Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-23
BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE.
Minor Scenes and Incidents sketched
On the Spot.

Minor Scenes and Incidents sketched
On the Spot.
Half a dozen senator's called on the presi-
dent recently to talk about some important
position which was about to be filled. The
senators found Mr.. Roosevelt more inclined
to discuss "Bill' Sewall, the noted Maine
guide, from whom he had Just received a
letter. Finally one of the senators said:
"Mr. President, you seem to be much inter-
ested in this guide" Yes, senator, l am"
replied the president. Bill is an interest
ing man and a real friend. He is the only
man in the United States who on writing
to the president about an Office or any
thing else addresses him as : Friend
Theodore"
uncle Joe" Cannon was opposing the
plaza feature Of the new Union station bill.
Uncle Joe is against the contemplated
scheme for identifying Washington on gen.
eral principles and he never misses an OPP
p~ortunity to protest. 81 wore my old SLOUGH
hat one day." he said, land went over to
the Congressional library, where they have
the models of this great scheme for beauti-
flying Washington. The man in charge
blESu liz up IlBul iue NtIg hlbI lHho 40 a
countryman from Illinois.
whats It all about?' / asked.
HE told me in detail. How much will
II cost?' 1 asked again.
1.-The cost Is estimated at a thousand
million dollars
"'Great scott!' 1 said. Will the people
stand it?'
"'sure.' he replied. They've got to
stand it,"
Representative Champ Clark of Missouri
once gave some vivid verbal sketches of
Mr.. Reed which the latter's friends rec
ognized as true to life.
"In the greenback year In Maine,' said
Mr.. Clark, "he escaped defeat by only 115
majority. When he went to supper he
thought he was defeated. When he re-
turned to headquarters after supper his
follower set up a mighty shout. Not hav-
ing heard OF his election, he said to them:
You are making a tremendous fuss over
the corpse In relating that incident in
his life he naively remarked: THE coun-'
try came near losing the invaluable serv-
ices of a great statesman on that occasion"
Army and navy officers are enjoying a
hearty chtckle over the discontinue Of a
well known retired officer who is a familiar
figure at several clubs, reports a Washing
ton correspondent. This officer has a son
Of considerable promise, but Of tender
years. A few years ago, SO the story goes,
the officer married a fortune and soon after
discovered that he had heart disease and
went on the retired list. Jack" said a
visitor to the son the other day, what
are you going to be when you grow up?"
"Well," said the S-year-old, with grave
elaboration, "Tve been thinking Of that
for some time and I think that when I'm a
man I'll get heart disease and go on the
retired list, Just like papa"
It is the declared experience Of all Arctic
and Antarctic travellers that which is COM
monty called in temperate regions raw
weather is much more trying than the
rigors Of extreme high or low ATTITUDES.
This view is emphatically shown by Lieu
tenant Peary, whom a Chicagoan saw in
Washington this week. 1t was rather a
chilly afternoon and the man Of Arctic
fame was closely wrapped In a heavy over
coat, the collar turned up over his ears.
He sat Just over a heater in a street car
and the Chicagoan, who felt quite comfort
able on the platform, was much surprised.
The Washington correspondent of the New
York Evening Post writes: The annual
miracle is again to be chronicled. George
Graham Vest is still alive and in the
United States senate, keen, alert and strong
of mind. The robust, like Mcmillan, drop
out; old-timers like Hawley fail and stay
away, but Vest, a physical shadow, scarcely
able to stand alone. returns year after year.
A few weeks ago his son, we'll and hearty
in the morning, sank in a night and died.
But this wonderful little giant seems
destined to live on in spite OF all pre-
dIetions and appearances. As long ago as
the struggle over the treaty Of peace with
Spain in the early months OF 1899 the
newspapers specialized on the effect his
death would have on the final roll call for
ratification. When he was, brought into
the senate to cast his vote he looked the
~frailest man who had ever mustered energy
enough to get to the capitol. He has been
failing gradually since, but is still on duty
whenever he can be. His remarks at the
last session. in the discussion OF the
Hampton Roads conference. were made
, peculiarly impressive by their allusion to
the fact that he was the only survivor OF
the senate OF the confederacy, and he added
that as he should not be long in joining his
! lhtnNg-uNG NblltabdSS SA ~ nv 49, -
Justice to their memory he wished TO Offer
the historical correction which he theu
presented.
The appointment OF a day for eulogies or
the late Senator Sewell OF New Jersey
recalls a Renaissance Of that gentleman
He was on the appropriations committed
and on one occasion he and Congressman
Cannon we're on a conference committee
They disagreed about something and
each showed a good deal OF stubbornness
Finally Cannon said: We'll, gentlemen,
am prepared to stay here until the senator
gives in" Turning to the clerk Of the ap-
propriations committee General sewell said
quietly; M. Cleayes. will you have my