Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-13
BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE.
Minor Scenes and Incidents sketched
on the spot.

Minor Scenes and Incidents sketched
on M spot.
Long bridge, spanning the Potomac at
Washington, over which hundreds OF thou
sands Of soldiers marched during the civil
war, has outlived its usefulness and will
be torn down within a few years. The new
Pennsylvania railroad bridge. 100 feet from
Long bridge, is nearing completion and
when finished, some time this year, will
receive the tracks now on the historic
structure. The new bridge will be about
500 or 500 feet longer than Long bridge.
On the Virginia side the first pier is di-
rectly opposite the south abutment Of Long
bridge. This is a difference Of about $50
feet and the same is true on the Washington
side.
The bridge is the property OF the Penn
s~ylvsnla railroad and will be used only by
the trains Of that road. There will be no
walkways or d%riveways on It. Only two
railroad tracks, one for the north and the
other for the southbound trains, will be
built. The memorial bridge which will take
the place OF Long bridge will be erected
about a quarter of a mile west OF the
Pennsylvania railroad bridge. With its
completion Long bridge will be torn down
and one Of washington's old landmarks
win have passed into history.
In the senate restaurant the kitchen Is
located in the basement. The dining room
is on the FIRST floor and all eatables and
delicacies must be brought up from the
depths with a dumb waiter. The colored
waiter who calls out the orders to the cook
below is far from dumb and his voice
usually rings through the restaurant with
entire disregard for the fame and dignity
Of the patrons of the place, much after the
manner of a Fourth street "beanery" in st.
Louis. II the patron is a good customer
Of the restaurant his name is usually given
with the order, 30 that extra care will be
exercised in its preparation. Senator Nell
son, one OF the most temperate and modest
patrons of the restaurant, dropped in for
luncheon with some Minnesota friends.
There were four in the party and the round
table at which they sat was separated from
the table Of Senator Scott by a large pillar
and roof support, so as to hide It from the
view of the West Virglnian. The colored
waiter got the order and dashed over to the
dumb waiter. He called out: "a piece Of
mince pie, a piece Of custard pie, a small
steak, a pot OF beans, some sliced onions,
and let 1t come quick for Senator Nelson"
Scott gasped and called out: walter, add
to that and a DOCTOR for the senator will
surely need one"
AS to military questions, says the Wash
ington Post, Senator Spooner of Wisconsin
sometimes displays knowledge that sur
prises his colleagues. The senator saw mill
tary service during the early SOS, rising to
commissioned rank in a Wisconsin regi-
ment. Since then he has developed such
versatility in handling big matters before
congress that the fact of his military train
ing has been forgotten.
An old plainsman from the northwest, who
has long been pressing a claim before the
senate, insisted that he had performed GER
tain services under the direction of General
Gibbon, who was the drill master of the
famous Iron brigade, beginning his work
on Meridian hill, in this city, and con-
tinuing It till the component regiments were
recognized as inferior to none in the union
armies. One day this claim was under con-
sideration and brought out the statement OF
services under General Gibbon.
where is the order for it?'' inquired
Senator Spooner.
The reply was returned that It was YER
bal only.
General Gibbon never gave, directions or
orders for anything to be done except in
writing" retorted Senator spooner.
The claim Of the plainsman is still await
ing favorable action by the senate.
Representative McDermott Of New Jersey
and Cochran of Missouri were arguing as to
the qualifications OF the federal bench, Mr..
Cochran contending that a majority of them
should not have the positions they hold, and
Mr.. McDermott insisting that, with few
exceptions, they are eminent lawyers. After
a particularly hitter TRADE by Mr.. Coeh-
ran. Mr.. McDermott rose and said: why,
Cochran, II / listen to you much longer I'll
have 30 little respect for the judiciary that
I'll walk into the supreme court chamber
with my hat on"
Representative Sibley Of Pennsylvania Is
the most enthusiastic chauffeur in congress
He owns automobiles that are great and
small and fast and slow; besides, he owns
q full OUTFIT of automobile paraphernalia, in.
GLIDING Jackets. caps. gloves and goggles
One day during the holiday shopping sea
son he stopped in front OF one of the large
stores to allow a lady to alight whom he
had brought downtown. His machine waf
standing at the head Of a line OF carriages
when the policeman spied him..
Hey, there!" yelled the of1cer. You'll
have to take the lady's carriage out OF there
and get in the right place in the line
Hurry up now"
But" the congressman began.
Don't take time to talk back" shouted
the policeman, but get out Of there"
The congressman got Out" according t.
orders.
81 did not feel so bad over being taken fol
a professional" he said In telling his ex.
psrience, because from the way l wal
logged out no one would have suspected
that / was a harmless congressman; bu
what made me mad was that the policeman
would not let me explain. It looked as II h
was applying the house rules to F street.
Uncle joe Cannon's committee on ap.
preparations has taken the big outglasl
chandelier which for years was in the cas-
room Of the White House and II now hang
In the committee room. R~epresentativ
Champ Clark OF Missouri. when he saw 4
for the FIRST time today. told a story Of
meeting OF the deaeons Of the countr!
! church in his state to buy a chandelier. Few