Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-12-14
WASHINGTON LETTER
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS. J


surface transit has reached its highest
| development here. The asphalt pave.
meuts and the wide, straight streets
make the transportation expense very
light All the companies in Wash.
! ington are making money. The stock
OF some sells at very high premiums
The overhead trolley is not allowed.
The cable, the underground trolley
and the storage battery are the powers
used. Tickets are sold at six for %
cents an d transfers are not onl y given
but almost thrust upon one. In adj
dition to this, the herdic phaetons,
which are numerous, run over routes
OF three or four miles at three cent
fare, and even these give transfer
checks. The driver performs also the
functions OF fare-t aker. Everyone
rides in Washington. The service is
being rapidly extended, and today
1000 men are being employed putting
IN the trolley road to Baltimore. which
will be ready in the spring. Railroad
men here say chat four cent fare in
Boston would not lessen the net earn
ings of the West Fad road Mt all, judg-
ing by the increased business which is
done here with each reduction in
price.
WANTS AN OFFIcE-Col. Vinal of
New Bedford is here endeavoring to
secure the position of assistant SER
gennt at arms. He has a favorable
chance, because he was an officer in
the 3D. Mass. cavalry, and under him
Col. Russell, the sergeant ut arms,
served. This makes the latter desir-
GUS OF giving Col. Vinal position.
The Massachusetts representatives.,
while taking no formal action in the
matter, are favorably inclined towards
him, and it will not be surprising if
Col. Vinal receives this desirable and
lucrative position.
MAKES LOTS OF FUN - The new
system of calling pages in the house
is creating deal of amusement about
the chamber. Formerly when men,
Der wished the services OF these Junior
statesmen he would slap his hands to-
gether, Mt the sound of which page
would Immediately proffer himself to
do the members bidding. An entire
ly different mode of summoning is now
in vogue. Each members desk is
fitted with an electric push button and
an annunciator indicates where the
page is wanted. Many of the men,
bers wishing page clap their hands
together, and then, realizing that that
procedure has been tabooed, push
their desk button, and before they
know it two pages are at their dis
posal.
The FIRST BIL1-The first bill to
be introduced in the upper branch of
the 54th congress was the one offered
by Sen. Lodge Immediately after
reading of the Presidents message on
Tuesday, for pension of Gen. Cogs-
wells widow. A similar bill was in.
tro uc,d in the house by Gen. Draper
but owing to the fact that public bills
ak precedence over private ones in
tins body, its number is 70. 1t asks
that pension of 500 month be
granted to Mrs. Cogswell, the same as
allowed to Mrs. Banks aud Mrs.
Corse.
No END OF GAvE1s-Speaker Reed
has received his Usual quota of historic
gavels for the session. He opened the
54th congress with one made from por.
ton of the bench at which Gen. Grant
worked as tanner, presented by the
Grand Army post OF Galena, ILL.,,
through Congressman Hit of that state
close and valued friend of the speaker.
Another gavel which would look we'll
in some cabinet collection in the White
House after March 4, 1897, is made
from one of the timbers of Admiral
Farragut's old flagship. This one was
sent by the citizens Of Vallejo, Gal.
But thus far Mr.. Reed has presided
over the deliberations of the House
with the one presented by the Hamil-
ton Club of Chicago, which contains
material taken from the home of
Henry Clay, the great protect:onist.
1t is bound together with bands OF
gold and silver. Congressman Foss
OF Chicago made neat little presen.
tation speech in handing it to Mr..
Reed. Mr.. Foss is a Vermonter,
only 32 years old, graduate of Hnr-
ward, '85, a lawyer in the Western
metropolis, and has brother in bnsi-
ness in Boston.
LOOK LIKE FATHER AND Son. Glen.
Draper and Congressman Simpkins
are seen much together about the Onp-
itol. Frequently after adjournment
they are seen walking down Pennsyl-
vania avenue together. Mr.. Simp.
kins listens attentivey to all that the
experienced member from Hopedale
says, and AS the two pace briskly to
their respective places of abode, it
looks good like father and son out
for exercise, rather than two col.
leagues from Massachusetts,.
CARPENTER COMING HoME-A cable.
gram was received at the navy depart.
ment from Admiral Carpenter, stating
that he had relinquished command of
the Asiatic station and started for
home BY tine steamer Galliu on the
18th inst. Until the arrival of Com.
modore McNair, who succeeds Adj
miral Carpenter, the station will be
under command of Capt. Day of the
Baltimore.
NoM1NATIoNs-The president has
sent to the senate the nominations of
U. s. judges, marslals and attorneys
made during the recess of congress.
Included in these are those of Walter
Z. Fnison, of North Carolina, to be
solicitor for the department OF state;
William NJ. Springer, of Illinois, judge
for the northern district, and Constan-
tine B. Kilgore, of Texas. for the
southern district of Indian territory,
and William l.. Marhury, U. S. attor-
ney for the district of Maryland. Mr..
Marbury was nominated during the
last congress, but the senate took no
action on it.