The record. (Greenville, Ky.) 1899-1???, 1900-10-20
WaShingtO Letter.

on Wednesday last, just before the
exercises in the Chamber of the
House of Representatives in honor
of the Centennial of the founding of
the seat of the United States Govern
ment at Warrington. The House
was decorated with bunting, among
which were the flags of most of the
nations of the world. The presence
of most of these however, was not
noticed at first, while very marked
attention was speedily drawn to the
fact that the British ensign was most
conspiciously draped over the gal
lery ratings. AS the British flag
had never been permitted inside the
Capitol since that building was cap
tured and burned by the British in
1914, good deal of excitement was
aroused by its appearance among a
certain portion of the membership
of the House. No doubt the flag
had been placed there innocently,
but that made no difference to the
aroused patriots and the criticism
grew more and more caustic until at
last Speaker Henderson was appeal
ed to. The Speaker at once sent
for the Assistant Doorkeeper, and
ordered the flag to be taken down
or covered up. This latter plan was
adopted, and the flag was hidden
behind signal flag. This was sup
posed to close the incident, but later
on it was discovered that in other
and less prominent parts of the hall
there were ,draped the flags of Ger
many, Russia, France, Austria, Hol-
land, Belgium, Sweden and Norway,
Greece, Guatemala, Columbia, and
even of the negro Republic of Hayti.
The result was that the British flag
was covered from view, while the
banners of all the oher nations were
displayed. If it had been known
they we're there in the first place,
probably no particular objection to
the British flag would have been
raised, the directors having sup
posed that it was the only foreign
t. the all This ideH q &
a Foreign Iraas'aaS-717s5
the - of Representatives 3 /
generally relished, but there is NOR
LITIGATION that there should have been
unintentionally something of all in
suit to the flag of Great Britain car
ried out by the direct order of the
Speaker of the House, who first saw
the light under the protection of
that banner The sailors who had
arranged the flags undertook to
drape several individual desks
Among these was that of Rcpresen-
titive Sulzer, of New York, on which
was placed the flag of the South At
rican Republic. This, however,
was also removed by order of Speak
er Henderson, much to the wrath of
Mr.. Sulzcr.
The brewers are still Contending
for further reduction of the beer
tax, and it is possible that they may
get it in the Senate. The tea i'm
porters are also clamoring for the
reduction of the ten cent tax on that
article, but this also is unlikely to
be brought about. 1t is asserted
that when the war-revenue bill was
under consideration, the principal
importers of tea and merchants ap-
peared and explained that only the
refuse or poores grades of tea were
being sent to this country, and adj
voCated tax upon the ground that
it would insure the importation of a
better and purer article. 1t is as
serted that the tax has had the effect
desired, and that the tea now i'm
ported is not delctcrious to health
but is nutritious and of good quality.
1t appears, however, that those who
were most active in advocating a tax
are now most urgent in urging its
repeal, the explanation being that
tea importers, who are practically
the only petitioners at present, had
large stocks of tea on hand when the
1o-cent tax was imposed, and were
thus permitted to dispose of it at a
large profit. They have imported
very little tea within the last year,
anticipating a removal of the tea
tax, and now when their storchouscs
are empty, they come to Congress
to ramove the tax, that they may
put III new supplies. The request
for the reduction of the tax is gen
orally regarded as purely spccula-
tive. Tea is considered not only Il