The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1902-04-09
WASHINGTON LETTER


eastern edge Of California looking for
mine which an old minister had dis
covered while heading westward
FROM the trail on the side of the
mountain Mr.. Perkins looked down
upon what seemed to be n sea of
white. He thought 1t was alum and
hurried OIL. The place was known ma
Deaths valley. and rs 1t meant to per-
ish from thirst II he fingered he got
away as soon as possible.
Six years later the field of white.
glstening stun was discovered to be
borax, and a man named +. NJ. Smith
who was then packing mules for a dol
lar day, is now a millionaire and is
known as the borax king. Mr.. Smith
was at the capitol the other day, and
Mr.. Perkins. who might have been the
borax king, was his escort "But that
wasn't the only time | missed for
tune" said Mr.. Perkins. "Once, with
some associates, | owned over 100000
acres OF land In Sonora, Mexico. We
bought the land for 40 cents an acre
and sold it for so cents, thinking we
/
the property is worth between $4,000
600 and S40,000,O00. 1t is the site of
the Greene Consolidated Copper COM
pany, one Of the greatest copper pro-
ducing properties in the world"
The Bill and the snow.
| Early in February Washington had
the heaviest snowfall that it has
known for several years. The streets
were piled high with the stuff which
had been swept from the sidewalks
and shoveled from the crossings. Sena-
tor Mcmillan introduced bill appro-
priating $1,000 for the purpose of re-
moving the snow. The bill was refer
red to the District committee, and that
body gave it careful consideration. 1t
next was sent to the District commits
sioners in order that they might make
suggestions. Then it was printed again.
Four weeks after it had been intro
duced the bill was reported to the SEN
ate by the committee, with the recon-
mendation that it be favorably acted
upon.
In the meantime the snow had disap-
peared, the warm sunshine had come,
and the buds appeared on the trees.
Yet the senators are still writing re-
ports on the measure, and there is
good prospect that the bill will become
a law about the time congress is driven
from Washington by the heat of sum-
mer.
Want Foreign Business.
Senator Culom and Representative
| Boutell of Illinois were at the White
| House with Mr.. Garden, one of the off,
Gals Of the First National bank of
! Chicago. Mr.. Garden wanted to lay
before the president the desire of his
bank to receive some of the foreign
business Of the government. 1t is rep
resented that foreign firm has acted
| as the financial agent of the govern
ment in Europe for many years, max
| ing great deal of money out of the
business. 1t is claimed that American
| banks and bankers could do the bust
ness just as well. At any rate, the
business could be divided among re-
sponsible institutions and not given to
one concern, it is claimed. Senator
Cullom has contended for a number of
years that the business should be d.
yided. He says that American con-
Germs could easily do the business by
dealing with their foreign correspond =
ents.
Latimer After McLaurin's Seat.
Jasper Talbert of South Carolina has
given notice that he does not want to
run for congress again because he is
candidate for governor of his state.
while Congressman Latimer proposes
30 Oh fnr tor 70
coed McLaurin.
Latimer is a big, black haired man,
with shoulders as broad as a hogs
head, and If Drawn as well as brains
can help him he ought to put up good
fight. Talbert is a picturesque speci-
men. He is typical southerner, wear
ing a black SLOUGH hat, long frock
coat and a vest that is only buttoned
half way and displays his white shirt.
He also cultivates the mustache and
goatee which are characteristic of the
| south. His strongest plea for fame is
based upon the fact that he is the one
man in the house who questions PEN
sion bills very closely. He is going be-
fore his state on his antipension record,
and upon it he hopes to win.
| tuItOn'S HOller SKATE.
1t would not be fair to tell which
one, but one Of the representatives
from New York city was showing
some friends through the capitol the
| other afternoon. The strangers exam
ined the statues in statuary hall with
great interest. When they came to
Robert Fulton, who stands with the
model of his first steamboat in his
hand, one Of the ladies said. "And who
is thatY'
THAT" replied the representative.
peering at the name on the base of the
statue, sis Fulton. He was the invent
or of-the inventor of the roller skate.
He has the model of one in his hand.
Crude affair in those days, as you can
| see."
Prefers the Antique.
| The luxurious mahogany furniture of
the house and Of most of it's committee
rooms has no charm for Mr.. Thad
Mahon Of Pennsylvania. He cares not
for the finely upholstered sofas or the
swinging cane chairs in which states
men rest their portly forms.
THAT is because l have something
far better in the furniture Of the COM
mittee on war claims" explained Mr..
Mahon, who is chairman there. I'VE
have something antique there which |
would never for a minute think of ex-
changing for this newfangled stun.
Our furniture came from the old SEN
ate chamber of the United States,
which is now the supreme court room.
1t is nearly a century old, certainly
very historic" CARL ScHoFIELD.