The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-08
CAPITAL CHAT.
How the German Diplomats
Study Our Cabinet.
A Glass OF Public Servants Who Takz Thei
Lives In Their Hands-Ncliie Grant and
Her bridesmaid From Law TO Fiction.
Timely Topics at the Capital.


Her bridesmaid = From Law to Fiction.
Timely Topics at the Capital.
WASHINGTON, Feb. S.--[Specal. lin n
talk with - member OF the diplomatic
corps hero learned some interesting facts
concerning tho methods pursued by the
German government "Whcnever you
have change OF administration In your
government, said this gentleman, "the
diplomatic representatives OF Germany arc
required to make study of the new men
occupying important posts and report
thereon TO their principals at Berlin. For
instance, when this administration came
into power, the German envoy to the
United States made great many inquiries
as to the career, the mental constitution,
the habits and pcculiarities of all the now
members Of the cabinet. The president,
of course, was already known. AS TO
Gresham particularly tho report was full
and searching. It went through all his
carecr--his boybo0d, his education, his
army life. his service In "A former cabinet
and on tho funch. Ills character was an
alyzcd ns carefully as IL the Germnns were
going To uso him as "a hero In novel.
Not Diplomatic Game.
"Of conrsc they worc moro interested In
Gresham than ian any other member of the
cabinet because OF their moro Intimate re-
lations with the secretary of state but
tho secretary Of agriculture, the secretary
of tho navy and the secretary Of war also
came I'm for discussion. As TO Gresham,
! chance 60 know that the report sent 60
Berlin laid great stress upon the fact that
most of Mr.. Gresham 5 life had been pass
ed ~ an equity judge, and therefore they
supposed hc could l,e tho moro easily made
to SEQ tho right and justice of any particu-
lar case. Oh, tell you our German dip
lolnatic friends arc pretty smart. But IL
thoy presumed 90 impose upon the love Of
truth aud Justice which Gresham had de-
veloped on tho bench and thought To find
In him an easy mark for their diplomatic
gamo Iyentgro to say they have missed
ire"
Tho most remarkable thing about the
recent railway accident In Indiana" said
an employees of tho postmaster generals
Office, was that no railway mail clerks
were hurt In &c. For once luck favored
them, IL being tho rear end Of the train
that left tho track and involved the pas.
sengcrs In these coaches In DEATH while
the rule Is In train accidents IL Is the Tor
ward cars that catch 10 worst. A postal
cars arc almost invariably next To the 10.
coplotiv0 the risk Of disaster to the en-
ployccs OF the service Is therefore greatly
increased Did you know that there is an
accident To the mail ears almost every day
somewhere in the United Statost Well,
that Is tho fact Last yoar the total num-
bnr Of casualties To postal cars was 362.
That comes within three OF being one for
every day In the year Not infrequcntly
five or six accidents are reported In one
day from different parts OF the country.
Fortunately not many Of these mishaps
are serious. In 3G2 accidents last year
only four clorks wero killed, while as were
seriously injured and so slightly injured.
The W orst year we cvur had ia this respect
was 1901 when Is clerks woro killed out
right 6S seriously Injured ana "a slightly
Injured "
Hazardous Work.
On account Of tho number OF clerks
killed or rnaimcd for life while at their
posts of duty Superintendent White is try
ing To induca congress Co make provision
for tho families OF the mon who meet their
fato ia tho cars He does not advocate
pension, but believes congress should give
tho postmaster general authority To pay
To tho family of man who has met his
death in the service tho sum of 81 600. IL
does seem wrong that tho faithful and
skillful men who work our malls Oh the
flying postal cars should. in case Of ac
oident costing thom their lives or incapaci,
tating tbcm from earning a living there
alter. loo forced To fall hack upon charity
for maintenance IL is not their fault that
the employment is extra hazardous, and
the government ought to take care of
them after their injury
Ia the private gallcry Of tho senate n few
days asossat two Indies who woro known
10 bnt few II the men on tho floof or in
othcr parts OF tho chamber. Ono was
brunette of about 40 years, but still quite
conely She seemed much interested in
tho statesmen on the floor below and occa
sionally Indicated ono Of tho oldor men
and talked Of him to her companion This
lady was Nellie Grant Sartoris, and hcr
companion was Miss Barnes, daughter OF
Surgeon General Barnes, who was Nellie
Grants bridesma in tho White House
about 90 years ngo Mrs Sartoris was
trying 20 remember all tho senator's who
worp IN congress when she was married
Thefe-nre only half q dozen Of them left.
senator Palmer and Senator IIni.
Senator Palmer Is one of tho oldest mon
ebout the north END az the cdpltol, Dut nc
Is not slow when 10 comes To tho passing
of pension nils. IIo Is chairman of the
comDittco on pensions and has astonished
every ono by the case and rapidity with
which be rcpprts private pension bills
from his co.nmittcc aud gets them passed
throuc,i tho senate. The great trouble
with the pension committee OF tho senate
heretofore has been that nielnbers will not
attend meetings and without "A quorum
it has been Impossible TO mako reports so
that the senate could act Mr.. Palmer
had way of bis own CT solving this fIi
Guilty, and IL has worked 90 charm. He
induced all the other members OF tho com.
mitteo 20 give him their proxies, with tho
distinct understanding that no was 20
vote for thon whenever he chose at any
regular meeting of the committee. All
the old senator from Illinois has to do is