Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-12-09
Slow Old Washington Rebels at
Innovations.
KICKS ON IoWA's CLEANLINESS
Because He Saw Fit to Remove Crime
from the Interior of Treasury Build
ing a Capital City Newspaper Has,
Fit. ~
[BY H. ]. MAHIN.1

.l washington, Dec. O.-SpcEeLdIy vi
the Treasury Shaw seems to be too
up-to-date for Washington. He has
dazzled and astounded the capital city
lately with, numerous innovations in
the treasury department. He has re-
placed cumberous old time systems
with new and up-to-date ones. He has
established modern business methods
throughout the building and rudely
awakened some of the sleepy ones.Hls
latest was to order the exterior of the
great treasury building thoroughly
cleaned. 1t has been done by patent
sand blast method of Chicago firm
and great crowds have watched the
dingy pillars become clean and glist-
ening, one by one as the workmen pur-
sued their task. But this was the eli
max. 1t was the straw that broke the
camel's back and Washington re-
belled. Finding that they cannot keep
up with Mr.. Shaw's rapid western
ways. the citizens have turned and
many OF them are now criticizing Mr.
Shaw. local paper expresses GER
tain trend OF local sentiment as fol-
lows: Secretary Shaw's renovation
OF the treasury building is vandalism,
pure and simple, and it is inconceiv-
able how any man with even the
crudest beginnings of good taste in
his soul, could be guilty of this de-
>1acement and call it Improvement >
Anyone who has sen the old world
cities, famed for their beauty, knows
well that great proportion of this
beauty comes from the mellowing
touch of time on the buildings. This
is an even loving, skilful touch, soften
ing here and shadowing there, every
effect artistic and admirable. The
tints deepen with the years. The col
or scheme is always harmonious. There
is no Grass outbreak of renovated
stone to shock the eye as is now the
case with the treasury building. The
vandalism Of such work is not popu-
lar in Europe. where beauty t. known
and loved: 1t should not be popular
IN Washington. But, unhappily it is
Msasterously possible. The sand
blasted treasury building is proof of
this melancholy truth. Let us hope
that the blunder now being commit
ted by the secretary OF the treasury
VIII not be repeated Time alone
should deal with the stones of the gov
eminent buildings at Washington
Vandals should keep hands off. They
are as much to be dreaded in Washing.
ton as the would be the Wild Man of
Borneo turned loose in one of the
DIS greet art galleries."
bss the m". Lsoey's Views.
Congressman i.aeey. eff the sixth
district says thct IL any tariff changes
are made Iowa wants changes on two
at least and those are the steel and
iron schedrle and the lumber SEIZED.
ule. We feel that some changes of
that character Should be made he
said. If it can be done without caus
Ing greater injury to the interests of
the country than the corresponding
value to the people. We don't want
any general tariff shake up"
In regard to the trusts think that
the trust laws can be improved by leg
Islation this winter Something can
be done in Strengthening the law in
securing evidence. am convinced
that the decision of the supreme court
in the sugar trust cases will allow CON
siderable effective legislation. Then
it is to be remembered that the JUS
tees of the supreme court are human
like the rest OF mankind Since that
decision the personnel of the court has
changed somewhat and there is no
telling but that decision on new points
of law, if brought before that tribunal.
might receive a somewhat different in
depreciation Mr.. Lacey is receiving
many congratulations over his victory
this year and the evident fact that he
has the merited trust and confidence