Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-14
prrs on wAsurveroN LIFn.
EtchinEs of People ana Events OBJ
served at the National Capital.

-
EtchinEs Of People ana Events OBJ
served e the National Capital.
1--WE have a trolley line between Omaha
and Council Bluffs" said r. X. Smith Of
Omaha 20 the Washington Post ''The road
does a good business and the company Is
fairly prosperous. One OF the head ~of1cisls
of the company is a most eccentric man and
is probably responsible for more Jokes than
any man west OF the Missouri river. A
short time ago a tall. lsnky oountryman
came into his ONCE and applied for a Job as
conductor.
81 don't think we want to hire you. said
the Official referred TO. We ind that we
have been losing money lately because our
men were not tall enough. Now. tell me,
do you think you could reach the cord that
runs to the fare register?'
THE countryman ironed out the stoop in
bis shoulder and drew himself up to his
full height.
"I stand six feet one in my stockin'
feet, he said, with evident pride.
"'Oh, the devil!' said the %ofAcial, we
have men in our employ who can beat that
and they can't reach the register cord"
While Senator Vest was speaking in the
senste the other day Senator Allison told a
story about him.
Vest was a member Of the confederate
congress during the civil war. Some OF his
constituents alleged that, being an able
bodied man, It would be Just as we'll II he
took q gun and went out and did some
lighting instead Of losnns around Richmond
making laws.
Vest acquiesoed. He got q gun aud went
TO war; His frst angaeemen was q little
affair In which the oonfederates were
whipped They started to retreat, Vest we'll
up to the front. He met Q man from his
own town In Missouri.
Say, Jim.' said Vest, when you 60
back home tell those folks you have seen
me in a battle"
"Al right" replied "Jim," starting away.
And say, Jim shouted Vest after him,
while you're about It you might tell them
that no other human being will ever see me
in another" ESQ
Congressman Adamson Of Georgia lives at
the Hotel Varnum when he is in Washing
ton, and there, too, lives Congressman
Lloyd OF Missouri. who tells this story at
the expense OF his colleague:
IF there's q congressman who loves chill
dreu 1t Is Adamson, and while at the Var.
mum he spent much Of his time playing with
the youngsters, with whom he is q general
f~avorite. One morning. Just as Adamson
was starting for the capitol. a 5-year-oid
girl walked up to him and asked him to let
her ride on his back. The child's mother
objected. saying: Why, Mabel. you should
not make a horse of the gentleman
"'0k, mamma answered the child, he
isn't a gentleman; he's q congressman
THE child's remark appealed to Mr..
Adamson with peculiar force and the do
sired ride was freely given"
During the past six years, says a Brooklyn
Eagle letter, there has been q big increase
In the total number Of persons on the pay
roll OF the government, as shown by a
statement Just compiled by the civil service
commission. TIL last time q similar state
ment was prepared was June 80, 1896, at
which time the total number Of classified
positions was S7.115, while there were 81, 500
unclassined Offices, including the fourth
class postmasters. The only exceptions
were those in the consular and diplomatic
service and the employees Of congress and
Of the courts. The total government en-
ployes in the executive service in 1896 was
accordingly 1855 On February /, 1902.
the people In the classified service num-
bered us, 406, while those in the unclassifed
service were Ill, 400, a total of 230 ,814. To
this total there should be added about $500
employees, to include those in the lighthouse
service and the marine hospital service. OF
whom not less than 5000 are classified.
This would make very close to 1850 en-
ployes in the classified service at the pres
emit time, as against 87,115 in 1896. an In
crease of $1,000 against a gain OF about
10000 In the unclassihed list.
Some very interesting relics are hidden
away in the dry, musty archives Of the War
department, reports the Army and Navy
Register. The casual visitor admires the
models Of ships, soldiers and army mules.
peeps into tie ofices of various %oficisls
and comes away properly impressed with
the guides statement that there are two
miles Of marble corridors in this magnih-
cent building But occasionally some one
inquiries further and then, II his guide hap
pens to be a familiar spirit, he will obtain
permission from the chief clerk OF the Judge
| advocate generals ONCE to view the Booth
relics. These precious curios are kept under
lock and key in a subterranean stronghold
and a clerk Ia specially detailed to exhibit
them. The exhibition Is we'll worth the
trouble. The clerk tells Of the story OF the
assassination OF President Lincoln in a most
graphic manner and ono can almost believe
that he is hearing the story Of an eye
witness. There is a plan Of the stage, the
stout wooden bar which Booth used to close
n side door, his pistols, his saddle and the
boot which was out from his broken leg:
rifles. ropes and pickaxe used by the con-
spirators, and, what Is very pathetic, 6
pocketbook containing the photographs Of
some charming women, dressed In the
fashion Of their day. All these objects
were used at the trial Of the conspiratort
and are therefore very properly In the
custody Of the Judge advocate general Of
the army. There was at one time a serious
suggestion tina these grewsome mementoet
OF a national tragedy should be publicly
exhibited and every little while the propo-
sition is renewed by some patron OF th'
morbid, but the War department authorities
have always been able to resist the tempts'