Graham guardian., 1902-08-22
WASHINGTON LETTER
Ispeclal Corresnondence. ]


stickler for punctuality, and the clerks
arc required to begin and cease work
Mt the sound of a great gong that can
be heard all over the large building.
An electrician was up on a twenty
foot ladder repairing line connecting
the commissioners telephone. He lost
his balance and fell. In plunging
downward he caught 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 then only 800 p. m. All the
clerks made a hustle to get away with
out delay.
The commissioner tried TO prevent
the exodus. He sounded the signal for
beginning work, but it did not 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
a thirty minute holiday.
Sunday Golfers Agitnted.
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 its title indicates, to
protect the first day Of the week. 1t
is Il very drastic measure, forbidding
tho Sn Ia ~ oDvtbiDc on SUNDAY o1oopt
tobacco, cigars, newspapers, drugs and
cOtfins and making it unlawful to work
on building or railroad construction,
so that if q 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 en- Sunday.
Don't worry" said a certain west.
ern member who plays golf on Sunday
as lie 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 a memo
rial bridge. The committee, composed
of Thomas S. Hopkins, John McElroy
and f. Il. 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. Il. 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 special mes.
| sage would awaken congress and result
in some action being taken. The presi-
dent will probably talk to some inhuen-
tlal senators and representatives about
the proposed bridge.
| MERGERS Omnibus Bill.
Representative Mercer, who success
| fully piloted the omnibus public build
ing bill through the house, says that
the measure was the first one of its
kind ever passed.
81 found precedent" said Mr.. Mer-
Ger, "away back in the year one, when
an omnibus lighthouse bill was passed,
but the effort to pass an omnibus pub
lie building bill was never tried before.
The success of the experiment proved
its wisdom. The last time we under
took to provide for public buildings we
were at work for four days in the
house and appropriated $19,000,0oO
This time we only appropriated $17,-
100000 and got the bill through in
three hours. When you remember the
total amount for public buildings sug-
gested in the bills introduced aggregat-
ed $67,00O.000, think the country will
appreciate the care as well as the skill
we had to exercise in order to secure
a measure that would command the ap-
proval of the house"
The Senate Doctor.
Representative Gaines Of Tennessee
once studied medicine. In fact, he
graduated in that profession ten years
ago from the University Of Tennessee,
but drifted to the practice of law and
then into politics. There are not many
physicians in the house, while in the
senate DR.. Gallinger is the best known
example Of medical men in politics.
On more than one occasion DR.. CALM
gers services have been required in
cases where senators or others have
been suddenly taken i'll. Indeed, it was
largely at his suggestion that minia-
ture drugstore was established in the
office Of the sergeant at arms. There
is q little cupboard in the room which
is filed with bottles of emergency med
icines, while such old reliable remedies
as blue mass pills and quinine capsules