The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-20
IN THE HOTEL CORRIDORS.

Hon. John Barrett. formerly United
States Minister to Siam, is at the Airing
ton for a few weeks on department BUSH
ness. Mr. Barrett is the official who stated
recently that one of Senator Hoars
speeches was the cause of the instruction
in the Philippines. He viii hold several
conferences with the officials of the State
Department before leaving the Capital.
J. W. Durham, the Insurance Commits
sloner of the State OF Pennsylvania, is at
the Normandie for few days. Mr.. Dur
ham. who is said to be an active bench
man of Matthew Stanley Quay, held Tong
conference with the latter last night. He
expresses great assurance that Mr.. Quay
will be returned to the Senate, and claims
that the people of Pennsylvania are with
the former Republican boss and want him
to be seated.
Norman E Mack editor of the Buffalo.
n. Y. Times is at the Shoreham. Mr..
Mack is very enthusiastic over the pros
pectiye grandeur of the Pan-Ameriean
Exposition, and holds that the Chicago
event of 1893 viii not be any comparison
with the show to be given By the Queen
City Of the Lakes. He is accompanied by
Mrs. Mack, and will remain here about
week.
J. II. Stephens. OF Crow Creek, S. D.. is
at the Ncrmandie for a few weeks. Mr.
Stephens is an Indian agent. and is here
prospecting out our way" said he last
night, and the Indians are happy and coz
tented. / represent the Lower Yankton-
ians, a branch Of the Sioux tribe. The
past year has been the best for a long
time, and the indications are that the pres
ent prosperity viii continue"
Z. NJ. 0'Brien, OF New York, the PresI-
dent OF the PanAmerican Express Com
pany of Havana, Cuba, is at the Arlington
for a brief stay. He reports great traffic
and a steady growth in business between
the United States and Cuba. Mr.. O'Brien
was formerly United States Commissioner
of Navigation, and is here visiting his cd
friends.
John F Carroll is at the Arlington from
New York. Mr.. Carroll is the renowned
here en- business. He declines to be inter-
and will remain here only few
days.
II makes me smile sometimes to see
the way the prefix Hon is abused" said
7. a. Latham, of Chicago. at Chamber
Inns last night. 1T seems to have be-
come standing rule that when you are
in doubt you should place Hon. before
a mans name. Now. even according to
our loose American usage. about 20 per
cent of the honorables now in the United |
States are not honorable In the sense |
given by the title. Every man who has
ever served in any board OF aldermen or |
State legislature at once adopts the han |
die TO his name and feels much benefited |
thereby. / have known men TO travel |
under the Hon sign who had never held |
A position higher than that of clerk |
Colonies have become as common as /
judges. and those who wish to be some /
body have adopted the Hon The ma |
jority OF those wearing the title have /
never earned it. and 10 tell the truth |
the title has become something OF a hum |
bug"
Many needed changes have taken place !,
In railroad cars during the past few years" |
II.
AZ the Raleigh last night, land the ma |
iority Of the Improvements are due to the |
good work of the Interstate Commerce |
Commission.
Air brakes and automatic couplers have |
become common and are actual necessities |
IS safety appliances. Only steel freight \
'ars are now being constructed in place |
II the old ramshackle wooden affairs. On /
passenger trains the matter of draught !
-igging is being considered and Wi. de-
-elop new speed records. Gas and electric
lighting systems have become universal
rhe vestibule is no longer luxury. but a
ecessity. Interior decoration has attracted
lew ideas. and the modern car is luxurious
without being overstuffed. as were the old
palace cars. Ventilation. sanitation, and
all have taken great strides
md today America is ten years ahead of