Middletown transcript., 1904-01-30
WASHINGTON LETTER

hIO 6OOH6f 10 Ouc dubi-1soocShoU 6"oo'
AZ laid than another pops up. This
time it is "far out west," where certain
business interests, alleged to be railroads,
are spreading a propaganda" of oppo-
sition to the President. The report is
that after meeting of railway officials
in Chicago word has been passed along
the lines. Probably this propaganda is
q carnard, like most of the rest. As SEN
ator Depew, of New York, who repre-
sents the Vanderbilt interests, denies all
knowledge of opposition to the building
of the Panama canal on the part OF rail-
way interests, SO, too, he knows OF no
such opposition to President Roosevelt.
The Republican editors Of Missouri have
sent cheering message to the White
House that they are unit for the renon-
ination Of its occupant. The Republican
members of Congress from Pennsylvania,
say all the delegates from their state will
vote at Chicago for President Roosevelt.
Nebraska has sent word that she wants
Mr.. Roosevelt for President and John L.
Webster for Vice President. On the 2Oth
inst. the delegates to the National Board
of Trade called upon the President. The
Panama treaty is likely to be adopted
without the amendments, as the Presl-
dent disapproves of them and wants the
whole matter settled as soon as possible.
He will select for one of the Canal Com
missioners, Mr.. Isham Randolph, chief
engineer of the Chicago drainage board.
~
A vigorous and powerful speech was
made on the Goth inst. by Senator Platt
of Conn, in defence of the Presidents
action in Panama. He claimed that If
war-ships and marines had not been
sent to Panama when they were, to pro-
tect the lives Of Americans from the
threatened massacre by the soldiers OF
Colombia, the whole American people
would have protested without dissent
ing voice. He denied there had been
any Intervention or collision on the part
of the Government. He asserted that
the President had the right, treaty or no
treaty, to send even the army into Pan
anna if its presence was needed, the same
as American soldiers were sent to China
to rescue the American legation at Pekin.
The same afternoon Senator Morgan
made an earnest speech in favor OF his
bill providing for the annexation OF
Panama and authorizing the President
to pay lump sum for the pacification OF
Colombia. Senator Hale concurs.
~
The burial of another Congressman
during the week recalls the existence OF
a crying evil in the matter of Congress
sional funerals, which both parties are
responsible for and ought to combine to
eradicate. Whenever a member dies
the etiquette" which Congress has es-
tablished requires that large committee
of ten to twenty-five from both houses
be appointed to escort the body home;
that one or more Pullman sleepers shall
be chartered by the government; that
they shall be stocked with all sorts of
food and drink and that the committee
and their friends shall go for week
more or less upon the iunket. These
funerals cost from S., 900 to $4,000 each,
The champagnes are of the rarest brand
and the cigars furnished cost $50 to 81
apiece and each with its aroma is enclosed
in a separate vial. On many occasions
some members of the committee have be-
come so intoxicated as not to be able to
attend the funeral. Can such disgrace
full custom be terminated too soon?
~
A plan has been proposed in Congress
for the employment of retired army Off
GERS. At present they are occupied, on
full pay, as pail bearers, guests at tears
and card devotees at clubs. Congress
will be requested to order 250 OF them to
recruiting stations, to services in connec-
ton with state militia, and upon courts
martial and inquiry. This, if accom-
plished, will relieve an equal number Of
officers on the active list and permit them
to attend strictly to military duties.
~
Graham Bell, inventor of the tele-
phone, will arrive here to-day with the
body of James Smithson, philanthro-
pist, transferred from its resting place
in Genoa, to the Smithspnian grounds
in this city. Natural son of the Duke Of
Northumberland, and thus cut off from
his aristocratic connections, he deliber-
ately chose the life Of scholar, philoso-
pher, philanthropist. In the Revolu-
tionary War he opposed his countrymen
and sent a caustic letter to his cousin
Percy who was suddenly missing from
his command during the battle of Bunker
Hill. Smithson gave half a million dol
lars to found the Smithsonian Institution
in Washington, prophesying that the re-
suits of the gift would bring him the
fame he coveted, latter the Northumber-
lands are forgotten" 1t is hoped that
the scientist and scholar will not be given
an unfamiliar seat on horseback, in the
statue they are to erect on the Smith
sonian Grounds in this city.
~
The National Board of Trade, in ses-
sion in Washington, asks Congress to dis
continue the coinage of Silver dollars,
and to direct the Treasury to exchange
gold for them when presented; to pro-
vide for merchant marine; to adopt the
metric system; to provide for a parcels
post; to reduce letter postage to one cent;
and to protect the flag from being used
for advertising purposes.
~
During Senator Platt's speech in vindi-
cation of the President on the 21st inst, +,
Miss Alice Roosevelt was an interested
listener in the reserved gallery. She
wore a costume of rich brown satin,
demi-train; zouave jacket of the same
with elbow sleeves from which fell to the
wrist very full puff of lace; white
gloves. Her hat was of shirred crepe
to match the dress with a very wide
him fbo adoo orpop,optod nth hand