The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-02-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
An Unappreciated Comp1iment--SO-
cial ReguIations--A Champion
of Woman Suffrage.
Especial correspondence

fulnesS at the bunghole of the treas
ury barrel Senator Francis Marion
Coclxrell of Missouri has won this title
and distinction. 1t appears, however,
that there are certain strsAa of society
in which the significance of this so
briquet is not understood. This was il
lnstrated a few days ago by an incl
dent in the womens gallery of the
senate A daughter of the Missouri
senator was accompanied to the gal
lery by two girl friends from the west.
Sitting behind them was party of
strangers under the ciceronage of a
Washingtonian, who was pointing out
the notables as they appeared in the
chamber. As Senator Cockrell strobe
in slowly and with proper dignity the
cicerone, as was his duty, pointed him
out to the party with the stereotyped
remark, .'That's Senator Cockrell Of
Missouri, the watchdog of the treas
ury.'" Quick as flash the Washing
tonian felt the eyes of the two girls in
front of him riveted upon him with in
dignant glances. How do you dare
apply such a term to Senator Cockrell,
the greatest man in the senator snap
ped one of the western girls. Miss
Cockrell attempted to explain that in
the strangers remark there was an
implied compliment of very high value
to her father. but her friend could not
be made to see it in that light. The
man attempted to apologize but in
vain. The girls swept out of the gal
lery murmuring that they had never
before heard such rude thing" said
about the idol of the Missouri Democ-
racy. and if this was the way Wash
ington people talked about western
statesmen they were going to try to
have the capital moved from this city
to st. Louis where it ought to be.
Social Regulations.
Washington society is formal and
ceremonious Probably there is no city
in this country where social connec-
tons are so strictly observed. and GER
tain it is there is no city in the land
where there is such punctilious obsery-
ance of precedence established by off
cial rank
For instance, it is said that the
wives of cabinet members are now ex-
pected to call on the wives of senators
first
You may not think that is a very Sc
rious matter but it is. Time was when
this important point was not settled
and Washington society was in tur-
moil because of iealousies engendered
over the fact that this point was still
debatable. Now it is recognized Gus
f,1.
son is, so the wives of senators argue,
that cabinet members have to be con
firmed by the senate, and therefore in
a measure they are creatures of that
body and consequently lowerin rank
Woman Suffrage Champion.
Senator Warren, who introduced in
the, senate the other day a proposed
woman suffrage law. thinks that it
would be a good idea to start the new
Hawaiian government with equal suf-
frage He has presented an amend
ment to the Hawaiian bill striking out
the word male in connection with
qualified voters.
1--WE have had equal suffrage in wy
oming for 80 years, said Senator War
rem the other day, land it is therefore
no longer an experiment"
do the women really voter
"They do. The number of women
who cast their ballots is as great in
proportion TO population as the aggre-
gate total of voters of the other sex
1t may be that in few remote coun-
ties where it is very inconyenient to
get to the polls this average does not
obtain, but the exception merely proves
the rule. We have had some women
officials, but they have generally been
connected with school work and have
made admirable officers. We have
never yet had woman member of the
legislature. In fact, no woman, SO far
as l can remember was ever nominal
ed for a legislative position"
''How are the polls on election day."
''They are as quiet as Il church, and
l attribute this fact largely to the
presence of ladies'. Women go to the
polls without fear of trouble and east
their ballots They take deep inter
est in political questions, and their
right of suffrage is exercised with
great intelligence"
The Canal Appropriations.
The action of the house committee in
cutting down the appropriation for the
Nicaragua canal to $10,000,000 is not
intended as blow at the bill, but sim
ply to provide the amount necessary to
start the work, leaving it to succeeding
congresses TO appropriate the rest of
the money as The enterprise progresses.
There is no need for large appropria-
ton this year. 1t could not be used,
and every dollar above the actual eX
penditure would revert to the treasury
at the end of the fiscal year, and a re-
appropriation would have to be made.
If the whole sum necessary to con-
Struct the work We're allowed, it would
make this congress seem most extrava-
giant in appropriations, and therefore
the leaders advised that only 100000
900 be named for use this year.
There is a bill to abolish the can
teen system in army posts before the
committee on military affairs" answer
ed Chairman Hull when asked about
such a measure.
.'Will it be taken up by your commit
tee?''
''That l cannot say definitely as it
rests chiefly with the committee. |
have had one or two communications
about it inquiring if the writer's could
confer with me regarding the measure.
/ have been here every afternoon but