The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1902-02-07
Jack Harris Heard From.
Washington, Feb. 2.
Dearly Beloved: : -, =. - :

Washington, Feb. 2
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There must be some national asso
citation of women about to conven,
here judging from the weather.
is a rule without exception in Wash
ington for years past that a WON
ans convention brings bad weather
Three years ago this month the
daughters or some other relative OF
the Revolution-or perhaps it was
the Colonial relics-foregathe
here in order to talk and adopt reso,
1utions and put down mere mar
where he belongs and Immediately
the worst snow storm IN the history
of the city lit on this week of words.
For two days you couldn't get to the
corner grocery or saloon for any OF
the necessaries of life. After a
while the blizzard tired out the WON
en- and they left. Within twenty
minutes after the last one went, the
weather was perfect. 1t was so the
next year and the next and now the
weather bureau predicts storms when
women come and women when
storms come.
Last Wednesday morning wend-
ed my weary way to labor at S a. m.
in the midst of a heavy snowstorm
and since then nearly a foot has fall
en-. The streets are full of it like
pulveriZed sand, and it has rained,
hailed and showed every twenty min
utes alternately ever since. There
are three Congresses" of women
here this month, and their weather
has got here ahead of them. This,
theoretically, is what 1 call bright
weather. 1t can see ahead and gov
ern itself accordingly. During this
streak of female weather the livery
stables which could find anything on
runners have coined money. Usu-
ally there are only two or three days
here in a year when there is snow
enough for s1eighing, and when it
does come it takes some time to hus-
tie the cutters into service. Under
no circumstances is anything on
runners used for anything except
pleasure, simply a hilarious novelty.
And while it lasts, the stable keep
ers embezz1e four dollars per hour for
any kind of an outfit. And a sleigh
cannot be used unless the bottom il
filled with straw. Just how and
why the natives absorbed this idea
is shrouded in the mists of antiqui-
ty. Also some of the s1eighs seem
to be relics of ''befo' de wah.'
And so the finest equipages, those
of the foreign ambassadors and all
that duffle, are floored over with
straw, protruding from the sides.
This is supposed to be the very top
notch and pinnacle of the most heart
rend;ng style. Yesterday 1 saw a
'double runner" on Pennsylvania |
avenue, drawn by a fine looking |
horse and packed with jolly party
of young people of both sexes.
Perhaps you wonder what all this |
has to do with Congress. Every
thing, because while it lasted the
sleighing attracted more attention
than Congress, and even many
statesmen knocked off and enjoyed
the frolic. AS a matter of fact,
Congress has made considerable
progress in the past week. Many
bills have been formu1at-
ID and introduced. Many more have
been considered in committees and
n some cases conclusions have been
arrived at, and in some cases the
lction of Congress in important mat
ers has been practically settled
Among the latter is the removal of
he war revenue taxes and the per-
of the Census office. In
he first instance it is expected that
he bill will finally get through both
louses in some form, and the duties
will probably be abolished to take
fleet July LIST next. AS stated in
he House the idea is to include ev-
rything but tea in the repeal
cheme. Why the beer tax is abol-
shed and the tea tax retained is a q
eauti full moral and ethical question. (
funny about some things-and /
olks, isn't it?
The House votes to keep the Cen :,
us bureau in existence as a perma-
ent government department, but :
OF under civil service rules. OF |,
curse the working force will be ;,
lrgely re. ced from now on, but !
tatistics of ONE kind and from |,
ome part of the country will be con- :
nually gathered. /,
1t is announced that Congress at Y
lis session will appropriate about h
even millions of dollars for pub n
c building at the II orth end of La
lyette park-which same is oppo
tie the White House-and on the T
opposite corner from the present
assive state, war and navy build
Igs. The building will necessitate
lie removal of a large number of te
1ildings including many fine priv b.
.e residences. 1t is designed to be D;
,ed by the state department and II
specially for the executive offices. H
or this latter purpose the building d
III be connected underground with b,
e White House by an elaborate pr
mel. When all this is done the ia
hite House will be used exclusive fir
- , ,,r;vate residence where no 90