Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1908 — WASHINGTON GOSSIP [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WASHINGTON GOSSIP

Washington is bounded on the east by the Capitol and on the west by the White House. Between them flows a restless stream of sightseers. There may be other districts of the national capital worth seeing, but only a Washingtonian knows it The tourist has •time and strength only to hit the high places. In New York there are probably as many tourists as in Washington, but with this difference, the New Yorker does not mind mixing with the tourist class. In fact, if the tourist hive money and a fondness for Broadway and contiguous resorts, the New Yorker is more than willing, so Mr. Tourist emerges his identity with the New York “push.” Washingtonians never let you forget you are a tourist. Resident women slightly raise their skirts with an indescribable yet eloquent air when they happen to rub elbows with a mere tourist of the same sex in a hotel or department store elevator. A Washingtonian looks straight ahead at nothing; the tourist is known by the angle at which she crooks her neck. Congressman Hobson of Alabama, famous as the hero of Santiago and later of several kissing campaigns, is said to favor the establishment by the government of an official weekly newspaper for free distribution, for which he wishes Congress to appropriate $350,000. This periodical would contain a summary of the work of Congress and all departments of the government, so far as It might interest the public. He says the journal is intended to form a connecting link between the government and the people, and that the project grew out of his having ascertained that a vast amount of valuable material did not reach the people for whom it was Intended. He thinks the publication of such a paper will remove distrust and suspicion and create a renewed interest and confidence among the masses in governmental affairs. Pennies left In the boxes by rural route patrons for the purchase of stamps from the carriers will be let alone If the recommendations of Fourth Assistant Postmaster General De Graw and Superintendent Spillman of the rural delivery service is adopted. In cold weather it .has always beep a painful duty of the carriers, this hunting around in the Icecold bottom of a metal mail box with bare hands. It has been said that sometimes fingers of carriers get so cold and stiff that they are unable to write out money order receipts. The recommendation of the two officials is that patrons place a small wooden box 'n the mail box, and therein put all the pennies with which they wish to buy stamps or anything else. The carrier could then, without removing his gloves, empty the contents and go on his way rejoicing, foiling the attack of Jack Frost. If the pennies are not In the box the carrier will not be required to look for them.

Sullowny, of New Hampshire, still retains his place as the biggest, man In the House of Representatives, and so far no one has appeared that may claim honor to second place ahead of Ollie James, of Kentucky. * Snllowav is something more than six and a half feet tall and weighs but a pound less than 350. His breadth is proportionate with his height, and he towers above his colleague, Frank D. Currier, as he does above most all the members of the House. He is one of the members who does not exercise his prerogative of taking his luncheon on that side of the House t>csta.ur-3t trhs*: the sign proclaims “for members only,” but each day partakes of a sparing lunch on the public side of the room, where the motto is that anybody’s money is good. The application of George M. Austin of New York for a restraining prder against Secretary Cortelyou, preventing him from allotting $21,500,000 of Panama Canal bonds to certain national banks, has been denied by Judge Gould of the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia. Austin charged that the secretary had violated the luw. in rejecting his bid for $3,000,000 of bonds and allotlng the bonds to nutlonal banks and others at a lower figure. Postmaster General Meyer’s order in regard to the disposition of souvenir postal cards which reach the dead letter office is a source of hnpplncss to thousands of unfortunate children. The cards, Instead of being destroyed, are now Bent to the orphan asylums and children’s homes and hospitals in Washington, where they give a delight which even the Intended recipient might not have felt. Some of the government buildings erected within s quarter of a century were designed by men who lmd rich ideas in color, but who lacked in everything else. Consequently harmony and artistic effects were not drawn upon and these piles of the crazy-quilt order arc out of place alongside tin* new ones which excel In artistic merit and which are worthy of the capital of o uilghly nation