The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-16
THE GOSSIP OF THE CAPITOL.

i
ton for the Inauguration display, 1 am
credited with being 'agin' the District of
Columbia. That is not So" Congress
man Bell drove home the negation with
I his fist into his outspread palm. 81 say,
paraphrasing the maxim of our revolu-
| tionary forefathers, Millions for improve
| ment, but not a cent for squandering.
| The thousands of dollars which tie
| House has voted for the inauguration
body dare deny that. A puff Of smoke.
flash of light. and all is over; the
| moneys spent and there's an end OF 1t.
| But with regard to permanent improve
| ments to Washington. that's another mat
ter. For example, the Memorial Bridge.
| Five million dollars-why, that's really
| not very much and see what you have
when 1t is spent. A great artistic monu-
ment that every citizen who mas beeh
| taxed for it can enjoy; bridge that VIII
| make readily accessible the burial place
| of the nations heroes, and at the same
| time help develop a neglected but desir-
| able part of the Nations Capital. For
that proposition, and any of similar cali
bre l am more than ready and willing 10
| raise my voice and cast my vote"
| Chairman Babccck was sitting at the
head of the baize-eovered table in the
District of Columbia Committee room,
discussing prospects.
You have seem" he said leaning back
in his chair, "a ragged and cold little
boy on blustery day standing knocking
his heels with his hands in his pockets,
| looking at an overcoat in a shop window.
That is precisely the position of the Dis
| trict of Columbia In regard to improve
ments. We have the improvements
water works. Mall extensions, bridges, and
| the like-well in sight. We need them
very badly, without a doubt, and want
| them without question. But ii has yet
| to be seen how the means are to be pro-
| vided or the ways devised, so We shall
| have to cool our heels in contemplation
| for some time"
| Turning from the window in the room
of the Committee on Postoffices and Post
roads, Representative H. II. Bingham of
Pennsylvania became reminiscent. He
went back to a day antedating even his
| first appearance in Congress, twenty two
years ago
do you remember he asked in gen.
eral OF the crowd behind him, Grant S
second inauguration? 1t was in 1873 and
happened to be here. 1t was certainly
the most trying Inauguration that has
come within my memory. 1t did not rain
or snow. It was just dull grey day, but
the temperature was down TO something
| terrible. / don't dare say what the mer-
| curry registered. for / cannot remember 1t
| accuratelyIsI do remember, however that
people who had gathered on the streets to
see the procession fell where they stood,
| just from being overcome by the cold. The
parade was a magnificent affair but the
paraders were nearly frozen to death
waiting for the start. and fell out by the
| hundreds just from exhaustion. The City
| Troop of Philadelphia took part and man
| aged to keep on to the end because they
| wore two overcoats.
| "Garfeld's Inauguration ! remember as
being the next worst, for after showing
all the night before it rained all day
| Cleveland's second Inauguration was al
most as bad and | wonder what We are
going 10 getathis time. We have had
| wfnterless winter so far and I suppose it
| will hold off and all come March 4.
Senator Mcmillan, who handles all Dis
| trict legislation in the Senate, is confident
he has hit upon scheme which Will make
less trouble for the legislators. and
result In more being accomplished for the
| appropriation thirsty Washingtonians. He
| has the greatest faith that his Committee
of Architects will bring about both these
much desired consummations. Il am sure
| that what stands most in the road OF Dis
| trict appropriations" he said, lis lack
| OF organization in the conception and pre-
sentation OF them. The needs and desires
| of the District are in too hodge podge
shape to get the best consideration at the
| hands Of Congress. 1t is just to avoid this
| that have suggested the appointment of
| Committee OF Architects. Those men,
\ the highest experts in their lines. will
know just exactly what had best be done
at any particular time and will be able In
| all cases to make the most of a meager
| appropriation. The present Congress is
| burdened with many schemes and propo
| sails for the Improvement of Washington.
| II is an embarrassment of riches. one which
would not happen. had Washington this
l
| is in danger OF losing"
| AS soon as possible probably by the
| middle of the week, Senator Mcmillan in
| tends 10 report the two railroad bills
which came TO him from the House.
After that in Importance 10 my mind.
| comes the provision for a betterment OF
| the Washington water supply, which
| think requires immediate attention. The
| bill for the Committee of Architects is
| now ready to be reported, and l expect to
| have ii before the Senate also this week.
/, II is our hope to preserve Major Len
| fant's views and plans, with some en-
| iargement. The enlargement includes the
| purchase of Analostan Island. parking
| and putting an electric fountain in the
| Potomac fats and Monument grounds, and
| a big system of boulevards running
| through the Mall, through the Rock Greek
| valley TO the Geological Park"
Representative G. B. Cooper OF Texas
pushed back his broad brimmed black
sombrero until 1t formed an inky halo
around his IRON grey locks.
There is too much in 1t that savors of
kings coronation" he said at the tail
end of a discussion on the inaugural
show.
| by all means let the President be in
| Quoted to ofiice in a manner fitting the
| head of so great a nation and in such
| way that people who come to see shall
| be pleased with the sight. But we must
| remember that the President is a public
| servant and not an anointed ruler. l am
| for Jeffersonian simplicity and the Incl
dental economy that accompanies it."