The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-24
l27ossip ofE
=Be Capital

often in surly spirit and grumbles be-
cause 1t does not get more, accusing the
committees having its affairs In charge
With lack of interest and the sacrifice of
national matters to those that concern
their local constituencies. AS a matter
OF fact, the New York Tribune SAYS, the
members of the District of Columbia af-
fairs committees, both in the house and
senate, are noteworthy for the zeal with
which they seek to advance its interests.
and If in the beginning of their service
on these committees members and sena-
tors are lukewarm, a short residence at
the seat of government soon causes them
to become enthusiastic and they vie with
each other in studying its needs and
furthering its development.
The capital has never had a better or
more efficient friend than Senator Nc
MILAN, chairman OF the district affairs
committee in the upper house, whose long
experience as a business man, broad
culture and knowledge of the plans. con-
duct and municipal housekeeping of for
eign cities renders him especially fitted
for the direction of this committee
When Senator Mcmillan assumed the
chief place on the district committee the
city was disgraced by a quantity of CID,
rotten and rickety bridges, all of which
bore the legend that horses must be
walked over them, and naming s. as a
fine for the violation of this law
1t was outrageous, thought the ener-
getic senator from Michigan, that
these old wooden bridges. built after
antique models, many of which were un-
la oil
gradually, through his influence, hand
some iron structures have replaced them.
over which an army Of horses could trot
if need be. for, according to Senator Nc
MILAN, no bridge should be allowed to
stand that cannot endure this test.
The charitable institutions OF the dis
triCt have found in Senator Mcmillan a
warm friend and supporter. A benefactor
to his own city and the founder of sew
eral eleemOsynary Institutions Senator
Mcmillan understands better than do the
most Of his colleagues their direction
and needs, and is constantly adding to
his knowledge on this subject which is
one Of the most important with which
his committee has to deal. Not satisfied
with the official reports Of these instltu-
tons, and believing that tc pass intelii-
gently on their demands more than a
superficial knowledge Of them is needed,
the chairman of the district committee
mas made a comprehensive study Of the
district charities. A book prepared by
the secretary of the committee, Charles
Moore, for its use, giving the origin, his
tory, plan and scope of all the charitable
institutions in town, is the most COM
prehensive compilation of this character
for the territory it embraces ever is
sued, and has been accepted as an
authority On the subject.
The district affairs committee is most
fortunate in its secretary. Mr.. Moore
is a scholar, an accomplished man of
the world, possessed of tact and under
standing, and. what is most important
for a man in his position, a knowledge
of human nature. He is able to soothe
the belligerents and gfumblers who go
to lodge complaints with the committee:
he Is ever ready with valuable infOrma-
ton on all local subjects for the seek
ers of it; he has the gift of refusing
request in such way as to make the
preferrer of it his friend for life and no
enc passes through his hands who does
not go away pleased and hattered by his
reception.
The Columbian university at its last
commencement complimented Mr.. Moore
with a degree in recognition of his His
tory Of the Northwest" recently pub
lished, which has been warmly received
by the critics and will prove a valuable
addition to the literature regarding the
early days of this country Its author
is an alumnus of Harvard and his
friends, both in and outside of the uni
Versity, predict that his alma mater
will follow the example set by Columbian
and distinguish her talented son for this
work Mr.. Moore's history is not only
valuable work for reference. but is so
romantic. as any truthful account OF the
Northwest must be, 50 pleasantly told,
that laymen as well as students will
have interest in its perusal.
"You can't get ahead of a North Car
olinian,' said q noted politician from
Carolina at a recent dinner where all sec
tions Of the country were represented.
''and there amt much use in trying.
Some years ago a slick Yankee gentle
man came down our way and set up a
little store in the mountains. He tried
to do everybody until it became a
matter of local pride for the Inhabitants
to try to do him. But few were sue
cessful. The storekeeper was clever
enough about giving credit, only he al
ways insisted on having security worth
twice as much as the bill his customer
wanted to Iaake. Once Jake Brown, a
Scotchman by descent. and as slick as
any Yankee you ever saw. came down
from his farm and fa& Up a pretty steep
account, giving a mortgage on his hogs
as security. Time came foI payment,
but, whether he couldn't or V Hoiidn't
Jake didn't pay. After waiting a reaSe1s-
able time the Yankswent up the noun
tain to levy on the hogs. feeling pretty
tickled at the chance.
I've come for my hogs he said to
Jake, who was hoeing in his garden
when the stranger came up to him, and
I'm going to sell EN-
"' All right, said the mountaineer, go
on with the sale
Where are they?' asked the tsore-
keeper.
"Out on the mountain. 1 reckon. re-
piled Jake.
BY the way, Mr.. Brown. what breed
of hogs are they?' queried the Yank.
:" Ground hogs. stranger responded
Jake. laconically.'
Rafel Zaldivar who has recently been
accredited as minister from San Salvador
at this capital, is one OF the most dis
tinguished statesmen of the little repu5-
lie he represents Like his colleague DR.
Wilde, of Argentina, DR.. Zaldivar gained
cminence as a physician before entering
the field of politics, and held a leading
place among the medical men of Central
America. Born IN San Salvador. he was
educated at the National University Of
Guatemala. where he took the highest
degrees in its gift He began the practice
of his profession at the place where it
had been acquired and soon became emf
rent. but political life had always held
singular charm for him, and soon cause1
him TO desert a career in which he was
steadily advancing for the less secure one
of politics.