Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-02-15
EDWARD C, DAN \,
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON,
Especial Correspondence,)

first time, held by "A Colorcd man. II
is usually given to retired soldiers who
have proved their loyalty To tho
Crown This qualification is deemed
essential because OF the responsibility
of the position, All state papers, Sc.
cret reports and private documents
are given to the messenger. and n
is held responsible for their safe dc.
livery upon British vessel either IT
New York or at some Canadian porT.
Richard Donaldson. now deceased,
was the last messenger He served -
years with the British army in India
and was appointed messenger in rec.
ognition of faithful service in the field
and his unQuestionable loyalty to the
British government. The messengers
job can be termed a sineCurc. Once II
week, or perhaps twice or three times
a week, he goes to New York, carrying
the outgoing mail and returning with
that brought over ON the English yes.
sci. This is the extent of his labors
War on Skyscrapers--ln accordance
beautifying Washington. war was
begun against the issuance of permits
for high buildings. Such permits Will
be issued by tie district commissions
ers pending the action of congress re-.
garding the further limitations to hs
within the limits of the District OF
Columbia. There are number OF
such applications now on file in the
building inspectors office or about TO
be submitted. 1t is believed that the
senate district committee will urge
speedy action vy congress. 1t is prob.
able that within the public building
zones, III the vicinity of the White
House. the capitol, the Congressional
library. etc, private buildings shall u"
limited to the height of the public
building in close proximity.
Capitol Full Of Germs-Elliott
Woods. acting architect of the capitol,
who, in addition to his regular Lrofes.
sion, is archaeological expert, has
discovered that the capitol building IL
full of germs. Mr.. Woods says that the
capitol is the happy home of the mi
crobe. and that among the germs that
dwell in the building are those OF
lockjaw, tuberculosis. typhoid and grip,
the latter, he says. being largely in tn"
majority. Several millions of mi.
crobes We're found upon piece of
carpet one inch square taken from
the floor of the house of representa-
tives, The proportion of microbes
found in the senate and house of repre-
sentatives was as seven in the former
to % in the latter, the disparity being
due, Mr.. Woous says, to the imbovcd
system of ventilation in the senate
chamber.
Won't Be Censured-The president
AMI secretary of war are of the opin-
ion that Gen. Leonard Wood commit.
ted no offence for which he should
be censured when he wrote to several
urging congress to grant tar
if concessions to Cuba. The crcum.
stances as known tC the president and
Secretary Root are said not to war
rant any reprimand whatever for his
The facts, as related by an
officer are that Gen. Wood had broad
authority from the secretary of war
to communicate with members of con.
gress directly.
A White House Annex-The senate
on public buildings and
grounds made favorable report on
bill authorizing the acquisition by the
government of the square opposite
west OF Lafayette square, and the
erection thereon of a building for the
use of the state department, tine de-
partment of Justice and the clerical
'orce of the White House. to be con.
rected with the White House by
subway. No limit of cost was fixed
by the bill. but the estimates call for
IN expenditure of $7OOO,OO0 The
government already owns In this
square the old Corcoran Art Gallery,
,ow used by the court of claims. The
square also contains the historic De-
widow of the late Gen. Beale; the
,ouse Of the late Senator Blair of
now occupied by his daugh.
er, the widow of Admiral Lee the
Blair house, owned by
his daughter, and the residence OF
he late Admiral Dahlgren, owned by
lis daughter. Their present owners
opposed the sale of their properties,
)ut the committee, in view of the
availability of the site for the pro.
posed building and the recommenia.
ion of the park commission, over.
uled their protests.
Miss Roosevelt viii Go-Although
20 official statement can be Obtained
t is practically decided that Miss
Alice Roosevelt will accept the invita-.
ion Of Mr.. and Mrs. Whitelaw Reid
o be their guest in London during
he ceremonies incident to the corona,
ion of King Edward VII. Miss Roose-
'elt will have no status at the ceremo.
lies, however, except that of visit
ng American girl. 1t is probable that
er uncle and aunt. Commander AMI
1rs. Cowles, will accompany her to
.ondon, as it is part of the program
o send Commander Cowles as special
ide to Capt. Clark, the representative
# the navy. 1t is said to be the presl
ent's intention to insist that Miss
Roosevelt, ii she goes to London. shall
@ merely as the personal guest Of
lr and Mrs. Reid.
RETTOC.
General William McAIillin died mt
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