The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-21

c1al IA mutual attachment appears to
exist between the auctioneer and the
Shylock in Washington. and it is no won
der that department employees are anx-
] ious that congress should enact some law
providing for plan whereby they can
borrow money and escape the. Shylock,
| curbStone broker and auctioneer, for
| these seem to live in the same atmos-
| phere and enjoy the tears and sobs of
| the distressed. When old Ten-pe,cen
! is ready to close down, the auctioneer
holds himself in readiness to complete
the job of wrecking. Hundreds of men
live in this city On the earnings of 9TH
| ers. A government employee gets in a
| close place; ten or twenty per-center
| is sought, and relief is secured for the
time being. The interest is kept up for
| a while, and then the clash comes and
| all is over. The chattel mortgage does
the work, and one more victim is gained
People are amazed when told that even
well-paid government employees are near
| ly always in dire Observation-Disclosures of
dollars behind The cause Is plain-they
| attempt to travel at too rapid rate
| and are forced to seek the accommo-
| dating ten-percenter for accommodations
Four-fifths of these borrowers have no
| real substantial grounds for borrowing,
but once in the habit they seldom let
up until the string Is pulled by the lender.
Congress should not bother itself with
| attempting to enact a law or laws where
by such people can get financial accom-
modations. 1t would be far more sensi-
BILE to make an appropriation for enlarg-
ing ST. Elizabeth's asylum and putting
| these rapid PAGERS there for safe keeping.
| Naturally with the Temperatures to
help him out the auctioneer thrives here
like the green bay tree. The shifting,
ever-changing stratum of official life fur
nishes him with brisk business. The glo-
ries of Washington bring families by the
| score, and when the glories have depart
ed, they HE themselves away to other
fields and pastures green. Household
outfits are bought, used short time, and,
| through the ten-percenter or some other
| cause, fall into the hands of the auction
eer Few of the government employees
who leave Washington ever have suffi-
| cient to pay both their fare home and
freight on furniture and household eff
| fectS In fact, many of them would not
|
| their senators or congressman. who are
| usually in position to put up the money
/ or deadhead pass. This is pretty plain
| talk, but every word is true. Any young
| man who has a good position at home
sufficient to keep soul and body together
ard the collector from his door is wise If
he remains away from Washington. The
man who gives up a good place and takes
| chances on coming here Is an 18-k fool
| with a French roof.
While there are number of senators
who are stylish" not one of them in
| any manner can approach the style
ex-senator Ransom was wont to get UP.
| Ransom was perhaps the best dressed
man in the senate. He always looked as
| if he were imagining that he would
| give the people a treat" by letting them
| gaze upon a real senator who knew what
| 1t was to be scrupulously careful about
! his linen, the cut Of his clothes, and the
| comb of his hair. 1t was told by Senator
| Villas that during one of his trips to
| North Carolina he was invited by
friend to look at pretty horse. 1t was
! a superb animal, but had no redeeming
| qualifications save it's beauty; it couldn't
catch street car, had no gaits, and
really was not blooded. The senator
| asked his friend why he took such ex-
| cellent care of an animal that was worth
| less. The reply was that the horse was
named Matt Ransom. and he was being
| kept for est le.'
| Government officials. as well as senators
and congressman, travelling at public ex-
| pense, are allowed to charge up tips
| to porters of Pullman cars, but not a
| cent are they allowed for porters of no.
| tells. If there is any tipping of these 1t
| must come out of their own pockets. 1t
seems small matter, but in the course
| of a year it amounts to very large
/ sum, and 1t is said that before the pres
! ent congress adjourns there will be law
authorizing such public individuals to
| ''tfp' whenever and wherever they
choose. and let the amounts go in as
necessary public expense"
A gentleman who has seen considerable
of public men and politicians gives the
following ingenious explanation of the
| paternity of the word Caucus, and he,
adds that the date and locality of the oc-
currence has slipped his memory: Some
wears ago an Informal meeting of repre-
sentatiyes of one of the great political
parties was called to determine upon
plan of action. All matters being ar
ranged smoothly the meeting was on the
eve of adjourning, when the leading
members enjoined strict secrecy as to the
proceedings, to which all assented, ana
one more emphatic than the others. re-
sponded. Cork u.s. or "calk us. Hence,
from it's sound, 1t was soon run Into the
word caucus Webster says the origin
of the word is unknown, kUt that 1T is
used In America to denote meeting OIL
citizens to agree upon candidates TO pe
proposed for election to offices. or to con-
cert measures for supporting a party.
crro vxyirrp IN the
District of Columbia for the enactment OF
g. law authorizing the establishment OIL
whipping posts for the punishment or
narties convicted of minor offenses. The
Jail workhouse and institutions of re-
form are always crowded to their ut
most limit. and 1t is the belief of many
who have given the question study lhat
tho whipptng post would have tendency
not only TO lessen crime, but would great
tv decrease the enormous expense ol
maintaining institutions for the saIe-
keeping and care of prisoners II Is UNI
derstood that an effort Will De IIaee ~
have the house committee on the Dia.iio e
~ Columbia give the matter considera-
tion MARYLAND had such law enacted
IN 1899 and it has shown Itself to be very
effecttye in cases of wife beating Tor
which offense the law was specially mace.
Tn washington cases of assault on WIVES
ore of almost daily occurrence, ana II Is
the belief that law similar to the Mary
land law would work we'll here.
Within the past few weeks PUBIC
Printer Palmer has had placed in the
government printing ONCE tohs upol, loss
Of new type and printing material, the
new type being that known as the point
system. 1t Is necessary to put IN new
material gradually, as all work aifeaay