, 1900-12-20
WHAT is BEING DONE AT
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL

not until 1927 that the two wings were
completed and not until 1861 that the
dome was finished. The total eNpendi-
lures up to that time reached $4,000
600. Since that date two wings have
been added, with n marble terrace,
which have brought the entire cost OF
the building to S~19,oOO,OOo, which Is n
small sum compared with that eNpend-
ed upon several of the state capitols.
which do not approach 1t in magnitude,
dignity or beauty.
Mr.. Madden, third assistant post
I master general, has introduced an in
novation In his annual report to the
President. He commends by name ten
postmastcrs ont of the 10000 in the ser
vice ms worthy of distinguished notice
because of their efficiency. The name
of Charles IT,. Gordon, postmaster NJ
Chicago, leads the list, and the other,i
are: George A. Hibbard. postmaster
at Boston; Il. Il. Dickerson at Detroit.
i. w. Raumhoff at st. Louis, c. G.
| Dewstoc Mt Cleveland, George l.. Holli-
day mt Pittsburg, Richard Hayward at
Providence, Il. III. Baker Mt Louisville
A. w. Mills ut Nashville, Fred G. With
oft nt Dayton, Ohio.
Tho Senate committee on military ar
fairs continues its hearing upon the
nnti-canteeu provision of the military
| bill. Rev. w. +. Crafts gave the re-
suit of his own observations of the op-
Grafton of the canteen at Newport
| News after the close of the Cuban
war. He said he had found it as low
ms the lowest saloon, and that n regu-
lar orgie was in progress the day he was
there, the report being thst most OF
the soldiers at the post deserted that
night. he quoted General Sternberg
as saying that the cnnteen causes
many soldiers to contract the drink
| habit. and General Miles as opposed
to the use of intoXicants by the soldiers
in the tropics.
In discussing the ship subsidy bill
in the Senate, Mr.. Hanna maintained
| that In order to build up the American
merchant marine it was necessary TO
have not only capital and experience.
but 1t was necessary likewise ito af-
ford our foreign carrying trade pro
t~ectiOn-somc kind of fundamentally
law" If this protection should be af-
| forded, said Mr.. Hanna, the growth of
the American merchant marine would
he on Il par with the growth of the
shipping industry of the great lakes.
Discussing the rise and fall of the
American merchant marine, Mr.. Han
ma declared that the beginning of the
decline in the Industry was cOincident
with the outbreak of the Civi War.
Strong opposition will develop to any
attempt that may he made to reduce
the tax of 10 cents II pound upon tea.
Republican members of the ways and
means committee explain that when
the war revenue bill was under con
sidcrntion the principal importers of
tea and merchants appeared and eN-
planned that only the refuse or poorer
grades of tea were being sent to this
country. and advocated a tax upon the
ground that it would insure the impor-
| tation of n better and purer article. 1t
is asserted hat the tax has had the eff
feet desired, and that the tea now i'm
ported is not dcletcriOus to health, but
is nutritious and of good quality.
The Senate has confirmed the follow
ing presidential appointments: Mineral
land commissioners in Idaho. G. A..
Black of Washington, II. y. Davis of
Idaho, II. Il. King of Idaho; also Hunt
ington Wilson of Illinois, to be Sccre-
tary of the legation of the United
States 10 Japan; William ID. Bynum of
Indiana. to be commissioner to revise
and codify the criminal and penal laws
of the United States; Il. ii. Tatcm of
Montana, to be asSnycr in charge of the
assay office at Helena. Montana: Dan
| iel IL. Mcmillan of New York, to be as
sociatc justice of the Supreme Court of
New Mexico; to he major generals:
Brigadier General Lloyd Wheaton and
Brigadier General a. Chaffee, United
States volunteers.
The cornerstone Of the capitol was
| laid by General Washington with Ma
sonic ceremonies and a barbecue feast
on September IS, 1893. Seven years
later, in November. the building was
sufficiently completed for Mr.. Jeffer-
son then vice president, to call n joint
session in the original senate chamber,
which was in the basement under what
is now the Supreme Court. The House
of Representatives met III temporary
quarters in the basement opposite,
which is now occupied by offices at
tachcd to the Supreme Court. A few
months later better accommodations
Were prepared in Il temporary building
oil the capitol grounds, called the
oven" because of its lack of Ventila-
ton. The first permanent hall of rep
resentatives, which is now the statu-
AIRY hall of the capitol, was occupied in
October, 1907.