence of a Congressman Is not apt to be marked by great adventures or enlivened by an exciting incident. Most days of the average member of tho House are repetitions each of the other. A review of the twenty-four hours made by a member before closing his eyes for a night’s rest puts him to sleep with the thought that the lot of a legislator is not always a happy one, and that statesmanship is the least of things that enter in his day’s toil. Your correspondent asked one of tho oldest members of the House to keep a record for him of one day of Congressional life. This Is it In brief: Eight o’clock, breakfast; 8:30, opened mall and laid aside all newspapers with marked articles for future examination. Head upward of ninety letters on all sorts of subjects, of which the following are -twenty examples: One is from a veteran asking for information about his pension. He gives no postofflce address, and I am oliged to write a letter to the Pension Office to secure his address. Another correspondent wants a number of old volumes of geological survey, which, upon investigation, I find are not to be had. A veteran writes that lie communicated with tho Pension Office December 7, 1891, and got a communication from them nearly a month later which made no reference to his letter. Wants me to go to the office to see if his communication was received. Another letter requires me to go to tho pension office to ascertain what there Is defective in the application of tho writer for a pension. A gentleman from the Agricultural Department requests me to accompany him to my home, whore he is to deliver a lecture to some of my constituents. Another wants the Congressional Record sent to him. An applicant for pension wants to know where his papers are. One of my constituents writes for me to secure him a place in the Government departments. Another wants his pension matters looked up, but does not give the number of his case. Another wants a position in the Government printing office. In another letter the gentleman gives an accountof trouble he Is having over the exaction of duties from him for goods brought to the» cus-

tom house. This requires investigation at tho customs division, Treasury Deportment, and on examination of the low, which shows the duties were prop-' erly collected. The pension office notifies me of the allowance of a pension. The office also wants to know how an applicant for pension in my district spells his name. Another correspond nt wants information as toHhe foreign insurance companies doing business at the national capita,!. A pension applicant wants to know all about the surgical report in tils caso. Another wants me to havo a medical examination as to his condition made at his home, bocauso be is unable to travel. Another letter is on the subjoot of river and harbor improvements. Another gentleman wants me to ascertain what action has been taken in some land ease ho has before the Government. These are examples of requests contained in nearly a hundred letters. Each one requires a reply and most of them Involve writing letters to the departments or making personal visits. Many require long personal examinations of department reoords and an unwinding of lots of red tape. Most of tho matters are such as mqst be looked into before going to the Capitol. After tills I go to the committee work. There is a different committee for every day in the week, with subcommittee work besides, and On Saturday, besides several subcommittees to look after, I havo various departments to visit. At 12o'clock I entered the House, introduced bills, chased around after the Speaker's eye, listened to debates, took part In general legislation, answering letters between times, answered roll calls and received visits from a large number of constituents nqd oilier persons who called mo out by card. Five minutes is allowed for lunch meanwhile, and at ti o’clock I dine. At 7 I again turn to my mail and to the newspapers and to pamphlets and a world of other printed matter. This occupies mo until 11 o’clock, when, foj - the first time during the day, I got a chance for general reading and for Study, which occupies me for an hour or more, until drowsiness compels retirement,. This is the average humdrum day with a Congressman, which is repeated every twenty-four hours, and involves an immense amount of labor without interest.

WHERE THE PRESIDENT WORSHIPS.