Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-27
BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE.
Minor Scene and Incidents sketched
on the SpOt

Minor scenes and Incidents Sketched
on the Spot.
During the crest Of the campaign for con-
troll Of congress last month a Washington
reporter dropped into the democratic con-
gressional headquarters to interview Chair
man Griggs and observe the machine at
work. He did not succeed in interviewing
the chairman, but got what the boys call
"a corking good story out Of the Texas
ranger, Charley Edwards, who held down
the job Of secretary. The story was not
published at The time because premature
publication might have Increased the demo-
cratic slump and the remorse of Griggs.
The story is now out and is worth reading.
The reporter found Edwards sitting at his
desk talking confdentially with a large,
smooth-faced man, but he at once turned
his attention to the newcomer.
rs Chairman Griggs in?" asked the re-
porter.
NO." replied the soft-yoiced secretary,
che is not. Do you want to see him per-
sonally?"
YES" was the reply. II would like ia
get something from him on President
Roosevelt's Cincinnati speech"
IAN interview" queried Edwards. WELL
you can't get It."
And why not?" asked the reporter, who,
not being acquainted with the Texan, who
at heart is the best fellow in the world,
was feeling just a trihe resentful.
Because" said Edwards deliberately,
"the old lunk-head is incapable Of giving
an interview. He never has an opinion
worth expressing, and if he did have one he
wouldn't be able to express it in words Of
one syllable without four grammatical
breaks to the sentence. He's a peach, he is.
Why, don't you know that l do all his
thinking and writing for him, and when I'm
away that duty d~evolves upon Joe Sinnot,
the sergeant-atlarms? Anyhow. Griggs is
in New York"
81 notice. said the reporter, that he
goes to New York quite often. suppose it
is to see Ben Cable and talk over the situa-
ton with him, isn't it?"
Secretary Edwards lip curled in disdain.
See Ben Gable! Talk over the situation
with himl" he exclaimed. "Why, he
wouldn't know Ben Cable II he ran against
him, and he hasn't sense enough to realize
that there is any situation. Between our
selves" he continued, leaning toward the
visitor and adopting a confidential air, "he
goes there to get drunk. He's the biggest
tank not employed by the Standard Oil
company. He can't find whisky enough to
drink in Washington, so he has to go over
there to get his fill. Oh, don't talk to me
about Griggs. I can bear to hear his
name mentioned"
The reporter left. thoroughly convinced
that Chairman Griggs was an ogre indeed.
AS he closed the door behind him the man
who had been talking confdentially to Ed
wards burst into a fit Of laughter that
caused the chandeliers to rattle. Having
subsidized, he turned to the secretary and
said:
Look here, Charley, it's all right to help
me dodge an interview when l don't want
to talk, but, for the sake OF the folks at
home, leave me a shred or two of reputa-
tion in it,"
Blu all the satisfaction he got out Of
Edwards was: We'll, ! didn't say 1t be-
hind your back. Judge. did II"
The United States government has never
issued a postage stamp decorated with the
head OF a woman. But this cannot be said
after December /. On that day the Post
office department will begin sending out to
postmasters a new Scent stamp on which
will be used the head of Martha Washing
ton. The design is considered one of the
most beautiful ever put out by the Post
Office department. The head is encircled
with a wreath. At the bottom on the left
is 1882, the year In which Martha Wash
ington was born; on the right, 1902, the
year in which she died,
Three years ago George II, Hamilton
Of Washington erected a six-story build
ing Of concrete under what is known as
the Ransome system. He had trouble in
obtaining a permit to erect the building,
the experts alleging that it could never be
taken down except by blowing 1t up with
explosives, to the injury Of adjacent build
ings. There is not a stick OF wood or a
bar of iron in the entire structure, all the
floors being OF concrete subjected to a
strain of 900 pounds to the square foot.
Recently It was desired to make an addi-
tional door on the basement floor, but 1t
was found that the entire opening would
have to be chiseled out as II 1t were OF
iron. II was then attempted TO drill
through some Of the interior walls for ad-
ditional electric wiring, but no metal drill
was found which was hard enough to go
through the concrete, and the wiring was
put along the wooden wainscoating. The
experts pronounce the building as having
ten times the strength II would have II II
had been carved from solid granite. II has
no party walls and there is not a crack or
evidence Of setting in any way, although
there are a number Of heavy iron safes on
each floor. 1t has only twenty-five feet
frontage. The owner carries no fire in
surance on the building. The cost OF
construction was only about so per cent
of that OF a steel building.
Perhaps few persons know that all OF
Uncle Sans postofice date stamps are
made in a little shop at Lodge, Northum-
berland county, Va, says a writer In Chat.
Hon. Benjamin Chambers, an expert ma
chinist. has for a number Of years had a
contract with the government for this
work.
While the shop Is small, II has almost
every known appliance for the handling
and cutting Of metal ana Affords employ