Bisbee daily review., 1902-08-02
WASHINGTON LETTER
lspsc.al Correspondence.l l

baiShr, podius sSdutliiS ana Spllnterf Of all sizes and varieties. with here and there an excavation, tall pillars of white incased to height of ten feet in plain pine boards. iron railings in every form of orookedness- this in the center of beautiful park filled with majestic trees and tropical plants, with fountain playing on magnifi- cent lawn. Is the picture presented by the White House as viewed from La fayette square.
 Q Its once handsome interior looks like the track of a devastating Kansas cy- clone. It is undergoing a renovation such as 1t has not experienced since 1915, after the British entered the city and burned the building. As far as the interior is concerned. the building is being practically reconstructed and will then be used by the president ex. clusiyely as residence, as was origi- nally designed. By the 1st of October the contra ctors in charge of the work expect to have the new White House ready for occupancy. and on account of the short time they have to do the labor the men are working almost from sunrise to sunset.
 The contractors seem never to leave the vicinity of their employment A rough board building has been con structed on the broad pavement be- tween the executive mansion and the state, war and navy building. and here the executive heads of the work of construction can he found night and day working out the plans they have received from the architects and pre- pairing the tasks for the laborers who are tearing out the old to make way for the new.
 The Work of Congress.
 Benjamin S. Platt, enrolling clerk of the senate, has prepared a statement showing the extent of the business transacted by congress during the past session. According to this statement a far larger number of bills and joint resolutions was introduced than in any previous session of congress lar ger. indeed. than in any previous con- gress whether of two or three sessions. The total number of bills and joint resolutions offered in the two houses up to the time of adjournment was 22022. of which 1868 were sent to the president Of those introduced. 15.572 were offered in the house of representa- lives and G,4J0 in the senate.
 Unfinished Civil Service Work.
 At the close of the week ended June 2S. the last Saturday of the fiscal year there remained in the files of the civil service commission I0.961 sets Of un- marked examination papers. This to- tai exceeds by more than 5000 the record of last year and has excited some discussion as to the inadvisa- bility of limiting the work of the con- mission by an insufficient clerical al- lowance. Under ordinary circumstan- ces the whole civil service force can dispose of few less than LOGO sets of papers each week. But with the extra work now scheduled in the form of special examinations it is unlikely this pile of unfinished work left over from the last fiscal year can be cleared away before Nov. i.
 Canes From Historic Wood.
 The repairs in the White House brought to the mind of Colonel Vii fam H. Crook. dis.IursinS officer of the executive mansion. many memories of the days when he served under Fresi denI Lincoln. The floor in inc room where President Lincoln sat to trans act business was torn up by the work men recently. and Colonel Greek Sc cured some of the flooring for preser- vation From a piece Of the flooring on which the president often stood, with Colonel Crook by his side. were made a number of canes that have been presented to friends. TLey are much appreciated fer their historic value by the recipients.
 A Costly Spoon.
 Representative McAndrews Of Chi cago tells q story showing fine way Washington hotels are conducted.
 Il was paying tine horel nearly my entire salary as congressman for ny meals and lodging" be said. when l became indisposed and called pbysi- clan He decided that the Washington climate did not agree with me and prescribed a tonic. After l had se- cured the medicine found that had no teaspoon with which 10 measure the dose so l went to the hotel cafe for one. They gave me one of those plated affairs that sell for about 6O cents d dozen. The medicine cOrroded il badly but l must confess that l was some what shocked to see an item OIL my monthly bill of $1-25 for the teaspoon The hotel keepers have got so much nerve here that guests have not the heart to kick.
 Disappearance of Pennies.
 What becomes of all the pennies .s a question over which Secretary 0f the Treasury Shaw is puzZiing The