The National tribune., 1886-03-25

.
of granite blocks. and no delay in the work is
! anticipated. When finished this viii be, all
/ things considered, the finest building in the
country, surprising in architectural symmetry
and beauty even the huge Capitol itself The
latter is Of course, much larger and more lmpoS-
ing bat to the eye of the average patriot the new
| building will, in external appearance, stand at
the head. The Senate and House wings of the
Capitol built during the last 30 years are, 1t Is
true grand enough TO satisfy the pride of any
. lover of his country. The massive pile as a
whole however, is greatly marTed by the old
original building which now forms the central
part This is really not good for much except
/ to hold up the immense dome. Many OF the
/ lower rooms are damp gloomy dungeons, whose
/ walls seem continually TO weep and gather
mold and CRIME. There is severe plainness
/ about everything that is i'll striking contrast
with the elaborate ornamentatiOn that every
where greets the eye in the parts OF modern
erection. Notwithstanding the expense, it
would have been better if at least portions of
the original Capitol had been taken down and
( thoroughly rebuilt before the dome was put up.
/ In places the walls are cracked and discOlored,
and give abundant evidence of the perishabie
nature of all things earthly. 1t will be two or
three years before the army and Navy Build
ing" as it is called, will be completed and en-
tirely ready for occupancy. These Departments
I Will then gather under their sheltering wings
all the homeless brood of subordinate bureaus
such rs the Judge Advocated General, the En-
gineer Corps, the Signal Service, and others
that are now scattered about over the city,
occupying rented buildings.
THE WISCONSIN SENATORS.
The Senators from Wisconsin are an odd-look-
ing pair whea seen together. Sawyer is short
. and very dubious as to body. He looks very
much like a man carrying ba5s-drum III trant
of him. lie weighs about 30. Spooner, the
H. fl,n To
He is short and sparely built, and would have
10 bear down ha;d to kick the beam at $780,
There is material enough between them for
two goOd-sized men, but it is very unequally
distributed. Sawyer has a good deal more
money than Spooner, but Spooner is ahead in
brains. The latter is one of the finest orators
in the West, and when he talks he always says
something. He is wise in not t.fting in too
'brash." He has only been upon his feet yet
to deliver brief but very touching and eloquent
tribute to the memory of Nice-President Hen
bricks and to make speech on the issue be-
tween the Senate and the President. If he
continues in the Senate he will be man of
mark. He is but IA, and looks even younger.
He is n little sensitive about his shOrtneS5 of
stature The other day he was introduced to a
gentleman as Mr.. Spooner, of Wisconsin,"
" Are you relative of Senator Spooner?"
asked the stranger, sizing him up from physi-
cal point of view.
a beg pardon said the friend who had
introduced them, this is Senator Spooner
himself"
The stranger looked him over with a half
incredulous air. as if he thought the Wild West
ought to send bigger timber than that TO the
United States Senate.
Great Scott" said Spooner with some
piGue in his tone, do you suppose a man has
got to be l. feet high in order TO be Senator?"
CONCERNING TWO PORTRAITS.
The Joint Committee on the Library of the
two Houses Of Congress has decided to purchase
for the Capitol the portrait Of Gen. George II.
Thomas painted by S. W. Price, of Louisville.
1t has long been the intention to purchase a
picture of Gen. Thomas, and the committee has
been hesitating between that of Mr.. Price and
the one painted by Miss c. L. Ransom. Both
are excellent portraits, and either would have
been satisfactory TO all who knew the subject.
The family Of Gen. Thomas preferred Prices,
ana this fact probably influenced the commit
tee in its choice. The decision viii, no doubt
be great disappointment to Miss Ransom, who
has devoted much time to the work FOR the
past 10 or y years. She believed Congress
would buy ii, and expected TO get Sl2,00 or
$4,000 for it. Two or three times, years ago,
its purchase was recommended by former COM
mlttecS, but the proposition was always voted
down in one branch or the other. Miss Ransom
will endeayor to sell it to the Society of the
Army OF the Cumberland Thomas succeeded
Rosecrans in the command of this army. The
Library Committee has also purchased for
$1,000 a well-preseTvcd painting Of George
Washington by Gilbert Stuart. 1t belonged TO
a lady in North Carolina. 1t was packed and
hidden away on the approach of Sherman's
army in 1864, and has not been unpacked until
now.
RELIGION IN THE CABINET.
All the Cabinet ladies are Episcopalans, so
that there was perfect unanimity in making
their social arrangements for the LenUen sea-
son. They decided to omit their regular
weekly receptions, although "at home" in
formally to such Of their friends as might
choose to call. The throng Of carriages at their
houses Oh the regular days indicates very
general purpose TO keep UP the ceremonials
Notwithstanding the days of fasting and
prayer and church going. Mrs. Manning at
tends the frequent services during Lent with
marked regularity The Secretary has kindly
permitted such of the Treasury clerks as de-
sire it, to attend some of the MONDAY church
services although too busy to go himself. Mrs.
Whitney has been enjoying a Southern trip.
The Secretary OF the Navy has, however, en-
tertaincd his friends freely during her absence.
st mdLent the Whitney mansion will be the
scene of an elaborate amateur entertainment
Tor q charitable object. Tickets are fixed at So
each, and it :sstated that more than 400 have
already been solG.ar
n FAIR CHANI=-FO ALL.
The steady increase in the number Of claims
for back pay and bounty, growing out of
the late war, and the consequent delay in their
settlement, bring great pressure to have GER
tain claims made Special" which means to
have them take precedence over those which
have been filed ahead of them Hitherto this
has often been done, at the request of Members
of Congress or other high officials. Controller
Maynard has determined TO abolish this favor
Hn- oil lo;s nff oln
be examined and disposed of in the order in
which they are filed in his office. The only
exceptions will be in cases where the claimants
are actually suffering for the aid sought, which
fact must be established by proof. He says
that no claim will be made special on the per-
sonal request of anybody.
LAW PAYS BEST.
| Hon. E. John Ellis, for many years Mem
/ Der of Congress from Louisiana, was one of
those who were showed under ut the election
| in 1884. He came 10 Washington to practice
! law, and has succeeded SO well that he is max
ing from $4,000 to $4,000 a year. His old
/ friends in New Orleans are urging him to run
for the scat made vacant by the recent death Of
( Sir. Hahn, but he says he doesn't want it. lie
has quit working for glory and is going in for
money. He is getting out Of his profession
! three times Congrcssman's salary, and has no
/ inclination to go back 10 the weak and beg
/ carly elements Of political life
1t AstGnished The Public
/ TO hear of the resignation of DR., Pierce as a