The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-01-28
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Changesth at Have Been Made at
the National Capitol.
California Has No Representative In
the Hall of statuary as the Other
states Have-A Suggestion in Re-
gard to 1t.
lspecial corresnondence OF the REcoRD-UNIoN!

Especial correspondence of the REcoRD-uNIoNl
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan Is, 1871.
Californians who have been IN wash
inqton heretofore will doubtless recall the
undignifed frequency of cigar, news
paper, fruit and lunch stands which con-
fronted the stranger in almost every meme
and corner of the corridors on the House
side of the Capitol. These harmless and
improbable nuisances have all been
'scounted absent" by Speaker Reed since
the last session. One can now so through
the entire building without being bewil-
dered into the impression that he is prod
ding around the outskirts OF country
fair.
The massive symmetry architectural de-
sign and ornate beauty OF the structure IL
self, combined with the freedom from Ia
Dor. the methods for realizing SAG GO
monthly, mileage and exemption from
civil procedure here enjoyed by the ten
ants III common, are all present to the
naked eye with clear and unobstructed
distinctness.
The main entrance to the House OF
Representatives on the east has hereto
fore served the undetermined purpose OF
ladies' reception room. 1t was wise
adaptation of that useless catacomb grow
ing out of the fact that its exceedingly
expensive vestibule and ponderously
architectic portico shut out the light of
day. Washington gas being poor and
cheap, but nevertheless expensive, made
it possible for this relic of the dark ages
to offer the happy combination OF little
pleasure and a great deal of annoyance to
the gentlemen temporarily employed on
the inside Of the building. 1t is reached
fEn,N n
the elevator. This method is rendered
necessary because of the very long line OF
steps which must be climbed to reach 1t
in front, requiring physical courage ana
endurance rarely ever INDUCED in during
times of absolute peace. In order TO re-
store this unapproachabie entrance 10 It's
former condition of utter uSelessness, the
aforementioned ladies' reception room,
so called, has been transferred to Statuary
Hall. This was the old House OF Repre-
sentatives during the days OF Jefferson,
jackson, Clay, Calhoun, Webster, Tom
Shannon, ex-senator Cole, Ned Marshall
and others; in other words, during the
earlier and purer days of the republic"
don't wish to be understood as COM
hitting myself to taking any considera-
BILE overplus of stock in the absolute eN-
actness of the latter quotation in its full
generic sense. 1t is used rather after the
school book custom in order to throw in
y
wards firing up the patriotic boiler OF our
native sons-of the United States.
CONGRESSIONAL VANDALISM.
The change referred to has painful
compromising disadvantages. That me
morable hall, dedicated to perpetuating
endearing memories of our notable men
now passed away, by presenting to the
visitor their alleged physical PERSONAL
ties in marble, granite and bronze as they
appeared in life, has been desecrated.-
In the east rear of that line of statuary
which stands between the pillars sup
porting the gallery over the old Speakers
chair, the aforesaid ladies' reception
room has been ruthlessly transplanted.
There is this to be said, however, to as
SAUCE the patriotic outburst of indigna-
ton which must necessarily follow the
reading of this article, that ladies
rarely if ever visit the new apartments,
or the old, as far as that goes; and the
few of Mrs. Jarley's wax figures who oc-
casionally loiter about there, present
such an archaic effect to the ineXperi-
enced eye that they might easily be taken
for female statuary belonging to the place,
in baSSo relieve.
There are those who assert with reck-
less degree of confidence that this bit of
Congressional sacrilege meets the hearty
approval of a large number of members
on account of its distance from the House,
being fully fifty yards away, its crafty
ing publicity, and the greater advantage
of full glare of the sun blazing down
upon the features of the unprotected re-
ceptioniste.
This change of reception base simply
operates to transfer the supplies from the
Capitol to the members residences or
otherwheres, and it is also claimed with
equal earnestness that the feature is one
which is not wholly unpopular. 1t is to
be expected that some trifling inconveni-
ences may arise where there are
so many members who have wives-with
them. Trouble has arisen heretofore
upon this same topic, even with mem
bers from California, but one is nearly
overwhelmed with wonder as to what
they'll do when the census increases their
number to 365, and seven of them from
California.
Pursuing this subject still further the
country will doubtless stand aghast in
contemplation of the possible exigences
liable to arise when the census OF 4. d.
1000 is ascertained and the ladies' recep-
ton problem still unsettled. From broad
economic point of view, would it not be
well for the Farmers Alliance to graphic
with this great national question at their
forthcoming convention? Quadremial
sessions, an example OF the rule for ex-
tracing the square root of 365, and a
ready-reckoning formula for applying the
ctototre de salary are hints thrown out for
tHe DeuellO vi tue IdlliOTnld USlegateS UD:aD
they may be fully equipped with re-
sources whenever that momentous thesis
is warehoused with their stock of neces-
Sary reforms.
NO MORE DOUBLE PAY FOR ARMY
OFFICERS.
There was an amendment attached to
the military appropriation bill in the
House which provides that hereafter no
retired army officers shall be allowed to
receive pay for any service performed for
the Government unless they abandon
their pay as retired army officers.
The theory and doubtless the plain OBJ
ject of the retired list is to provide COM
Portable means of support for such officers
as have been disabled in the line OF active
duty, or grown old in the service of their
country, so as to incapacitate them from
active employment wherewith TO obtain
a livelihood after their discharge. 1t is a
fact, however, that very many-possibly
majority-of the officers on the retired
list have business of some kind by
which their incomes reach large figures.
and many are I'D the civil service of the
Government.
The two cases which doubtless inspired
the amendment are those of General w.
+. Smith, who is on the retired list as a
Major and drawing 5000 annually from
the Government as agent in charge of the
river and harbor improvement at Will
mington, Del, and General w. S. Rose
Grams, late Member of Congress from San
Francisco, who is on the retired list as a
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and receives 200 per
year as Registrar Of the Treasury.
The Second Comptroller of the Treas
ury has lately decided that, according to
the present law, or rather, in the absence
OF law to the contrary, army officers on
the retired list may draw these double