The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-03-14

IA, 1901
WASHINGTON LETTER.
hadn't Heard of the PersOn-The
Cars Present to the President.
Curtailing Census Force.
[snecial Correspondenee.l

Especial Correspondence
'Tsn't the word bully synonymous
with 'cowardY" asked Senator Till
man of Senator Teller the other day.
"Oh, nor replied Mr.. Teller. 81 have
known DULLES who were not towards"
II never did" asserted Tillman in
his dogmatic way. IL never saw a
big fellow who domineered over weak
er and smaller men who was not HIM
self coward at heart"
IF you want to know the greatest
bully and the greatest braggart as
we'll as the bravest man who ever liv-
ed" said Senator WOlcott, read the
autobiography of Benyenuto Cellini."
"What was the gentleman's Manner
laughingly asked some one on the
Democratic side.
Senator McCumber had been speak
ing when WOlcott made his allusion
TO the great Italian artisan. He look
ed for a moment at Wolcott and shook
his head. II am not acquainted with
the party" he remarked, with SIM
plicity that was simply delicious, and
then he wondered why everybody In
the senate, ON the floor and in the gal
lerIes laughed loud and long.
The Cars Present.
Count Cassini, the Russia embassa-
dor, accompanied by Pierre Rogestven-
sky, his private secretary, called on
the president the other day and pre-
scented him with magnificent photo
graph album containing scenes OF the
coronation of the car In 1896. The
album is a present and souvenir from
the car to President Mckinley and
was specially made for the latter. The
front cover Of the album has a medal
lion Of gold containing embossed photo
graphs OF the Russian ruler and his
wife.
The presentation was made by Count
Cassini In brief speech. In which he
said that the album was a gift from
the car TO the president and repre-
sented the cars high esteem for the
head Of the great government Of the
United States. The president respond
ed In appropriate words and requested
that his acknowledgment CT the cars
thoughtfulness should be made.
The photographs In the album were
gathered with much care and by the
cars direction. They are cOlored pho
tographs and present hundreds Of
scenes Of the great coronation Of 1896.
Curtailing the Census Force.
In few months, certainly by next
fall, $500 clerks in the census office
will be minus employment Gradually
the force Is being curtailed. and as the
work is finished more and more clerks
are dropped from the rolls. Director
Merriam would rather do most any
thing than dismiss a clerk, for he
knows In many instances the hardship
1t entails. But with the completion Of
the work there Is no need for them,
and, the appropriation being cut off,
there Is no way to pay them. The emu
meration Of the population employed
1900 clerks. These have been trans
ferred for the most part to the agricul-
tural division, where the census Of the
farms Is now being compiled. After a
few months this division will close,
and the clerks will have no place to
work and will be dropped. 1t is be-
lleved by the officials at the census Of
fee that congress will pass bill max
ing the census permanent institution.
But even this will not give employment
to the large army now at work.
A Valuable Washington Relic.
Joseph /. Keefer Of 500 Seventh
street northwest. has presented TO the
Mount Vernon Ladies' association an
ancient wooden box designed for the
preservation Of valuable papers which
was once the property Of Mary Ball.
mother of George Washington. 1t is to
be placed In the Washington collection
at Mount Vernon.
The box Is made Of spruce pine and
covered with red leather. 1t is by 8
inches square and inches deep. stud
ded with big brass nails and mounted
with a large brass ring and corner
pieces. 1t came originally from Lin
coin Inn, England, and has been In the
Ball family for many generations. Mr..
Keefer is a descendant Of Esther Ball
Chinn, who was the sister of Mary
Ball and George Washington's aunt.
Zip Van Wrinkle In Congress.
Hon. Thomas ]. Dreamer Of New
York was a member of the Forty-third
congress and returns to the house after
the lapse of more than quarter Of
century. He said that the changes
which had been wrought since his ear
lier service and the almost complete
disappearance of the men who partici-
pated In the legislation of that period
recalled wildly to his mind the expe-
riences Of Rip Van Wrinkle. A visit to
the capitol had brought out with star
Ting effect the mutations Of American
political life. Mr.. Creamer is still In
the prime Of vigorous manhood. He
comes as a Tammany nominee. al
though not an active member Of that
famous organization
He Foresaw the Result.
Private. John Allen, congressman
from Mississippi and dear TO all bis col
leagues on account Of his sunny dispo.
sitiOn and his humor. was for q time
one Of the most solemn observers Of the
counting Of the electoral vote In the
house of representatives Feb. 10. But
he suddenly withdrew his attention
from the speakers platform and beck
oned to fellow representative. "Jim."
he said, 81 believe we are beaten. Nc
Kinley's got 1t sure. You move to dis
pense with further reading Of the re-
port, and then ri move that Mckinley
be declared elected by reclamation"
Merchants, financiers and profession
al men. typical Of the enterprise,
wealth and intelligence Of the nations