Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-19
BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE.
Minor scenes and incidents sketched
on the SPOT.

on the Spot.
Oddities OF personal adornment are so
common in Washington that Il is a task Of
genius to create a sensation in that way,
but the charming widow of Cushmsn X.
Davis Of Minnesota has achieved that dis
t~inction. Recently she appeared on the
streets Of the capital city carrying on her
arm a deep band Of black crepe, to which
was attached a fine miniature Of her late
husband.
Stress Of business and the dearth OF time
will lead to a change in the presidents
signature. He has always been accus-
toned to write out his first name in full.
but he finds that 1t will save him about so
per cent OF time and trouble to make It
simply T.. Roosevelt.
Where a man has to sign his name about
1000 times a day It does make a difference.
There is a man in the ONCE Of the auditor
for the Postofice department who, 1t is
said, owes his appointment largely to the
fact that his signature contains but hve
letters. He is Second Deputy Auditor N.
Chew. He does little but sign his name.
and he does that for about eight hours a
day steady.
1T took the late Senator Plumb OF Kansas
nearly two years to get these water coolers
placed in the corridors Of the capitol" said
a gentleman quoted by the Washington
Post. The senator was a fighter when he
went into q fight and it is said that some of
his constituents who we're visiting Washing
ton for the first time called his attention
to the fact that it was impossible for a
stranger to get a drink of water In the big
building. or course, people who know the
ropes can dodge into one Of the numerous
committee rooms and get a drink OF water,
and frequently something stronger, but be-
fore the coolers we're placed in the main
corridors the stranger stood little show.
When the complaint was made to Senator
Plumb he at once determined that there
should be water for all who wished It.
The senator went to work, introduced a
bill, but this was lost in committee, and
after repeated efforts, lasting nearly two
years, he managed to get IL in as an amend
ment to an appropriation bill, with him
self as one Of the conferees. He was ap-
pealed to to give up the effort, but an
nounced that he would defeat the whole bill
unless the amendment for coolers stuck.
That settled 1t, and during the next recess
the coolers were placed in the walls. The
water is kept cool by going through a coil
OF pipes through and around the storeroom
in the basement OF the building, where the
ice for use In the building is stored.
never take a drink here but that 1 think OF
Senator Plumb, one Of the best men who
himself by overwork."
Before reaching his majority he was
~ RRtnA 90 AHlzg D1AN. -
influence is due whatever Of success he has
attained"
Thus does Congressman Robert w. Davis
Of Florida pay a loving tribute to his wife,
who died at the Davis home in Maryland
avenue, Washington, a few weeks ago. The
above sentence is cuiied from Judge Davis
modest autobiography. printed in the last
issue Of the congressional directory.
"All that / have in life, / owe to my
WIFE" said Mr.. Davis.
I'VE were married when both Of us were
very young-neither being OF lawful age.
Poor as the old church mouse, we battled
together against the waves of adversely,
my wife constantly lending her aid to as
sist and cheer me when the clouds seemed
darkest. AS the years rolled on and on
she was ever my able assistant, squirting
me to greater efforts and broader achieve
ments. The modest little that I have &C.
complished in life is due to her ~untiring
energy, her constant devotion and supreme
optimism. She could pentrate into the
darkness and despair and see good In
everything.
Acknowledgment of her material as
sistance to me in my career comes a little
late, 1t seems to me now-it should have
been publicly made during her lifetime
My only object in mentioning my wife's
help to me in the revised issue OF the d.
rectory was to pay a modest tribute to her
sweet memory"
Judge Davis is serving his third term IN
congress and is assured of a unanimous
denomination for a fourth. He is an ex-
confederate soldier and surrendered with
the army Of General Joe" Johnston at the
close of the civil war; was admitted to the
bar before he became Of age, has been O
member and speaker Of the Florida legis-
lature. He was at one time general attor-
ney for the Florida Southern railway.
Wives OF the cabinet ministers, who al
ready are preparing for next seasons So
cial season, report that there is a re-
markable scarcity Of young women In
Washington who are competent to serve al
social secretaries. In fact, there are no
enough to go half way around, and the
cabinet ladies are in despair because they
1 Epnuv that the ahorfo0a unaaua O ranafttinT