Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-02
BITS or WASHINGTON LIFE.
Minor scenes and Incidents sketched
ON the spot.

Minor Scenes and Incidents sketched
on the spot.
Congressman Eugene F. Loud Of Califor-
mia. who ~retires from the house with the
present congress, will be among the list
Of applicants for appointment as post
master at San Francisco. A washington
dispatch to the st. Louis Globe Democrat
says the announcement has already created
something OF a sensation among the postal
employees organization, whose members
have been waging bitter war against any
further political preferment for Mr.. Loud.
1t was recently stated that Mr.. Loud had
been rendered a position as one OF the
assistant postmasters general. Such an
appointment would be a signal for trouble,
as the organizations in the postal service
are determined in their opposition TO any
plan for giving Mr.. Loud a position OF au-
thority in the Postofhce department. The
opposition is all due to the persistent night
made by Mr.. Loud from year to year
against bills providing for an increase Of
pay OF letter carriers. and railway mail
clerks. Mr.. Loud has made his fight in
the open, as he does all his official acts.
He has taken the position that the letter
carriers are well paid. according to the
service performed, and the equipment
necessary for the service. These men now
receive $500 for the first year, $3.50 for the
second year, and $1,000 for the third year,
and there they stick. The bill that has
been pending at several sessions OF con-
gress provides that they shall receive $500
a year at the start, $1,000 the second year
and 81, 200 a year thereafter. As has been
announced in these dispatches, the advo-
Gates Of the bill will make no effort to Sc
cure its consideration at the present SEES
sion Of congress, not desiring to take
chances in having It finally voted down
by Mr.. Loud and his friends. The carriers
have already chosen William Randolph
Hearst. who will be in the next congress,
as champion OF their bill.
President Roosevelt has found It neces-
sary to bar lighted cigars out of the white
House. At first Arthur Simmons, the col
ored doorkeeper, who has been at the White
House for many years. was named as the
presidential smoke oppressor, but he found
his task so ungracious that he begged the
president to relieve him. The congressman
and senators whom Simmons was obliged to
speak to in carrying out his orders did not
take his action kindly and they told him to
go back south or to some other warm place
so frequently that Arthur. who is a devout
church member, asked Mr.. Roosevelt to
give him another detail. The president
complied and In order to spare the White
House employees from congressional abuse
has had hung over the mantel in the public
reception room the familiar sign, N
Smoking Allowed" The sign is framed in
somber black, which is such a contrast to
the ivory white OF the room that one can
scarcely fail to notice 1t.
There is considerable talk in Washington
this winter regarding the salary OF mem
bers Of congress, though there is no i'm
mediate prospect OF legislation on the sub
ject. Some advocate the cutting OF of all
perquisites and the payment Of a nat sal
airy Of 1880 instead OF S.. 900, as at present.
leaving the members to buy their own sta
tionery and hire their own clerks, also to
deprive them Of mileage. which is 10 cents
per mile each way for each session. The
clerks at present get 800 per month and
the stationery allowance is s125 annually.
1t is especially pointed out that the COM
pensation as to mileage Is unfair, as the
statesman who lives in Maryland or Vir-
ginia, for example, receives only a meager
stipend on that account, whereas some
statesmen from the far west receive over
$500. 70 rar.-
Gentlemen, can you tell us any news?"
said David J. Hill, first assistant secretary
of state, to a group of correspondents who
called for new light on the Venezuelan
situation.
1--WE have com to you for news was
the only answer.
"The press and the department IL without
news and in a waiting attitude. The situa-
tion reminds me of the predicament Of an
old sea captain Of my acquaintance who
found himself hundreds Of miles at sea
without a chart. Further taking account OF
stock developed a missing s~extant. barom-
eter and ohronometer out OF gear and a
broken compass.
"'Cap, said the mate. we shall have to
take the weather as 1t comes.'"
The engineers and hremen who happen to
be assigned to the presidents train when
ever he makes a trip out OF town always
get ready at the end of the route for the
cordial handshake which they know is COM
ing. When Mr.. Roosevelt and his family
returned from Virginia the other day he
reached up to shake the hand of the engi-
aeer OF his train Just before leaving the
Pennsylvania station. A pleasant word OF
greeting and goodby was exchanged, and II
was noticed that the engineer followed the
president with his eye In an apparently
thoughtful mood until he was we'll out OF
sight. Then, recovering himself suddenly
he was heard to indulge in this s~oliloquy
as he looked at his grimy hand:
Great Scott! But you are a dirty right
Still 1 knew he'd shake you. And when he
shakes he means it,"
A novel view Of President Roosevelt IL
contributed by Louis Michel, editor of Der
Deutsch Amerikaner, who was introduced
to the president at the White House a few
days ago by Representatives Wachter and
Schiem of Maryland:
When It is considered that Mr.. Niche
and the two congressman were with the
president not more than twenty minute
Mr.. Michel's account Of what occurred will
give an idea OF just how strenuous th'
president is and how much he can GROVE
into a small space Of time. Mr.. Michel de-
scribed his visit as follows:
president Roosevelt is not only one o.
the greatest statesmen this country hal
ever had, but he is also a great literary
man, and / don't think there is any otheI
man in the republican party who coulC
have discussed German and Dutch author
as he did. The fact that the presiden
gave us twenty minutes OF his valuable
time shows how interested he was In tn
question Of German literature.