The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-07-05
WASHINGTON GOSSIP


noire of more than one member OF
congress. Applicants for pensions seem
10 expect the ponderouS machinery of the
bureau OF pensions TO move at a lightning
fale and grind out pensions much as
sausage machine turns out sausage They
oNerWnelm their representatives at the
national capital with constant requests
that the latter shall give personal at
tenOon TO their applications.
Red tape has been cut away by the bolt
and applications now go through much
more rapidly than they did a year or so
ago Indeed. whereas it is rumored that
several pensions have been granted within
Two years after application TO the bureau
OF pensions, which fact indicates lack OF
proper investigation by that department.
Represen alive McDermott has intro
auced bill to the effect that the pension
action upon any application for pension
until the applicant shall have fully an
swefed. TO the satisfaction of the COM
missioner of pensions and all the en-
pioyes of the bureau, the following ques-
tons:
(a) With whom have you talked con-
corning your applications Give time of
conversation and color of the eyes of the
person with whom YOU conVersed. also
two photographs of his nearest relatives.
tb) Give history of your childhood. with
copies OF your last composition at school:
Have copy certified by schoolmaster. If
schoolmaster is dead, give history of
family from time of coronation OF Rufus
the Red 10 the 9TH day OF January, 1902.
fcl IN order that claim may receive
early attention. furnish a copy of the di-
rectory OF each town or city In which de-
ceased resided, with affidavlts OF two
reputable citizens. showing the truth of
each allegation of residence contained in
said directories. If applicant is in in
digent circumstances blanks will be fur
nished BY the department, not. however,
exceeding the capacity of two freight
cars
furnish photographs of birthplace; also
history of maternal grandmother If
photograph of grandmother is not OBJ
tafndb bic, furnish oil painting
{el Furnish thirteen affidavfts of re-
liable citizens showing that applicant has
never contemplated reInarriage.
dl ll marriage OF deceased was prior
eight citizens showing clearly and con-
clusively that applicant did not contract
said marriage in order to obtain a pen
(g) Furnish photographs of children,
With evidence of f0rty-nine reputable wit
nesses to prove paternity If applicant is
cnildless, satisfactory evidence of the
reasons therefor must be furnished
CHI Furnish photographs of deceased,
showing his performance of duty in any
fidavits of at least ten comrades, estaf-
fishing that wounds received in said bat
tie were not so received with the inteu-
tion of obtaining pension for applicant
% Furnish history of each soldier who
served from the state in which deceased
enlisted. II deceased was drafted. fur
11Sn CfrIf11ed copies OF election returns
showing election of officers OF municipal
ity serving at time draft was made; also
history of town hall
ID II it is claimed that the deceased died
of consumption Contracted during service,
furnish embalmed section of left lung
II claim is of death from Bright's disease
similarly contracted, furnish X-ray
photographs OF kidneys and toe joints.
(lx) Furnish certified copies of all books
In public library nearest TO home of ap-
plicant-
81
residence of deceased. Hearsay testimony
on this 2oint will not be considered
1t is not believed the bill will pass the
present congress.
Washington is going TO be up-to-date in
mail transmission facilities. At present
the capital is decidedly behind the age
in these matters. 1t takes longer to get
letter across the city from the capitol
70 any of the departments than to get
letter transmitted from Washington TO
New York A contract has been made
for installation of pneumatic tube service
printing office, and between the general
postoffice, the capitol and some of the
tube system is in operation in Boston.
New York and Philadelphia and many of
the larger European cities. have been
using this plan of mail transmission for
several years The installation of pneu-
matte tube service in Washington is re-
garded in the nature of an experiment,
and upon its success or failure will be de-
termined the future extension of the
service to other cities or its abandon
ment.
The White House is vacant for the
first time since 1874 when after the bat
tie of Bladensburs. the British entered
Washington and burned the home of the
presidents, the capitol and other public
buildings. The changes in the historic
building are not TO be material, but SIM
ply Improvements in the way of putting
in hard wood floors and in refurnishing
and decorating. Excavations for the
foundation of the new office building,
which will be erected west of tina White
House for the accommodation of the pres
ident and his clerks. have been COM
menced and in a few days the masons
Will be at work putting I'D the walls of
the new building. During the progress
of the contemplated improvements the
White House viii be entirely deserted by
the president and his official family, and
they have already moved into temporary
quarters facing the beautiful Lafayette
square and within sight of the old build
ing The new quarters Were selected by
Secretary Cortelyou and have been leased
for four months. The temporary White
House is the Townsend residence, -
Jackson place. opposite the west front of
Lafayette square. 1t Is a square old
fashioned red brick, with generous win
dows and mansard roof. The president
apartment on the first floor. The dining
room is the presidents private office and
the cabinet room. Adjoining apartments
are used by Secretary Cortelyou as his
office and here all callers to be admitted
TO the president are escorted The en-
tire first floor of the building furnishes
accommodation about the same as the
working 3e-t of the White House itself
The second and third floors, both spien-
dtdiy furnished. are devoted to the living
apartments of the president. Two other
floors. the basement and attic, are used
for STORAGE and general purposes
Lafayette square. on which the tenn
porafy White House looks while in the
business section of Washington, has been
preserved as residence place, and the
famous old-fashioned houses surround
ing il have been retained intact and form
one of the most attractive features of the
capital. One of the celebrated residences
facing the square is the old DECATUR
house. built BY the bluff old naval COM
mander from the rich prizes captured by
him in the war against the pirates OF