St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-04-15
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial CORRESPONDENCE. ]


what became of the old omnibuse
which in the days from 1858 to 1865
before Pennsylvania avenue was pave
and prior to the advent of the hors
car used to hold a monopoly of the pas
senger and transfer business OF tn
capital" said a secondhand vehicl
dealer. "In those days the city was al
full of omnibuses as it is now of troll
ley cars, and old residents have won
dered what became of those gaudy
gayly painted concerns, capable OF
holding forty people. When the street
cars took their place, they were torn
up for the material in them until by
1885 there was just one out of the sew
eral hundred left standing in an old
stable outside the city. There it re-
NAMED neglected and forgotten until
the Spanish-American war, when a To-
cal drayage and transfer firm heard of
it and purchased it for a song.
THE firm used it to carry passengers
soldiers, officers and viSitors-be-
tween the city and Falls Church and
Camp Alger 1t was lucky hit, for
the old omnibus is today the largest
vehicle in the city and will accommo-
date fifty-two people Finding it Of
| considerable use, the firm at the end Of
the war with Spain decided to keep it
and since then has used it for small
picnic parties. 1t is out every Memo
rial day, carrying passengers to Ar
lington and reminding the old veterans
of the good old days Of 1862. 1t is the
last relic of the omnibus period Of
Washington civilization and today the
largest thing on wheels in the capital"
President McKinley's Picture.
Colonel Bingham, superintendent Of
public buildings and grounds, has con-
cluded the purchase of the painting Of
the late President Mckinley by W. D.
Murphy Of New York, and the painting
was ordered hung on the east wall of
the veStibule to the north entrance to
the White House. On the west wall
will hang the portrait of President
Roosevelt by Sargent, The Murphy
picture will become the official one and
will hang in the White House gallery
of presidents.
THE painting of President Mckinley
was not just what | had hoped for"
said Colonel Bingham, but it appears
to be the best among number that
were painted. 1t received the approval
of Senator Hanna and Judge Day, init
mate personal friends of the late pres
ident. There is no question that it con-
tans some defects. The trouble about
all the paintings submitted to us was
that they were made from photo
graphs. There are only one or two
paintings of the president from life,
and they do not rank as they should"
Trees For the White House.
Holland furnished four green bay
trees to the White House decorations.
These green bay trees have been placed
in tubs and adorn the main entrance
to the building, sheltered by the main
portico, The green bays of Holland
stand twelve to fifteen feet in height
and cost the government $500 each.
Besides this New Jersey has contrib
uted at least 200 lockwood trees in
tubs for the decoration of the terraces |
which have been constructed in Ell
Their direction east and west from the |
main structure. These trees are from
twelve to fifteen feet in height and
have been grown in tubs. They will |
the sky line of the White
House terrace and from an architec-
tural and artistic point of view are in
tended to constitute the finishing
touches to this addition to the execu-
tive mansion.
No More Free Rides For Tourists.
Hereafter persons appointed to civil
offices in the Philippines will have to
to render two years. service
N the islands unless properly exempt
I'd for good and sufficient reasons.
This action was taken in order to
break up the practice that had OBJ
aimed to some extent of using the ap-
continent simply for the purpose Of
securing free transportation around
he world by way of the Philippines
Under the new regulations two years
service will entitle an appointee to free
passage to the Philippines and a third
'ear to free passage back to the Unit
ID States, with half pay during the yoy-
lge. Appointees serving less than two
ears will be required to meet the ex-
'enses of transportation out of their
,wn pockets.
Cortelyou's New Office.
A formal contract for the lease of the
Willard building on Fourteenth street
or the use of the department of COM
nerce and labor has been signed by
Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Willard and
Cortelyou. The new depart
nent has leased the entire building,
which, it is expected, will be COM
'leted about the 1st of May.
After the signing of the papers Mrs.
Willard presented Secretary Cortelyou
With handsome American flag,
which will be used on the building
urlng its occupancy by the depart
lent.
New Printing Office.