The Elk Mountain pilot., 1900-12-25
WHAT IS BEING DONE AT
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL

| the two wings We're left standing The
flooring and timbers used in the scat
| folding made convenient kindling wood
| for the British soldiers, who piled upon
| it books and documents from the con-
gressional library. a heavy rain storm
fortunately extinguished the flames be-
| fore the walls of the building Were in
| jured. Similar depredations were COM
mitted at the White House.
! The Senate committee on foreign re
| lations decided to recommend further
! amendments of the Hay-Pauncefote
| treaty. The committee adopted an
amendment suggested by Senator For
/ aker. which declares that the Hay
| Pauncefote treaty supersedes the Clay
! ton-Bulwcr treaty. and also strikes out
the HayPauncefote agreement, article
3. which permits the submission of the
Hay Pauncefote treaty TO other pow
| ers and invites their acceptance of it.
| While the capitol was being rebuilt.
| after its destruction by the British
army in 1914, the two houses of Con-
gress met in private dwellings. 1t was
not until 1927 that the two wings We're
completed and not until 1867 that the
| dome was finished. The total eNpendi-
| lures up to that time reached $4,000
600. Since that date two wings have
been added. with marble terrace,
which have brought the entire cost of
| the building TO S19.OO0O0o. which is
small sum compared with that eXpend-
ed upon several of the state capitols,
which do not approach it in magnitude,
dignity or beauty.
Mr.. Madden. third assistant post
master general. has introduced an in
novation i'll his annual report to the
President. He commends by name ten
postmasters out of the 10000 in the SER
| vice as worthy of distinguished notice
because of their efficiency. The name
of Charles L. Gordon. postmaster NJ
Chicago. leads the list and the others
I are: George A. Hibbard. postmaster
at Boston; L. Il. Dickerson at Detroit,
+. w. Raumhoh mt st. Louis c. c.
Dewstoe at Cleveland. George L. Holli-
day at Pittsburg. Richard Hayward at
Providence 4. III. Baker at Louisville.
a. w. Mills at Nashville, Fred G. With
oft at Dayton. Ohio.
Representative Shafroth has been
requested by Chairman Mercer, of the
public buildings and ground committee
to furnish Information as to the re
quirements of Leadville for its pro-
posed public building. Mr. Mercer
asks if the city will donate n site, and
il not, its probable cost: present rent
for postottice and other government of
fees: amount of postal receipts popu-
lation of city. etc. Similar questions
have been asked Representative Bell
concerning Trinidad and Colorado
Springs. The information is desired
by the committee to aid in formulating
reports upon bills proposing public
buildings at these places.
In discussing the ship subsidy bill
in the Senate. Mr.. Hanna maintained
that in order to build up the American
merchant marine it was necessary TO
have not only capital and experience,
| but it was necessary likewise ito af-
| ford our foreign carrying trade pro-
tection-some kind of inducement-by
| law" If this protection should be af-
| forded. said Mr.. Hanna. the growth of
the American merchant marine would
be on par with the growth of the
shipping industry of the great lakes.
Discussing the rise and fall of the
American merchant marine. Mr.. Han
M declared that the beginning of the
decline in the industry was coincident
with the outbreak of the Civil War
The cornerstone of the capitol was
laid by General Washington with Ma
sonic ceremonies and barbecue feast
on September is. 1893. Seven years
later. in November the building was
sufficiently completed for Mr.. Jeffer-
son. then vice president. to call joint
session in the original senate chamber.
which was in the basement under what
is now the Supreme Court. Tie House
of Representatives met in temporary
| quarters in the basement opposite.
which is now occupied by offices at
tached to the Supreme Court. A few
months later better accommodations
Were prepared in a temporary building
on the capitol grounds, called 'the
oven" because of its lack of ventila-
ton. The first permanent hall of rep
resentatives, which is now the statu-
AIRY hall of the capitol, was occupied in
October, 1907.
The Senate foreign relations commit
tee reported favorably bill intro
duced last session by Senator Culbert-
son ofTeNas authorizing the secretary
of state to proceed with the consum-
nation of n proposed treaty between
the United States and Mexico for con
struction of an international dam on
the Rio Grande river in New Mexico.
with conditions that water impoundad
by it shall be equally distributed be-
tween the two countries. If the treaty
is accepted by both countries. the sec
retary of state is further authorized to
proceed with construction of the dam
and reservoir. and S2.311 900 is appro-
priated for that purpose. The bill also
specifics that persons and corporations
appropriating and storing waters of
the Rio Grande to which others have
right by prior appropriation shall be
deemed guilty of misdemeanor and on
conviction punished by fine or impris-
onment under proceedings instituted
under direction of the attorney gen.
eral.
Hubert Vos, the famous Dutch artist.
has recently returned from a tour in
the East, where he painted the most
striking type of the several races he