The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-06-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
He Refuses the Senate Gavel-Will
Remodel the White HOuse-SOu-
venirs From Guam.
ESPECIAL correspondenee.l


pears to have a decided aversion for
occupying the chair of the vice presi-
dent or the presiding officer of the SEN
ate. At all events he is pretty nearly
the only senator who has not at one
time or another been in the chair TO
conduct the proceedings while Senator
FRYE goes out into his room to lunch or
into the cloakroom to smoke with MS
colleagues. Mr.. Scott has had expert
ence as a presiding officer. He is pres
tdent of the Central Glass works Of
Wheeling, for two years was presiding
officer Of the Wheeling council and
while q member Of the West Virginia
senate presided over that body on
many occasions. just why he has de-
cllned the invitations Of Mr.. Frye TO
preside over the senate Of the United
States remains to be explained by the
senators. The understanding Is that
Mr.. Scott, who dislikes to be urged to
occupy a position Of prominence, has
cot approved the urgency of the sug-
gestions made to him by the president
pro tenn.
To some men even In political life
back slapping is not always an indica-
ton Of q real desire to please. When
Senator Frye slaps a man on the back,
he unQuestionably feels an interest III
him, and senators who are asked to ex-
plain Scott's absence from the presid-
ing officers place are unwilling to ex-
plain It upon the theory that Frye has
Invited him too bolsterously. This is
compliment that Is extended without
reference to party affiliations. 1t is
sometimes for the comfort and conven-
sence Of the presiding officer and some
times TO help the senator in his home
state. II Senator Scott was looking for
reelection next winter, It is safe to be-
lieve that he would think twice before
declining the invitation of Mr.. Frye to
temporarily preside over the senate's
deliberations. Such O record does not
look great in The Congressional Rec
ord. but It may appear very advan-
tageously in a home paper.
WIZ Remodel White House.
The first real steps toward enlarging
and improving the White House have
been taken. The senate committee on
appropriations has inserted an item in
the sundry civil appropriation bill au-
thOrizing the president to appoint an
architect and a landscape gardener
each Of conspicuous ability, to be as
ISOLATED with the chief Of engineers Of
the army to make an examination and
TO report to congress at Its next session
plans for enlarging the executive man
sion
Some time ago Senator Cullom called
attention to the lack Of facilities and
room at the White House and said he
would do something to provide better
quarters for the president
It was largely through the efforts of
the senator from Illinois that this item
was put IN the appropriation bill, and
there is scarcely any doubt that 1t will
be agreed to by both houses, as there
Is a general desire on the part Of mem
bers Of congress to construct a White
House BETTING the dignity Of the ma
ton.
The commission is directed to report
TO congress next December, and If 1t
evolves a scheme which appeals to con-
gress that body VIII undoubtedly APP
propriate enough money to at least en-
large the White House.
Souvenirs From Guam.
Souvenir gifts from Guam or the
Philippines are apt to be expensive. A
prominent officer Of the army whose
taste for interesting military weapons
Is known to some Of his subordinates
was informed a short time ago that
there had arrived at San Francisco on
board government transport address
ed to him two old mOrtars Of date
about 1850 which had been discovered
In one Of the Spanish Notifications
The cost to send these trophies by
freight would be $40. The officer did
not order the souvenirs forwarded, but
q kind friend had them deadheaded TO
Washington, and now they are to be
seen in the Office Of the man who re-
ceived them. They are curious weap-
ons, the mortar being cast solid with
q bedplate, the gun tilted at an angle
Of IS degrees and rigid. The assump-
ton is that the range was obtained by
varying the powder charge, as 1t seems
to be impossible otherwise to vary the
range OF the projectile to be hurled |
from these little bronze pieces, which |
evidently have at times been loaded |
with nails, bolts or other hard objects |
that have scored the bore of the piece.
4 Queer business Rule.
Thetnavy department has received a |
curious letter from a Philadelphia firm
which refuses to furnish the govern
ment with a tube cutter. Some time
ago Commander Baird of the navy,
who Is superintendent Of the state, !
war and navy building, asked New |
York machinery firm to supply that
building with a tube cutter. which |
was needed In the engine room Of that |
structure. The matter |
was referred to a Philadelphia firm,
which has written the navy depart
ment that as members Of the firm are
allied to the Society Of Friends they |
cannot supply the material They |
write that they do not approve Of war |
and decline to sell material to a de-
partment which has anything to do
with war.
1t Is expected the navy department
will secure possession Of the floating
drydock at Havana. The Spanish gov
eminent has consented to sell the
structure for $250000 in gold, and the
pending naval appropriation contains
an appropriation for this purchase and