Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1903-11-12
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondents. j

1 the house document room from Stat
nary hall at the capitol. It hangs upon
the recently constructed spiral stair
case. which looks as If it might lead
up TO the great dome almost directly
overhead, but it does not, and there
fore has fooled very many visitors TO
the great building.
When the document room was open
ed to the sightseers short time since
after undergoing thorough renova-
fion and repair at cost Of SIT 800 the
| staircase attracted the attention of
many people. They proceeded upward
and after weary toll through darkness.
dust and books reached a small dense
room stuffed with pub. docs" Though
they did not know 1t. they had discoy-
cred one OF the hooks in which Joel
Grayson, the national character in the
house document room. stores govern
ment publications.
One day recently one Of the clerks
4 intercepted middle aged man who
| was going the wrong way TO the dome.
sOh, you can't fool me,,' he replied.
II guess | know | worked around
the capitol ten years ago, and I'm on
to these things" He soon discovered,
however. that he was in building as
bewildering as the maze OF the Cretan
labyrinth.
Conductor ON Presidential Train.
A new conductor for the special train
to carry the president when he desires
to travel will have to be provided. Will
liam NJ. Johnson, the man who has
been in charge Of all the trains carry
Ing the president since the burial Of
President Mckinley, has been promot.
ed and sent 70 Chicago by the Pullman
company.
l johnson has been regarded as the
only man competent to take charge Of
the presidential train. His first as
signment in that line OF work was
! when the body OF President Mckinley
was brought to Washington from Buff
falo. His nrst assignment after the
one that took him to Canton was to
carry President Roosevelt to the
Charleston exposition. He then took
the president to Pittsburg, July A. and
did 1t we'll The long trips made by
Conductor Johnson were the ones to
the Pacific coast
Portraits of Former POstmasters.
The portraits Of former postmaster
generals which hang on the walls OF
the post office department have been
so arranged that the Iikenesses of those
who are still living are grouped in Mr..
I Payne's room, while the portraits of
those who have died are hung in the
l larger waiting room. The painting OF
| Mr.. Wilson 8. Bissell after the GUS
\ tomary thirty days OF official mourning
will soon be removed to the waiting
room. This will leave seven former
postmaster generals to look down upon
| Mr.. Payne. One OF these il James nj.
| Tyner, who Is under Indictment and at
| an advanced age is evidently nearing
| the end of life He was postmaster
general for the last year Of Grants adj
ministration. which ended more than
| twenty six years ago.
Contract Labor Law Violated.
A systematic and extensive violation
OF the contract labor law has been dis
covered by the bureau of immigration,
and steps are being taken to deport a
number Of immigrants who have arriv-
ed at New York The immigrants are
| Welsh coal miners, persuaded to come
1 to the United States by advertisements
for 5000 miners, who are promised
from TO to p shillings day. The bu-
reau Of immigration has collected evi-
/ dence which shows that the advertise
ment was inserted by agents Or the
Ellsworth Coal company. Ellsworth,
i Pa, the miners being brought over In
violation of the contract law.
\ Twenty-eight Welsh miners, includ-
| lug one woman. are now detained at
4 Philadelphia Officers OF the United
Mine Workers are responsible for the
detention Of the imported miners.
1 Uncle sam's Grocery.
| In administering the pure food law
the secretary Of agriculture causes
samples to be taken from all importa-
tons Of food products. These samples
are paid for BIZ the government and
are used Id the analysis to determine
purity. Uncle Sam has decided to es-
tablish grocery store In washington
to dispose OF the pure samples that re-
main after the experiments. Authority
has been granted BY the treasury de-
| partment to the agricultural depart
| NETT to engage IN the retail trade, and
without license the government win
sell choice imported food products at
| cost price
E0remen Must Furnish Roads.
1 Another step La the reorganization of
the methods Of the government print
Ing Office IL effected by an order an
nosInced requiring $4,000 bond to be
furnished BIZ the heads OF departments.
This action Is designed to have the
property of the government in the
hands III responsible parties and Is Iii
line with the maintenance Of more
vigiiant management Or the Office.
Land witharawn.
William a. Richards United States
land commissioners. has withdrawn
from entry about 100000 acres OF land
In A4onfa M s,F,ssfs. ~ faroa4 froffa ffss,ss