St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-01-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Especial Correspondence


names of thirty or forty men of promi-
nence throughout the country, and the
list continues TO grow. 1t will grow
right along until the commissioners are
named, which will not be until the route
for the canal has been selected. The
Kansas delegation called on the presi-
dent the other day and requested that
he place Senator Harris Of that state
on the commission. Senator Harris is
a Democrat but his term will expire
March 4 next, and he will be succeeded
by Republican,. Senator Harris has
been for a number of years one Of the
active members of the senate commit
tee on interoccanic canals, and tine Kan
sas delegation told the president there
was no better posted man on the sub
| iect of canals than Senator Harris. In
addition to the knowledge acquired In
| the senate while serving on this COM
mittec, Senator Harris is an engineer Of
ability. He was for many years an en-
gineer connected with the Union Pacif-
ic railroad. The fact that Senator Har-
ris is a Democrat has not deferred his
Republican colleagues from asking his
selection on this commission. 1t is stat
ed that the people of the state, ire
specctive of party, feel the same way.
A Presidents Son.
A gentleman of modest demeanor,
well on toward middle life, was in the
corridors of the capitol where hundreds
of visitors passed who did not know
they were touching elbows with the
son and namesake Of a former presi-
dent of the United States Mr.. Ruther
ford b. Hayes Of Asheville. Three
years ago Mr.. Hayes left Chicago, wea-
ried of urban residence, and selected q
delightful rural spot few miles out Of
Asheyile as his abode. He is the pro-
prictor of a real estate business in
Asheville and is highly esteemed there.
When President Roosevelt passed
through Asheville last September, Mr..
Hayes was one of the prominent citl-
zens who joined in giving the chief ex-
ecutive a cordial welcome.
Just now Mr.. Hayes is in Washington
as president of the Appalachian Park
association. The friends of that project
are urging it earnestly. When Mr..
Hayes was introduced at the capitol he
dipped quietly but earnestly into con-
yersatiOn on that undertaking and be-
fore he was done invariably pulled
from the inside of his heavy ulster lit
tie pamphlet on the Appalachian for
est reserve to support his own views
about appropriation.
Opening of the White House.
The completion of the work on and
around the White House is nearing an
end. Since the beginning of the work
the building and grounds have been
closed to the public. Many inquiries are
made as to when they may be reopened.
Nothing has been decided on in this di-
rection. 1t is assumed that the east
room will be opened to the public so
soon as all the work is over, and that
the front grounds will also be kept open,
as in the past, but this is not known.
Department clerks who formerly saved
time by cutting through the southern
part of the grounds ON their way to
and from the state, war and navy de-
partments and treasury have been hope
full that the grounds would be opened
again so as to save them time but it
has been decided that the southeast and
southwest gates will not be opened in
the future,
Athletics For Soldiers.
The secretary of war has approved a
recommendation made by General Ran
dali, commanding the department Of
the Columbia, that officers and men be
granted permission under proper re.
strictions to visit other posts for the
purpose Of taking part i'll athletic con-
tests. Such permission will not be con-
sidercd as leave Of absence or fur
Tough, but will be noted on the returns
In the same manner as absence with
permission to hunt. The secretary also
has approved recommendation that
an annual department contest in field
sports be had on condition that such
contests be without eXpenSsiR.tleg GOV
eminent. This action is in
policy of the war departmd
er provision be made in eadV
itary departments for q courscV
tcmatic instruction in athletic eXcf-
ciScS.
The President Talks German.
President Roosevelt enjoyed long
conversation in German the other day
with representatives WaChter and
Schirm and Louis Michel. editor of the
Deutsch Amerikancr of Baltimore
These men called at time when the
president was not busy, and they had a
Dutch languages. The president re-
peatod in Dutch an old folklore song
popular for many years among the
South African Dutch, "Thc Cows Are
In the Glover" The president talked
about Goethe, Schiller, Leasing, Theo-
dorc kocrncr and many other great lit
erary men Of Germany. He knew the
history Of each and had read their
: works,
After Many Years.
. \ conversation in the cloakroom re-
Gently between Chairman Jenkins of
the judiciary committee and ex-Speak-
er Grow disclosed a curious fact UNI
known tu tbn'r Iu.o1ipt.s In r.,,,,,,+