The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-02-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
a Tender Hearted Omcial-Then the
Girls Applauded-Mixed the
JeffersOns Up.
fsIpeciai Correspondence


dress and showing by her language
that she is a Hebrew has haunted
the White House and department of
Justice. 1t was the freedom of a hus-
band that she wanted. She knew he
was innocent, she told all, and he was
so good TO her. Government red tape
has pushed her along from one place
to another, and everywhere she was
told nothing could be done. With her
sorrowful face wet with tears she
made one more effort at the White
House. In broken English she again
told her story TO a White House Off
cial and begged for her husband.
81 am sorry, madam" said the Off
cial, "but you will have TO take your
papers to the department Of justice.
The president never acts on them
first"
She broke down and between her
sobs, heard by many waiting people.
said she had been to the department
and had been told that nothing could
be done for her there.
She continued to plead between her
sobs, but seeing no hope started away.
AT the head Of the stairway she stop
ped and again gave way to tears.
Charles G.. Dawes, the comptroller
of the currency, walked by, was touch
ed by the poor woman's tears and lis
tened to her story.
"Come to my Office" he told her,
and she went there from the White
House. If there is any ground for a
pardon. Mr.. Dawes will get 1t for her
for humanity's sake. She is Rosie
Baratz, and her husband, Morris Ba-
ratz, Is serving a years sentence in
the Hudson county On. j. jail for Illicit
distilling. He was a soldier Of the
United States, served in the Philip
pines. came back from there about a
year ago and married the little wO-
man who is working so hard for his
freedom. He was peddler, and his
wife declares he is suffering for the
offense of another.
Then the Girls Applauded.
The urgent deficiency appropriation
bill, carrying an appropriation of So
600 to continue the work Of TRANSCRIPT
ing records of the general land office,
was called up In the house late one re-
cent afternoon by Representative Moo
dy OF Massachusetts and passed. 1t
came up by unanimous consent Mr..
Moody explaining that it was necessa-
~ the bill should become law by the
next day. There was no debate.
On this expeditions passage Of the
bill there was a unique demonstration
in the gallery. Two young ladies sit
ting side by side in the gallery facing
the members broke into vigorous ap-
plause. At that time they were about
the sole occupants, and such hand clap
ping from above attracted wide atten-
ton on the floor Everybody broke In
to a laugh. and the girls, who may
have been among the employees engag-
cd on the work, FASTENED away, abash- |
ed at the publicity they had brought |
upon themselves. The eyes of those on
the floor followed the two feminine
spectators to the gallery doors. and for
a moment there was entire suspension
Of business.
Mixed the JefRersOns Up.
In one of the Hobbies of the capitol is
an oil painting of Thomas Jefferson.
The little card attached to the frame
simply says Jefferson" This may &C
count for the remarkable story told by |
a giddy and gushing young man to a
party of young ladies to whom he was |
showing the sights Of the capitol.
This" he said. pointing to the pic |
ture of the smooth faced gentleman, "is |
Joseph Jefferson taken In the costume
Of Bob Acres. You see that the cos
tune is the kind the gentlemen used to |
wear in the time Of Bob Acres, but the |
portrait is considered very fine one.
1t was placed here because Mr.. Jeffer- |
son is the greatest American actor"
"Ob. yes" chimed in the girls. |
Hasn't he got lovely face? We al
ways did like Joe Jefferson. And we
are so glad to have seen his picture"
And still In bhssful ignorance the |
party moved Off to discover other re-
markable things.
Would Revive Grade of Vice Admit |
raj.
Secretary Long has written letters to |
the chairmen Of the congressional ma
val committees calling attention to the
various recommendations for legisla- |
ton In the interest Of the navy con-
tanned In his last annual report and |
urging their favorable consideration by |
congress. In particular he advocated
the revival Of the grade Of vice admiral |
of the navy. presumably with a view |
to the promotion Of Rear Admiral |
Sampson to that grade, the effect of |
which would be to make him the sec
ond ranking officer In the navy. Admi-
raj Dewey being his only superior.
A PaIeface Brass Band.
Chief Rolling Bear, writing from Vine |
Grove, KY. to ''the mayor of city Of |
Washington" states that he is the |
leader Of brass band composed of 16 |
palefaces. Mr.. Bear says he wishes to |
attend the Inauguration Of President
Mckinley with his band and desires |
the mayor" to inform him as to whom |
he should apply for an engagement on
that occasion. The communication.
which was delivered to the District
commission, will be referred by them |
to Chairman Edison Of the inaugural
committee.
The galleries Of congress now begin |
to resemble the orchestra chairs Of a
'theater in the evening. This is not so
much due to the bright and pretty cos
tunes of numerous brides, but to the |
fact that nearly all the ladies remove
their hats. II is a rev custom In the |
galleries, but it is one that gives to !