St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-01-15
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
[st ecial Correspondence

! are IWU ISdIuISS w ulCA 4lIpl CoH ANNPAN
sentative Jenkins of Wisconsin as be-
ing vital at this time, one for the pres
ent and the other for the future well
fare of the District of Columbia.
As a leading member of the house
committee on the District of Columbia
! Mr. Jenkins has for number Of years
been a close observer Of the attitude Of
congress to the District and has also
kept himself posted regarding the de-
tailed workings of the municipal gov
ernment of the capital. In discussing
the matter the other day Mr.. jenkins
said
"As far as the local police force is
concerned it is a splendid body of men,
and it is only repeating what others
continually remark to say that this IS
the best governed city in the United
States. am reliably informed that the
average policeman in this city works
thirty-siX hours out Of forty-eight.
Now here is a chance for the humani-
tartan to get in some good work. There
is a growing demand for the reduction
of the hours of labor, and it is sad
commentary on the national govern
ment that right here at the seat of gov
eminent men whose duty it is to protect
life and property and be continually
exposed should be compelled to work
as the police officers Of this city are
compelled to work"
WashingtOn's Shiny Foot.
The big ornamental brass doors at
the eastern entrance of the senate
wing of the capitol have as long as the
oldest employee of the big building can
remember been noted for a singular
peculiarly. One Of the scenes repre-
scented on the door is that Of Washing
ton passing through Trenton, the ladies
of the city strewing flowers in his way.
Washington is mounted, and his right
foot extends beyond the usual lines Of
ornamental work The foot is striking
ly prominent because Of the high pol
ish on it, which makes it glisten in the
morning sunlight with all the bright
ness of gold. The guides at the capitol
always show those handsome brass
doors to visitors and explain to them
the meaning of the scenes depicted on
them. Almost invariably some one Of
the group of visitors steps forward
and, putting his or her thumb on the
shiny foot Of the Father of His Coun-
try, remarks while rubbing it:
"What makes this foot so shiny?"
The guide invariably replies:
"That is just what does it,"
Then the visitors laugh and are tax
en- to other points of interest, and their
places are soon taken by another group
to repeat the scene, including the foot
rubbing and the query about the cause
Of the phenomenon.
The Capitals Plump Women.
1.-THE thing that impresses me most
about the Washington crowds" said q
woman who has been spending the
past two years in the City Of Mexico,
sis the comforting number Of fat wo-
men. Before | went to Mexico | used
to think overplump women weren't
good to look at, but now | admire them
all hugely. There aren't any of them
in the Mexican capital. Spanish wo-
men everywhere else put on flesh as
they grow past their first youth, but in
the City Of Mexico they grow painfully
thin. The climate is worse on the
complexion than that of Colorado. 1t
dries the skin and gives it dull, sal
low look. Washington women look
like pictures to me. Their skins are
so clear and they're so delightfully."-
plump. An antiobesity specialist would
starye to death in Mexico"
All He Could Get.
Senator Burrows of Kalamazoo and
Senator Mcmillan Of Detroit are not
only colleagues, but also close friends.
They are given to joking each other at
times. A day or two Senator Bur-
rows had occasion to go to the depart
ment Of agriculture in behalf of a con-
stituent. On his way back he met Sem
ator Mcmillan, who stopped him and
said:
where have you been, my sonT
cover at the agricultural depart
ment," replied Senator Burrows.
did you get anything?" asked Sen
ator Mcmillan.
Nothing but a pretty plant they
gave me for my wife," replied Senator
Burrows. That was the only thing |
could find that was not in the classified
service"
Opposed to Penny Postage.
Representative Loud of California,
chairman of the committee of postof-
tces and post roads, talked with the
president the other day about postal
legislation. Mr.. Loud is opposed to
penny postage. THAT is out of the
he said. with penny post
age there would be a deficit of at least
$50 100000 year in the receipts of the
postotice department." Mr.. Loud is
opposed to government ownership Of
telegraph lines, as has recently been
proposed.
CARL SCHOFIELD,