Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-04-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington as n Business City-Out-
rageous Vandalism-The Senn-
tors Working Day.


80
proud of Washington. Unlike some of
the rural members, who would appar-
entity delight to see the national capt.
tai relegated to the backwoods stage,
Mr.. Meyer believes that everything
ought to be done to make the city the
handsomest capital in the world. And
l do not agree with the assertion that
Washington is purely residence city
and will remain So" says Mr.. Meyer.
People who talk that way do not COM
prehend present conditions or divine
the future. This city is growing rapid
ly and steadily. Its commerce or bust
ness is increasing. Its manufactures,
already considerable are also increas-
ing, and, like other capitals, Washing
ton seems to me to be destined to grow
at a very rapid rate. 1t Is true that
London has easy access to the sea, but
hydraulic science may do as much for
Washington in the future. Paris Is an
interior city, without any navigable
stream, but 1t has vast business indus
tries, manufac ctures and wealth. Ber-
lin and Vienna are cities Of wonderful
growth and enormous trade. 1t is safe
to say that Washington will have a
great and increasing growth, which
will be proportlonate to this country.
1t will have something more than
grand public buildings, tasteful resi-
dences, broad avenues, flower gardens,
etc. 1t will have, as it already has, its
utilltarian side. 1t will have work
shops and industries, like other great
capitals"
Mr.. Meyer believes that the greater
Washington will expand north, east
and west, the southern boundary being
fixed by the Potomac He thinks that
"the magnificent and beautiful country
west Of the Potomac" will become pop
ulated and that not merely one bridge,
but three or four fine bridges, will con-
meet that section with this side Of the
Potomac.
Outrageous Vandalism.
The bronze doors of the capitol are
works Of art. They are very tall and
heavy, and each Is composed OF several
panels which present in bas-relief pic
lures from American history.
The execution is so lifelike that the
figures stand out some distance from
the background of the doors. The guns
of the Revolutionary soldiers protrude
from the shoulders of the men, the
feet Of the cavalrymen are perfect.
This fidelity to nature has been the
opportunity of the vandal. The doors
have been robbed of every bit of bronze
that could be Clipped off. The bayo-
nets Of the guns have disappeared, the
spurs have been taken from the feet Of
the men on horseback, and even the
feathers in the headdresses of the In
dians have been broken away. OF
course there is no way either to catch
the offenders or remedy their vandal-
ism. The defects In the beautiful
bronze work remain as evidence of the
insatate desire Of the average Ameri-
can tourist to carry Off souvenir.
In the same way the statue of Pere
Marquette in Statuary hall, has been
dsfigured The Indians in the bronze
bas-relief had feathers in their heads
when the statue was unveiled, but now
every feather has disappeared.
The Senator'S Working Day.
All that is said on the floors of con.
gress does not get into The Record.
One day the senate sat very late-well
into the evening, after the electric
lamps were turned on. Mr.. Pettus Of
Alabama had been showing signs of
uneasiness for some time, especially as
the speechmaking had been growing
pretty prosy. BY and by, lull in the
debate occurring, he slowly rose and
caught the eye of the presiding officer.
Peering over his spectacles, shifting
his quid and speaking with his quaint
est drawl he said:
"Mr. President the hours of labor in
the government service in Washington
are everywhere limited to seven per
day. have been in this chamber since
II o'clock this morning 1t is now, by
the senate clock, 20 minutes after &.
1t is past the limit of my lawful work
ing day, Mr.. President, and I'm going
to quit Good night"
And, with a bow, the old gentleman
gathered his papers under his arm and
started up the aisle. The official re-
porters decided among themselves not
to treat his farewell speech as part
of the proceedings Of the day.
Mixed Metaphor.
Senator Caffery OF Louisiana was
discussing the flood of spectators who
cverrun Cuba and the Philippines,
seeking all that they may devour.
wherever the carcass is," remarked
Mr.. Caffery, there will also be the
eagles, with their pockets full of mon
ey."
This expressive but rather mixed