The National tribune., 1904-03-10

Senator Hale said 81 am free to say that
believe, had not the committee jealousy
guarded that building and kept it in way
intact, preserved it's fine, beautiful fea-
lures, it would have been stripped, dis
mantled, ransacked, changed and per-
verted, and practically destroyed. if we
had let it 60 into the hands Of the archi-
tect.
All of which is pretty fluff" it certainly
is, on the gentleman who was decorated
by King Edward for his architectural
clares that but for the Senate Committee,
which went after Architect" McKim and
told him thus far and no further shalt
thou CO., the White House would have
been irredeemably ruined as an historical
structure.
Representative Lucius N. Littauer. Of
Gloversville, n. Y, has been renominated
for Congress by the 18th Congressional
District Republican Convention. Mr.. Lit
tauer has no opposition at all, which is
ample vindication for all the unkind and
unnecessary things said about him in con-
nection with Army contracts during the
Cuban war. Representative Littauer is a
very active and energetic man, well liked
by his confreres in Congress. The Con-
yentiOn did not indorse President RoOse-
Welt, however, and it is declared now that
this was q deliberate and premeditated
action.
Secretary Taft is getting busy. He has
quite decided in his own mind that it is
time to make some kind Of arrangements
to help the Philippines pay for their In
ternal improvements. All the works.
breakwaters, docks, the construction of
roads, the erection of schoolhouses and the
building Of bridges have been paid for by
the Philippine Government out Of the cash
receipts. Not a single cent of indebtedness
has been incurred. The islands have not
a cent Of bonded Indebtedness, as we un-
derstand the word, and they have been
doing an immense amount of splendid
work.
Secretary Taft, than whom nobody
knows better exactly what is needed over
there, has decided to ask Congress for
authority to issue bonds to go on with the
extensive internal improvements OF which
the better class Of the natives are very
proud. 1t is Thought that 100000 in
1890 per cent. bonds will be about
right They will be receivable in the
United States as security for deposits OF
public money and National bank circula-
ton, and it is thought that they will bring
a good price in the market.
Secretary Of State John Hay has had
a relapse Of his attack Of the grip. and Is
confined to his home. He may find it nee
essary to go South again.
Up on the roof of the War Department
some interesting experiments have been
going on for some time. The War De-
partment is testing different samples Of
khaki of both foreign and domestic make.
The test being made is very severe. the
very last being the exposure Of the cloth
to the elements for 80 days. Thus far the
American goods stands the test much bet
ter than British goods, the color being
much better.
Representative Joseph w. Babcock
(Wis.). who has been having the mischief
OF time with his fences up in the Badger
State, and who has been mending breaks
off and on for months. has been tri-
umphantly renominated and is as good az
elected. The members of the House have
been watching Mr.. Babcock's fence-mend-
ing with good deal Of interest, because
he is Chairman Of the Republican Con-
lent one. too. The Republicans want him
to continue as Chairman. and congratu-
lated him most heartily on his return to
Washington the other day.
At one time the case looked hopeless
as far as Mr.. Babcock was concerned. for
he had against him the Governor and ali
the State machinery. His enemies took
up q rather unique way OF defeating him
for the nomination. 1t was known to be
impossible to defeat him by putting up
single man, as no one could be found In
the entire district on whom the opposition
to Mr.. Babcock could combine. So the
opposition evolved the imam in each
County" plan. Each Of these men was to
IL l. nolo
gates. and at the District Convention it
was hoped that the opposition could COM
bine on some one Of these and nominate
him in opposition to Mr.. Babcock, but il
didn't work a little bit. They ali COM
bined on Mr.. Babcock.
Col. "Pete'' Hepburn declines to 90 over
to the Joint" affairs held in the United
States Senate Chamber. He is one Of the
members of the House who believes that
that the dignity Of Representative Is
just as great and deserving Of rs much
attention and support as the dignity OF a
United States Senator. He says that
when the Senate is invited over to the
House, chairs are given them in n PROM
cared for. but when the Representatives
go oyer to the Senate Chamber they are
p0ked away in corners, packed into the
cloak-ro0ms. and otherwise treated with
what he believes is contumely and scorn
He doesn't like it. and so he just stays
away from Joint affairs.
The question Of cheyrons for the white
uniforms Of enlisted men in the Army il
again under discussion. 1t has been rec
commended that brown chevron be
adopted for this uniform. in place Of the
white one. which is provided in regula-
tons, as the white eheyr0n on q white uni
form is indeseernible unless it's dimen-
sions are outlined by q darker piping. II
the War Department keeps on it will have
just about the ugliest uniform for our
troops that can be manufactured. During
the war Of the rebellion no greater insult
could be applied to a soldier than to call
him "buttcrnut." Right now the United
States Army is an army OF "butternuts"
from the top Of its head to the sole OF it's
shoes. Who can enthuse over butter
nut" uniform?
Fourth Assistant Postmaster General
Bristow, who went to Old Point Comfort
TO recuperate after an attack Of grip, is
back again. but has not been able yet to
go to his desk in the Department. He is
much improved. but his long and arduous
labors have been pretty severe strain on
man who is not naturally strong.