Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-20
WASHINGTON CLEANS,
Pensions for Negroes Born in Slavery
Senator MorriIl's Home-Notes


Mrs Mckee, the daughter Of Gen. Har-
rlson, who Is now the guest of Mrs. John
W. Foster, met Mrs. Sartoris, the daugh-
ter of Gen. Grant, for the first time at the
tea given by her hostess. These two White
house girls, with Mrs J. Stanley Brown,
who was Mollie Garfield, made a striking
group in that receiving party Mrs. Gar
field, who is visiting her daughter at pres
emit, was guest Neither she nor Mrs.
Sartoris had met before, and never before
was this quartet of former White House
celebrities In such close contiguity. They
looked at each other as much as the rest
of the guests looked at them. 1t made
one of the most interesting condolences
of the winter.
Senator Thurston of Nebraska, has in
troduced bill to pension every negro
who was born In slavery. the amounts TO
range from 81 month for one who Is less
than so years old, to SIS month for one
who Is over TO- Persons of the latter age
or over are to receive q bonus of $500 In
cash. This beats the forty acres and a
mule that was offered for votes In the
black belt during the carpet-bag times,
and when the news gets down south that
such a proposition has been introduced
Senator Thurston may expect daily pro-
cessions OF ancient coored persons at his
door. asking for their money.
The favorite location with the Senators
seems to be in and around Thomas Circle.
One entire row of magnificent houses Is
occupied by United States Senators and
their families; In fact, the square is often
spoken of as Senators Row" Senator
Morrill,, who Is enjoying his forty-hrst
winter in Washington, resides In the first
Of this long row of stately homes. A mag
niicant stag's head with tremendous ant
lers decorates his front hall. This was
presented to the Senator thirty-five years
ago by the governor of Wyoming Terri
tory. One of Senator Morrill's warmest
personal friends was the architect who
designed the Capitol, and a fine steel en-
craving of the famous master builder is
hanging in the library of Senator Morrill's
home. Senator Morrill, is not a partican
In his friendship and many of his warmest
personal friends are democrats. A day
or SO ago Mrs. Morrill, was speaking to
The Philadelphia Times correspondent or
this popularity and mentioned the friend
ship that existed always between Senator
Beck, of Kentucky. and her husband.
Yet on the floor of the Senate they had
many long and bitter arguments. One
evening Senator Beck dropped in informal
ly to dinner and said laughingly: Say.
would just. like to know what your hus-
band meant, Mrs Morrill,, when he said up
at the Senate that didn't know any more
about art than horse" When Senator
Beck was invited by Mr.. Smith, in charge
of Uncle Sans botanical gardens. TO plant
q tree in the grounds the Senator did so,
but selected the very spot in the row of
trees planted by famous men, that adj
Joined Senator Morrill's tree. Mr.. Smith
warned the Kentuckians OF the fact,
thinking he would prefer the distance of
the entire row to lie between this tree and
the Vermont Senator's plant" but, on
the contrary and to the Scotch gardeners
surprise, Senator Beck delightedly Insisted
he could not get his tree too near that
planted by Senator Morrill,. And there
they flourish, side by side.