Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1904-04-22

Unique Check, Probably the Largest" Ever
Drawn-The Incident That MADE a Stall
wart Fighter.
From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, d. c., April l6.
During the last two days the Senate
has discussed the bills providing for
the government of the Panama canal
zone. 1t now seems likely that that
vermiform appendix of Uncle Sans
will be kept in sanitary condition by
claws" to be "enacted" by the Ca
nal Commission of seven gentlemen.
Where Congress gets its authority to
transfer to the Isthmian Pleaides the
right to legislate for American citizens,
Heaven only knows. 1t probably de-
rives it from the same source whence
President Roosevelt obtains the right
to confer legislative functions ON his
subordinate in the Pension Office.
The Mccall Congressional Commit
tee appointed to investigate the great
postotfice scandals, has reported. The
charge made by the Fourth Assistant
Postmaster General, Mr.. Bristow, was
that many Congressman were corrupt;
that hundred cases could be cited in
which millions of dollars had been
used for additional clerk hire as an Of
fetal perquisite for the benefit of per-
sonal and political friends" McCalrs
committee announces that this is
false; that Congressman are all honest
and that only two or three have been
guilty of indiscretion; and it sets forth
a crystal jar of the perfumes of Araby
which can be used to sweeten their
sweetness. The Senate has voted
down the German resolutions for a
postoffice investigation by Congress,
Mr.. Lodge saying, ain our own way,
in our own time, when we think pro-
per, we will provide for an investiga-
tion." Mr.. Lodge, however, is widely
noted for having crooked chronological
notions and as not properly distin-
gushing between time and eternity.
1t is barely possible, bnt not probable,
that the Republicans in Congress will
be compelled to provide for some in.
vestigation OF the scandals by the un.
RENTING demands and satirical prod.
ding OF the Democrats. Corruption is
popular.
The funeral abuses of Congress cry
loudly for reform. 1t is now believed
that not less than $4,000 will be paid
out of the Treasury for the burial of
Senator Hanna, although he was
millionaire. Congressman Oates of
Alabama, in one of his last speeches,
denounced the habit OF sending COM
miltees of honor to accompany the re.
mains OF deceased Senators and Repre-.
sentatives to their place of interment,
and said "These committees, instead
of being genuine mourners, usually
take pleasure excursions or junkets at
the expense of the public treasury.
l never have served on one of them,
but 1 note among the expenditures
one funeral which cost $4,000 and
another which reached near $4,000.
The first Of these was made up of the
following items: Transportation and
burial, 81. 3SO74; volume of eulogies,
$4,000; expense of Congress ad-
journed one day, SIC, 900; money voted
to widow, 5000; total, So. 3SO.74.
Congress is not only in the habit of
giving $1,000 as gratuity to the wild.
ows of all members who die in service,
but Of making a corresponding present
to the widows and other relatives of all
clerks OF Congress who die in service.
On April 25, 1888, the Senate gave
Sill ,296 to Mary A. r. Quimby, sister
OF the Enrolling Clerk, and when F.
II. Salisbury, another clerk. died, ST.
O95 was given to his family. "to be
considered as including funeral ex.
penses and other allowances" And
so on for dozens OF other clerks. The
expense Of burying Representative
or Senator is often sufficient to make
any poor family rich. The eulOgies of
Senator Logan were printed by the
government at cost of $4,000, ex.
elusive of wrapping, addressing and
postage (some thousands more) and
steel engravings, costing $500 to ST.
600 each. One hundred copies consti.
tuted an edition de lure in morocco
and gold for the widow. How does
Congress dare to infiict such expenses
upon the American taxpayer
There is national convention in
this city every day in the round year,
comprising people from every State in
the Union. To-day we fall into the
hands Of the Knights of Columbus,
10000 of whom come focking from
every point of the compass to present
to the Catholic University here $50.
600 to endow u chair OF secular his.
tory. This is probably the largest
check ever drawn, for it is on card.
board ten feet long and four feet wide,
ornate in high colors. The Knights
might have staid at home and by saw
ing expenses have sent smaller check
four times Is large. but they wouldn't
have seen the capital or had the fun.
We see them all coming before it is
light, and salute them at sunrise,
Good morning, good knight!
met the other day in a committee
room Secretary Wilson, of the Agri.
cultural Department. 1 remarked
that he had 10 fight for all he got, al.
luding TO some sharp criticisms to
, which his appropriation bill was sub.
jected. EYES," he said. "of course
man is born to fight as the sparks to
fly upward" l made some allusion to
his predecessor, the grim old fighter,
General Rusk. "By the way" he
said, Did you ever hear Rusk tell
how Sheridan came to be appointed to
West Point" Acknowledging that /
had not, he went on, Two boys passed
the examination called for BY the
Ohio Congressman and seemed equally
competent to receive the appointment
TO West Point. Their fathers we're
both prominent men and the Congress.
man was in pickle. They had pri-
vate meeting to settle the difficulty
and it ended with the proposition that
they both withdraw and confer the
place on some poor boy. They decid-
ed on Johnny Sheridan. The Con.