The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1902-06-18
WASHINGTON LETTER
Ispeclal correspondence.l

Commissioner of Pensions Evans un.
derwent trying ordeal recently that
added to his gray hairs He Is great
stickler for punctuality, and the clerks
are required to begin and cease work
ut the sound Of great gong that can
be heard all over the large building.
An electrician was up on twenty
foot ladder repairing line connecting
the commissioners telephone. He lost
his balance and fell. In plunging
downward he caught a bunch of wires
and carried them with him. Among
these was the wire running to the
gong. The big bell promptly sounded
the alarm for quitting work, although
it was tlren only 800 p m. All the
clerks made hustle to get away with
out delay.
The commissioner tried to prevent
the exodus. He sounded the signal for
beginning work, but it did net meet
with success. After trying for ten
minutes to stop the stampede he gave
it up and sounded the signal for clos
ing the days work, and everybody got
thirty minute holiday.
Sunday Golfers Agitated.
A very serious question is disturbing
the congressional golf contingent who
follow the little white ball on Sunday.
Senator Dillingham; and Representa-
tive Allen have introduced in the SEN
ate and house respectively bill which
is designed, as it's title indicates, to
protect the first day of the week. 1t
is very drastic measure, forbidding
the sale of anything on Sunday except
tobacco, cigars, newspapers, drugs and
collins and making it unlawful to work
on building or railroad construction,
so that If a railroad track should be
damaged by wreck it could not be re-
paired. But the clause that interests
the golf players is as follows:
"Nor shall any public playing of foot
ball or baseball or any other kind Of
playing, sports, pastimes or diversions
disturbing the peace and quiet of the
day be practiced by any person or per-
sons within the District of Columbia
on Sunday"
Quite a discussion was held in the
cloakroom of the house the other day
as to whether this language forbade
golf playing by individuals on private
club links on Sunday.
Don't worry" said a certain west
ern member who pays golf on Sunday
as he joined the conference; "the bill
will never pass"
The Memorial Bridge.
The special committee of the depart
ment of the Potomac, G. A. R., is max
ing another hard effort to secure the
initial steps to the erection Of memo
rial bridge. The committee, composed
of Thomas S. Hopkins, John McElroy
and B. T. Bingham, the commander Of
the department, called on the president
to again urge his good Offices and aid
in getting congress to make an appro-
priation to provide for the laying Of
the cornerstone of the proposed bridge
during the national encampment of the
G.. A. r. in October 1t is earnestly
hoped that congress can be induced to
take this step. The president is deeply
interested and will give whatever aid
he can. Mr. Hopkins and the members
of the committee urged the president
to send a special message to congress
asking an appropriation for the first
work toward the bridge.
The president may not do this, as he
dislikes to establish a precedent Of
this kind, but he did not decline to do
so and is going to give the request con-
sideration. 1t is felt that a special mes
sage would awaken congress and result
in some action being taken. The presi-
dent will probably talk to some infuen-
tial senators and representatives about
the>proposed bridge.