St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-05-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Especial Correspondence

COMMISSIONER VI CilolOllo I4N ans Ill
derwent a trying ordeal recently that |
added to his gray hairs. lie is a great
stickler for punctuality, and the clerks
are required to begin and cease work
at 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 a line connecting
the commissioner telephone. He lost
his balance and fell. In plunginS
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 3:20 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 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 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 a bill which
is designed, as it's title indicates. to
protect the first day of the week. 1t
is a very drastic measure, forb1ddlng
the sale of anything on Sunday except
tobacco, cigars, newspapers, drugs ana
collins and making it unlawful to work
on building or railroad construction,
so that if d railroad track should be
damaged by a 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 Columbif
on Sunday"
Quite a discussion was held in thu
, cloakroom of the house the other da,
f as to whether this language forbad
e golf playing by individuals on prlyat
club links on Sunday.
4 Don't worry" said certain west
ern member who plays golf on Sunda
as he Joined the conferences; the bl
: will never pass"
: The Memorial Bridge.
The special committee of the depar
II ment of the Potomac, G. A. r., is mai
d ing another hard effort to secure tn
a initial steps to the erection of meme
n rial bridge. The committee, compose
- of Thomas S. Hopkins, John McElro
. and 3. f. Bingham, the commander
the department. called on the presidel
1t to again urge his good offices and a
Of in getting congress to make an apr
t. priation to provide for the laying
$, the cornerstone of the proposed brld!
81 during the national encampment OF Il
~ G.. A. r. in October. 1t is earnest
=, hoped that congress can be induced
he take this step. The president is deep
ut interested and will give whatever a
he can. Mr.. Hopkins and the membe
1g of the committee urged the preside
a to send a special message to congFe
~ asking an appropriation for the I'll
work toward the bridge.
nv The president may not do this as
ed dislikes to establish a precedent
I'M this kind, but he did not decline to
to so and is going to give the request c.
all sideration. 1t is felt that special N
rip sage would awaken congress and res
:. in some action being taken. The pre-
an dent will probably talk to some 1ntiu
ire tial senators and representatives abb
he the proposed bridge.
by MERGERS Omnibus Bill.
we Representative Mercer, who succf
ip' fully piloted the omnibus public bu
p ~, ing bill through the house, says t
w the measure was the first one OF
ery kind ever passed.
allie 81 found a precedent" said Mr' n
Ger, "away back in the year one' W
St. an omnibus lighthouse bill was pass
hat but the effort to pass an omnibus
Ill tui06