News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1900-01-17
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
WASHINGTON, Jan. s, 1900.

As write the windows are all open,
the roosters and other birds are sing
ing and the atmosphere has the feel
ing of late April or early October
day at home. 1t is altogether too
fine to stay indoors, but Isacrifice in
clination to duty.
The Older generation of Vermonters
may possibly remember a party by
the name of George F. Ednu Ids, who
at one time enjoyed quite a reputa-
ton throughout that section.
Strange as it may seem, heis still sin
our midst" so to speak. This Ven
cradle historical parsonage is quar-
tered at the Arlington hotel here for
the season, and with advancing years
more and more resembles the por
traits of st. Jerome and Father Time,
which adorn the windows of the art
stores. The suns of many summers
have not softened the frosty crust in
which he has always been enveloped,
and yet remains the icy Edmunds
of ormont legend and story. It is
probable that Edmunds has the most
select and profitable law practice of
any attorney in the United States.
He is permanently retained by many
of the large trusts and railroads of
the country, and his professional in
come from these sources must be
something colossal in these lines.
Besides these are hisspecial retainers.
AS an illustration | may mention
that he is counsel for the people of
Pennsylvania in their great fight
against Quay, that he is counsel for
the people of Utah against Roberts
in the latter's contest for a seat in
the House, and that he is counsel for
the people of Montana in their fight
against the seating of Senator Clark,
charged with buying the Legislature
which elected him. Each of these
cases means very many thousands of
dollars in the pocket of the frigid ex-
Vermonter, who is noted for the ex.
cessive size of his professional charges
1t is supposed by the people at large
that-having been a Senator-he has
large influence with the average Sen
ate and House Committees on cleo
tions, but new crop Of Statesmen
has arisen since he domineered the
Senate, and the present generation
sizes him up at his true value.
The subject of Edmunds reminds
me of a story told of him when he
was in the Senate by the late David
Davis of Illinois, then Presi lent of
that body. The Ayes and Nos had
been taken on some question, and as
usual Mr.. Davis said, those contrary
minded will answer no." There were
no nos and the presiding officer re-
marked to himself, but in an audible
tone, "Edmunds can't be present or
he would be contrary minded, he al
ways is"
From the fact that the people OIL
Vermont and the small remainder Of
the country are about to be dtluged
by the annual inundation of Congress
sional garden seeds, few facts and
figures regarding this great industry
may be of interest. The contract tC
furnish the seeds in auctioned off by
the government annually to the high
est bidder. This year the contractor
is Charles Parker of Santa Clara, Cal.
whose biC-$120,000-wa theloweet
received. The sum of $4,000 il
appropriated by the government fol
the purchase and distribution of thu
different seeds, and about $10,O ii
reserved for clerk hire in mailing
The seeds are divided into FIVE classes
vegetable, flower, tobacco, cotton ant
lawn grass. Each Senator and mem
Der of the House is entitled to ap
proximately $50 packages of vegeta
bles and 500 of flower seeds, besides
tew-possibly 50-packages of law
grass, but if he has tobacco or cottol
seed these are deducted from hi
quota of vegetable seeds. A "pack
age" of seeds will contain five differ
ent varieties, earthly assorted. l
1900 packets of beet seed are puT
chased, running GA seeds to the paC
ket, and divided into six varieties
10000 lbs. of cucumt e' seeds ar
made up into 100000 packets, 150
lbs. of lettuce seed are made up int
243 200 packets, comprising four va
rieties, five varieties OF mush melon
make $4,000 packets, same of we
termelons, 1000 lbs. of FIVE differen
variet g, of onion seed make 2,496
900 packets-ye who have tears, pr'
pare TO shed them now there al
the same number of packets o. raids
us of onion seed, 5000 bushels pac
Of peas and beans make 48O, 900 pa
kets of each, also the same quantit
of sweet corn likewise divided B
sides these there are distributed 30
pounds of tobacco seed, 725 bushe
ofcotton seed and Is, 900 lbs. of Kel
lucky blue grass seed. Over one nj
Ii packets Of flower seed are distri
u'ed. Very little care orsystem ht
heretofore been exercised in the sell
tion and distribution of I'll e 81 ed
but many complaints have shown Il
department the necessity of a caref
study of the situation and better '
suits hereafter will undoubtedly
obtained.
The two houses reconvened at biz
noon last Wednesday, pursuant
adiournmpnt - and nut in ahOnt 4