The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-30
AT The CAPITAL.
Mr.. Wares Joke on the Execu-
tive Department.
PensiOner Wanted Some Of
Presidents Cast-Off Clothes.
REEDER'S ENTERPRISE
Building an 1000 Bank Build
ing at Logan.
Dave Leahy Refuses to Don a
Dress Suit.
REEDER'S ENTERPRISE

Washington, Jan. 29.-Several hun
dred persons write to the president ev-
cry day, but a letter received at the
White House this week contained an
unusual request. It was from a wo-
man whose husband is a pensiOner. and
after reeiting this fact she asked the
president in view of her husbands de-
plorable condition to send him some
cast off clothes from his wardrobe. The
clerk who read the letter promptly re-
feTred it to the pension bureau, as is
the custom in such cases. Commission
er Ware, who answers all such COM
munieations in person, saw in it the
vehicle for one of his famous jokes,
and so returned the letter to the pres
ident's secretary, with a note which
read something like this: MY Dear
Mr.. Secretary: This letter does not
belong in the pension bureau. We have
none of the presidents old clothes on
file here. I suggest that you go over
the presidents wardrobe and send this
good woman something. Only do not
send her the presidents shoes. Mr..
Hanna wants them"
The constituents of Representative
Reeder out in the Sixth district are
wondering what has come over their
man Of the simplest tastes. Lately,
however, he is giving evidences of hay
ing acquired some very luxurious
habits and the change is causing much
concern. For example he is now build
ing a bank building at his home town
of Logan. The building is a one story
structure, and yet it has already cost
$1,000 and is still unfinished. The front
room of the building is to be used for
the banking business at which Me-
Reeder is the head, but in the rear of
the building he has fitted up private
office which is a wonder in its way.
Nothing like it was ever before seen in
the short grass country. The ceilings
are of Steel and the walls are freScOed
after the most approved fashion me
interior is rainbow hued, and the tur-
nishingS are CT the most exquisite pat
terms All of which is very perplexing
to Mr.. Reeder's friends in Kansas. 1t
is well understood here, however, what
has come over the Sixth district repre-
sentative. In his office at Logan he IS
trying to duplicate to degree his lux
urious committee room at the capitol.
This committee room is responsible
for the conversion Of Mr.. Reeder' s
tastes. He has occupied it for more
4han q year now, and likes 1t. So he
mas carried his new IDEAS out to the
ebort grass country, and is reproducing
them in the building of the bank of
Logan
David Leahy, private secretary to
in his ways ana refuses TO depart from
them even for the president of the
United States. He made this clear the
other day, when he announced that he
would appear at one Of the brilliant
White House receptions in street dress.
These functions are full dress affairs,
and if the genial secretary of the Sew
enth district representative adheres to
his determination he will create little
short Of 4 sensation. He says he does
not know OF any reason why he should
don dress suit. He has never worn
one, and ne thinks he is too old a man
to adopt any new tangled notions. Be
sides, he says he is only following a
precedent which he established nearly
% years ago. This was during the ad-
miniStratiOn of President Hayes, III
1879. During the winter of that yea1
Mr.. Leahy attended a White House
function, and did not wear dress suit
His action did not excite comment. ano
he does not unders tand why 1t should
do so in the winter of 1904. Anyway
he will attend the reception and will
not wear q dress suit.
The word has gone out from head
quarters that the appropriations of this
session of congress must be reduced tC
minimum. Retrenchment is the
watchword. This is bad news for some
sections of Kansas. where appropria-
lions are expected and confidently
counted on. Some of the Kansas towns
want public buildings. and some OF
them want appropriations for various
other purposes. But there will be nc
public building bill at this session. This
has been definitely settled, and it Is
extremely improbable If any appropria-
tons are made for Kansas except in {
routine way, for the federal inStitu
lions in the state. The speaker ha:
decided to slough off all the trimmings
and the Kansas congressman who
wants special appropriations for hi.
district is finding the road TO the pup
lie treasury a rocky one to travel.
The University of Kansas and th'
State Agricultural college are both in
1erested in the school of mines h4l
which has been fayOrablY reported b,
the committee on mines and mining
The bill provides for an appropriation
of $4,000 for each state and territor!
for the establishment of schools o
mines. This appropriation of $4,000
the amount to be set apart for the frs
year and each year thereafter 1t is t
be increased in the sum of $1,000 unit
the amount aggregates 500, 900. The bi
was faVorabIy reported last year, blu
never came before the house for action
It will be defeated again this yeal
partly because of the determination t
reduce appropriations to minimum
but chiefly on account of the fact tina
the scheme is no longer practical. Undr
the terms of the bill the a2propriation
made are to be taken from the fun
accumulated in the treasury from tn
sale of public lands The passage o
the irrigation act during the last con
gress has so depleted this fund tina
there will not be enough money lef
to administer the school of mine
measure if it should pass congress an
become a law.
After the funds provided for by the II
rigation act are withdrawn, the balanc
in the treasury is something less tina
$500 900. More than half of that sur
is not available because of laws alread
on the statute books appropriating it 70
various purposes. The appropriation
for the first year under the school c
mines bill would aggregate $3.50 900, an
each year for twenty years there woul
be a substantial increase. For this rea