Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-21
BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE.
Scenes and Incidents Observed at the
National Capital.

National Capital.
depot that ever happened. The project has
reached the plan and specification stage
and congressman, oficials and townspeople
are inspecting the artistic picture with be-
coming pleasure. The new station will be
built Of white marble and will cost about
5000, 900. It Is to be located two or three
squares northeast of the present Baltimore
q Ohio station and will have q frontage
OF more than 700 feet, as great as thai Of
the capitol building, with a broad piazza
In front, to which several Of the broadcast
avenues Of the city will directly lead, and
will contain all of the modern improve
ments in railroad passenger station con-
struction. The various railroads entering
the city will connect through a tunnel under
Capitol hill and enter the station by a
viaduct n elevated tracks, as all grade
crossing are to be abolished.
In the last congress a bill was passed,
after many years Of controversy, provid-
ing for the erection Of two railroad stations
and the removal of the tracks from the
mall or system Of public parks that ex-
tends from the capitol to the White House.
When the two main roads running into
Washington were consolidated, however,
the Union station project was taken up,
and all the legislation now necessary TO
carry 1t out is q slight amendment to the
law already passed. This will be adopted
by both houses very soon and the com
prehensive plan of improving and beau
trying the capital city will thus be inaugu-
rated.
Senator Dolliver of Iowa says when he
was a member of the lower house he had
little dificulty III keeping up the style
betting q representative, but as senator
he has a more pretentious title to support
ION one occasion says Senator Dolliver,
II was invited to attend a social function
given by a high %oficial. 1 went and had
a most delightful time, concluding that
Washington social life was not a thing to
be in the least afraid of. This conclusion
was reached, by the way, Just as / was
taking leave OF the host.
"A liveried servant approached me and
asked II my carriage was waiting, and
whether 1t was a single or double convey
ance. Out Of consideration for a lean
pocketbook / had ordered a cab rather than
a two-horse carriage. As / was takins
leave of a few of my friends outside the
door I had the pleasure Of hearing the
servant shouting to the carriage drivers:
Senator Delivers one-horse hack. SEN
ator Delivers one-horse hackl"
The man then came to me and, with his
head high In the air. announced: Your
hacks waitin', Senator Dolliver.'"
John Allen, now one of the national COM
m~issioners for the Louisiana Purchase ex-
position, had dropped into one OF the cloak
rooms of the house OF representatives. as Is
his custom when he comes to Washington.
~. ...nn- - no,du,tEn. aIanftona In the
several states was under discussion in con-
nection with q number Of contested cleo
ton cases pending before house commit
tees. Allen was defending with unusual
warmth and vigor the manner of conducting
elections In his own state. Mississippi. He
waxed eloquent on the subject and was IN
the midst OF a most forceful argument.
when, happening to glance around the
cloakroom. he noticed the looks Of .incre-
dulity and amusement on the faces OF some
Of his former colleagues In the house. John
stammered, halted and closed with: well
well, Il e true that we have fair cleo
lions In Mississippi. but every election
morning just before the polls open we
IRE on a few guns and lannon's just to let
the negroes know that It is to be a fair
election"
Lightning has played some queer pranks
with the great iron dome OF the capitol,
without doing any serious damage to per-
soma or property, reports the Washington
Star. This subject was called TO attention
several days ago. when Frank p. Church
OF Chicago, who Is collecting data on the
subject of atmospheric electricity, visited
the capitol In the pursuit OF his inVesti-
cations. He was much impressed by Z
stately old linden tree In the East Capitol