The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-07-23
WASHINGTON LETTER


tll.sru rs ''NlFiI,i ana lhtlI hulIes
are rcckoncd important
From . TO 4 o'clock each day. except
sunday they may be found in the
basement of the big and dirty gray
brown building Wherein Uncle Sans
siucws OF commerce and war, peace
and prosperity are Kept Hour by
hour they carefully go through the big
plcs Of waste paper dumped out for
their critical inspection from the ca
pscious maws of the hundreds Of bas-
kets which are supposed To catch the
Hitter of officials and clerks from Sec
rotary Shaw down II is the word
supposed" that gives these experts
employment. Too often document or
paper OF value slips inadvertently into
tie baskets and were IL not for the
watchfu eyes of these women would
find lbs way into the fairy furnace OF
destruction.
People have been wont to Joke about
ihc ridiculous tiie, iha, certain gov
crumcnt employees bear and in pop
ular farce of "a few years ago there
was character who styled himself
the official cleaner Of government Gus
pidors. Bur there are ia fact. two Of
ncial examiners of wastehaskets in the
treasury department
The Annual Ovcrhhuling.
The interior Of the White House Ia
10 receive its general annual overhaul
ing during the absence OF the presi-
dent and his family from Washington.
some minor changes that are desired
by the president and Mrs. Roosevelt
will be- effected
I'm tine presidents Offices painters are
already at work rcpainting doors and
other woodwork.
The new drivcways in the front OF
the White House grounds have about
been completed. little remaining to be
done
During the absence OF the family
from the White House the main door
M the north portico will not be closed
10 visitors. as heretofore. and those
visiting the east room may enter that
way as we'll as by the new eastern en-
trance. opposite .lc treasury depart
ment.
Alien Labor Law Violated.
Systematic violation Of the law pro-
hlblting the admission 81 contract for
cign labor has started n new and ngor-
Gus investigation by treasury officials.
SpeciGc violations OF the contract labor
law are being investigated at New
York by order of Commissioner Cen
eral Sargent. one glaring example Is
that Of a Hamburg American steamer
arriving there May 20. which had 2,6DO
Immigrants on board. mostly Russians.
Roumanians. Greeks. Galiclans and
Uungarians. With few exceptions
these immigrants were under contract
and were sent 10 cattle ranches and
farms in the northwestern states.
Another practice in violation Of the
immigration law is the temporary OK
change Of money between steerage pas
sengers. So that penniless immigrants
are enabled 70 show up enough money
TO permit Of their admission.
Admiral Dewey Mt summer Home.
The admiral of the navy and Mrs.
Dewey are now at their summer home
in Woodley lane near Washington, and
nroposc remaining there at least until
the middle OF August and possibly
through the entire summer. The ad-
mlral drives to and from his Office In
Washington daily. while Mrs. Dewey,
TO whom the seclusion Of the country
Is especially delightful in SUMNER
makes Few excursions into town. but
at all times extends n gracious wei
come TO the friends that come TO her at
Bcauvoir.
VIII Investigate Indian Complaints.
The president has ordered n thorough
Investigation Of the affairs OF the
Klowa and Comanche Indian reScrva-
ton I'm oklahoma and has appointed
Francis l.. Leupp OF this city to make
the investigation. The investigation
Is based on charges made 10y certain
Kiowa Indians. including Delos h.
Lone Wolf. Kiowa. living at Hobart
that of the 2.TJ9 allotments made TO
persons purporting to belong to the
Kiowa. .Comanche and Apache tribes
under the act approved June 6. 1900, a
number Of the allotments were illegal
and more allotments were made than
there were Indians.
Executive Offices VIII De open.
The executive offices In Washington
will be open throughout the summer
with Mr. Forster. the executive clerk
in charge. The president will also
maintain an Office at O-ster Bay, the
two Offices being in direct communica-
ton by telephone and segraph. WINE
the president expects to direct and
watch the post Office investigation, he
desires to be as free as possible from
official cares during his period of resi-
and recuperation. rs the work of the
coming winter will severely tax his
strength.
Vacancies In Consular Service.
There are two or three good va
capcies to be filed in the consular serV'
ice. The best of these is the consulshiT
at Manchester England, made vacant
by the resignation Of Consul Grinnei
an old and faithful employee Of the
consular service. Another good place
is at Cartagena. Colombia, made va
cant by the recent death Of John G. In
gersolI, and the consulship at Guade
loupe. on the island of that name in th'
French West Indies, will also be va
cant, it is thought.
Will Tive In Capital suburb.
Lieutenant Commander Robert 4
Peary. the noted explorer OF the arcti
regions, has just purchased a hand
some house In the suburb of Washing
ton called Cleveland Park. and he an
his family III remove to 1t immediate
l IL The iiftlo daughter who was Dor