Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-04-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Easter Frol:c on The White
House Grounds.

Aut tAC 8uNhiboRAC ACtth NdHc-
marshalleo m army of pretty in
fantry toward the White House
grounds. The adjacent streets !
were thronged. On the field of
battle the struggle for eggs was
fierce and prolonged, and when |
the camp followers were left alone
with the spoils. thousands Of eggs
strewed the sward.
The children who come to the
egg breaking constitute an essen
TALLY democratic mob. No chill
dren are too dainty, none too hum
BILE, and some too young, to enjoy |
the sport. Between "Baby" Nc
Kee, who is of course entitled to
the first place among society in
fants during the present admins
traiion, down to the half clad col
ored youngsters from unknown al |
leys, is a social distance as difficult !
of adequate comprehension as the !
distance from the most remote
planet to the earth, and yet for a
few hours. they are parts Of the same
picture. In fact, the ebon youth
has the better of most of the
wealthier children, for he is
learned in the art Of breaking eggs,
and generally winds up with his
stomach and pockets alike full.
I saw one cOlored boy being at
tended by a friendly policeman.
who stated that the lad claimed TO
have eaten forty eggs, and ehoked
on the forty first.
A history of White House chill
dren would make an interesting
volume, there have been so many
generations Of them IN that build !
ing. The most interesting one l
recall was little Tad Lincoln, who !
had..a.full officers outfit and.used to |
make war all by himself in the |
ncisiest possible way and whose /
death, in this same house was a
sore sorrow TO his lion-hearted |
father. The Hayes children we're
a peculiarly prim crew. There
was only a short season Of spring |
playing for the Garfield youngs-
tiers before their sorrow caIAe,
bringing the longest season of ST.
lence the White House ever
knew. There were no more chill
dren il the White House until the
present administration, when the
Harrison family brough: enough /
and to spare. And the one warm
spot in President Harrison's 9TH
er-ise cold nature, so aver his ene-
mics, is his love for the babies of
his household.
Mr.. Stone, of Missouri, had the
uncomfortable experience on Fri
day of feeling the wrath of both
friends and enemies. The ques-
ton before the house referred to
certain private pension bills favora-
bly, reported, but Mr.. Stone spoke
on the pension problem in general.
He said he was in favor of calling
q halt sin this extrayagant waste
of public funds" He thought the
had done enough, and
that everything that was now done
was for mere political efiect-a
use of the treasury for campaign
purposes.
His speech was vehemently de-
nOunced by republicans and demo-
Gratis alike-more especially by
democratic members representing
constituencies with large soldier
element. The feeling against Mr..
Stone was so noticeable during his
remarks that he closed with only
4 mild protest against further pen
sion legislation.
Whether Mr.. Stone be right or
wrong, congress owes il to deserv-
ng claimants to make provision
Ior the speedy adjudication of pen !
sion cases. The bureau as it ex-
sts, whether for want of clerks, or
want of management, is wofully !
n arrears with work. A letter ,
written in a case is answered per-
laps in a year, perhaps never. :
Testimony is considered some
ines only after a years delay. a
IN cases that have once been re- {
ected, a rehearing on pertinent
evidence is almost unobtainable.
The appeal board IN the interior
department is twenty-nine months
'ehind with its work. The claim
lnts are not all deserving, but the
,-eatest number are certainly old e
nd poor and it would be a mercy
0 decide their claims as early d
s possible one way or the other.I
The man who doubts that adver- E
isilg pays should see Chancey
1. Depew. He had only a few