St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-12-11
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Especial Correspondence


been agreed upon In outline, and 1t is
not thought there will be much difficult
ty in getting the desired appropriation
of 100000 from congress, for the
needs are obvious and the department
is popular with senators and represent
atives, partly because they can see the
good it is doing and partly because it
furnishes them more material in the
shape of publications and seeds with
which they can make complimentary
remittances to their constituents than
they can get from any other depart
ment.
The building is to be of white marble
and is to stand on the site of the pres
ent inadequate building in the mall,
but it will be so much larger than the
old building that the two large wings
which it is to have will be quite clear
of The present site, and they can con-
sequently be built without disturbing
the operations of the department in the
old building. When the wings have
been finished, the department can
move into them and get along while
the central building is under construc-
ton. The department at present has
OverfOwed into all sorts of old dwell
ings and temporary wooden structures
which are not only shabby looking, but
unsafe for the valuable collections of
all kinds which are stored in them.
VIII Sell Old Furniture.
Major Alexander Mcdowell, the clerk
of the house of representatives will
present for the consideration Of the
buying public within couple of months
an offering of antique furniture COM
pletely dwarfng the stocks of ancient
cabinet ware of the largest dealers.
The offering will comprise a large
portion of the furniture which has
done service in the house of represent
atives as far back as the mind of the
oldest inhabitant runneth, pieces of
patched up furniture fairly waterlog-
ged with traditions and heavy with
varnish.
Just prior to adjournment last spring
congress appropriated the sum Of $73,-
500 to be expended in refurnishing the
hall, committee rooms, sergeant at
arms office, etc, of the house, and the
cash has been expended. The $73,500
worth of new furniture has been placed
in position and the remnants of other
days are stacked away, dust covered
and battered mostly, among the mass
i've stone pillars and arches beneath
the rotunda of the capitol The law
appropriating the money for the new
furniture also authorized the clerk
of the house to dispose of the old stuff.
The date for its disposition has not
been fixed, but the time will not be
long before the auctioneer will have
the last word and the great mass of
solid walnut and varnish will pass un-
der the hammer
The TOga Too Large.
II do not object to the style Of your
overcoat" said Representative Bing
ham of Pennsylvania to Senator Pen
rose but it does not fit me-" There
is absolutely no doubt as to the accu
racy of the statement regarding the
fit of the coat. and considerable laugh
ter was caused at the White House the
other day when Representative Bling
ham put on an overcoat which he sup
posed to be his own.
BY mistake the Pennsylvania repre-
sentative had taken the outer garment
of Senator Penrose Bingham pre-
scented ludicrOus spectacle, as Senator
Penrose is at least 6 feet inches
and built in proportion, while the repre-
sentative is n man somewhat below the
average and as thin and dapper as
they make them.
The senatorial coat contained enough
material to make two garments for
the representative, who had some diff
Guilty in extricatng himself from the
immense folds of what might be called
modern senatorial toga.
Harmony on Irrigation.
Representative Il. J. Burkett of Ne
braska talked to the president the 9th
err morning about irrigation of western
arid lands. He found the president d
hearty advocate of national aid fol
this purpose. The western representa-
tives in congress have held several con
ferences the past summer to try to har
monte on an acceptable measure fol
presentation to congress. Mr., Burkett
has been the president of the gather
ings, which have resulted in an under
standing that the western congress
men are to press irrigation Legislation
from start to finish. So many sugges
tons have been made about irrigation
and there have been so many bills be
fore congress that there was never be
fore any chance for action. The west
ern congressman are going to do bette
from now on and are in high hopes o
being successful.
Lincoln Memorial.
Senator Cullom of Illinois propose
to introduce a bill in the senate pre-
viding for an appropriate memorial t
Abraham Lincoln, to be erected in thi
city.
81 wish to see a memorial that is ar
propriate and commensurate with tn
great life of Abraham Lincoln" h
said to a Star reporter
The location, cost and form whic
-. Mon