Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-10-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE. !

Soihpio'ioho vi 'uc uVuVVVCt tuHiicl uerc
is a sensible proposition. and it is,
therefore, to be sincerely hoped that
the district commissioners will urge it
upon Congress with persistency and
vigor. The tunnel in it's present con-
dition represents vast amount of
money lying idle. As to the manner
in which that money was expended
and the incapacity aud culpable neg
ligence which allowed it to be wasted
through the practice of excessive frauds
it is unnecessary to say Il word. The,
unpleasant chapter, with its story of
an army officers life wrecked, can DO
closed. Ont of the ruin which was
wrought, however. something can he
s"~rd. The tunnel is still there. 1t
would not require an exorbitant sum,
if the money is entrusted to hon
est and capable officers, to place it
in perfect condition for the purpose
which created it. The steady growth
of the city demands IL more adequate
water supply. The capacity OF the
mains is already overtaxed, and should
the contemplated reclamation of the
tunnel he even now begun, consider
able time would elapse before it would
be available. In bringing the matter
to the attention of Congress. however,
the commissioners should not fail to
emphasize the fact that the district
was mulcted out of many million dol
lars through agencies for which it was
not responsible, and over whichit had
fN1,s, g., ,,,rIt Il
to be taken into consideration by Con-
gress, and if due credit cannot be given
for funds expended without consc-
quent benefit, precautionary measures
OF protection for the future might ut
least he enacted into law. 1t is stated
that comparative estimates show that
out of every 100 gallons per capita
consumed in the district 81 gallons are
warted. This seems to be an excess
sive calculation, but whether it be
true or not it does not signify. With
an inexhaustible river flowing at the
gates of the city, it would be little less
than crime to deprive the poor of
the largest possible amount for daily
consumption.
/ GEN. SpINNER's INNOVATION The
petticoat in office was thing unheard
of until war times, when General Spin
ner employed few of the sex to cut
notes apart with the shears. Today
the personnel of the treasury depart
ment is half made up of women, who
do practically all of the money count
| ing and ever so much else of the re-
sponsible work. There are in all about
5000 women in the employ of the gov
ernment, and of this number 61OO are
in Washington. OF the rest, 1900 are
postmistresses and post office clerks
scattered over the country. One
reason why women are securing i'm
portant places in Uncle Sans EN-
ploy is that exceptionally qualified
members of the sex are BILE and will
ing to accept such positions at salar-
les which properly equipped men can-
not afford to take. Thus many ladies
of really superior attainments are
drifting into the public service, A
trouble against which they must con-
tend is the still-surviving prejudice on
tie part of many officials against their
employment. 1t is claimed that they
expect special favor at the hands Of
authority, that they have too many
sick days, and that they are not will
ing to be considered as on par with
the male clerks in business way.
Some of them even object to smoking
Bureau chiefs, in calling on the civil
service commission, are apt to ask
for male clerk or typewriter rather
than for one of the opposite sex, simply
because, in their view, a man is more
manageable. Generally speaking, the
proportion of females to males ap-
pointed in the departments at Wash
ington is about one to six. During
the last twelve months, taking in the
whole country, there have been placed
in the classified service thirty eight
male writer's, 100 firemen, so watch
men, and about 800 miscellaneous
male employees.
DID IT WITH DYNAMITE In the
demolition of the walls of the old power
house very heavy charge of dyna-
mite was placed under the sandstone
foundations, and when it exploded the
wall, instead of falling outward, as was
anticipated, slowly crumbled, and
hardly q brick fell further out than
the sidewalk. In the immense coal
vault ut the southeast corner of the
building fire was burning fiercely
for days, although many streams
of water were constantly playing
upon it.
WILL BE PLENTY OF CANDIDATES
1t has even come to the point in the
Hawaiian annexation business, accord
ing to the Star here, that the President
is already thinking up man to make
governor of the new territory. If the
initial scramble for this lucrative job
could he witnessed before the Senate
acts on the treaty, the lesson of
it might make the country pause.
Many an old party hack will sigh
and yearn to become governor OF
Hawaii.
MAY HAVE HANDSOME STRUCTURE
The report that the Pennsylvania Rail-
road company contemplates erecting
new union station on the old Trac-
ton company's power house site has
caused much discussion. The officials
of the company in this city say they
have not yet been informed of the
project, but it is quite probable that
if the property can he secured at a
reasonable figure handsome struc-
ture will be erected there.
Tue MATTER WITH MORRISON
Chairman Morrison of the interstate
commerce commission is preparing to
retire to private life at the end of his
term in January next. The commits.
sion is now composed Of three reno.
Gratis and two Republicans. That is
what's the matter with Chairman Nor.
rison.
Cremation.
Among the ancient Greeks both ere.