The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-07-30
WASHINGTON LETTER
fspecial Correspondence. I

Especial Correspondence
Persons visiting the United States
supreme court these days are permit
ted 10 see what has been discovered to
few Of the millions who have gone
through the capitol building. The inte-
rior Of the chamber has been torn out
10 admitsof the renovation and repair
of the ROOM and to allow the erection
of q new roof. The board floor has been
removed, the marble bench before
which the venerable chief justice and
his associates sit is gone, the beautiful
ly clliseled busts Of the chief justices
have been taken down, the heavy drap7
cry which, with the black satin robes
Of the nine members Of the court, gives
an air Of somber dignity to the scene
when this exalted body is in session
has been folded away, and the room is
simply wreck, confused mass Of
mortar, brick and lumber. But in the
| center Of the chamber, under that sec
ton where stood the long marble
bench, is small dais Of brick in the
form of semicircle eight or ten feet in
width. That forms the platform on
which sat the presiding officer Of the
United States senate in the old days
prior to 1889 and before the north and
south wings Of the capitol Were built.
Some of the greatest men in the history
Of the republic have sat on that dais.
The last vice president to sit there was
John C. Breckinridge Of Kentucky,
| who presided over the senate from
March 4, 1857, to March 4, 1861. Among
his predecessors were Thomas Jefer-
son. Aaron Burr, George Clinton, Ell
bridge Gerry, John C. Calhoun, Martin
Van Buren, John Tyler, George n. Dal-
las and NIillard Fillmore. In addition
to these there is a long list Of distin-
guished men VINO served as president
pro TEN. Of the senate. This interesting
semieircle is being: pointed out by the
capitol guides to visitors and its histor-
ical associations explained with more
| OF less accuracy.
The Refnrbished White House.
Upon the return Of President and
Mrs. Mckinley from Canton in the fall
the interior Furnishings Of the execu-
| tive mansion will have assumed a look
| Of freshness and elegance.
According to Colonel Bingham, VINO
has charge of the White House, no ex-
pense has been spared TO make the
apartments at the executive mansion
more sumptuous than ever before, ana
especial care has been exercised in
decorating the apartments for Mrs.
McKinley's private use.
The furniture in the red room Of the
state apartments has been covered
with rich crimson damask. and the feet
of the visitor will sink deep in the pile
| Of crimson velvet carpet. New cleo
| trical effects bring out the gorgeous
coloring of this room most vividly. The
green room has been refurnished more
quietly. but in the same elegance. The
exterior of the executive mansion has
also been refurnished.
| Skilled ard UnskilIed Labor.
The Building Trades Council has writ
ten to the district commissioners pro-
testing against the employment Of IN
skilled labor on District work, such as
school. station and market houses. The
council says it has been Informed that
timers and painters are being en-
ployed at rate OF wages much less
than are paid by outside employing
painters and timers, thereby enccur-s
aging unskilled mechanics in prefer-=
ence to skilled ones.
The council deems it Of great i'm
portance that if the District is to do its
own work it should be done by the
best skilled mechanics instead of those
who have only partly learned their
| trade.
G. B. Coleman, the District superin-:
| tendent of repairs, has reported to the.
commissioners that the department is
paying identically the same rate OF
wages for all classes of mechanics that
was paid last year.
1--WE do not employ unskilled labor in
any portion of the work. he says.
Expiring Bank Charters.
zone important act Of legislation for
the coming congress" said Mr.. j. Writ
Cullinane of San Francisco, business
man identified with several financial
institutions on the Pacific coast. to
group Of Washington acquaintance,
should be the passage of bill for the.
I extension of national bank charters. l
would not attempt to define the fea-
lures of such an act. but it should GER
tainly be considered and approved,
| otherwise more than 1900 national
banks in all parts of the country viii
cease to exist. In other words, their
lease of life granted by the government
will expire. Bank officials are turning
their attention toward the next session
! of congress for relief. The charters OF
the thousand and more banks which
will go out of business unless congress
acts expire July II of next year and
cannot be extended without congress