The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-04-22
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence.1
As a result Of the improvements be-
ing made at the Washington barracks
to at 1t for use as a training school for
army engineers it has been found nec-
essary to tear down many Of the old
buildings situated In the grounds Of
the barracks. A few days ago the work
Of demolition was-begun on the large,
handsome building on the west side Of
the circle near the center Of the
grounds. This building has q history
which is familiar to all the older resi-
dents of the city.
Before the civil wa it was used,
along with several adjacent buildings,
by the District as a penitentiary. In
the second year of the war it's use as a
District prison was discontinued, the
military authorities deciding to utilize
1t in connection with the operations of
the government arsenal. Many military
prisoners were confined In this build
ing, and within its walls Mrs. Surratt
and her male companions were incar-
cerated, tried and sentenced, and Mrs.
Surratt, Payne, Atzerott and HeroL6
were executed. Under the middle win
dow on the first floor the body of John
Wilkes Booth was buried, where it re-
manned for two years.
At the close of the war the building
was transformed into q station for the
use OF military forces. In 1867 It was
converted into a residence.
Will adjourn May. 1. Says BdvvsrtAs.
Colonel Jim Edwards, who has been
a doOrkeeper ut the Democratic door of
the enate for a quarter of a century,
says he has IN infallibae rule for de-
termining when congress will adjourn.
II have watched it for twenty-five
years." said Colonel Edwards, "and it
has never failed. The long session Of
congress always adjourns in six weeks
from the day on which the president
signs the legislative, executive and ju-
dicial appropriation bill"
The president signed that bill March
10, and Colonel Edwards figures, there
fore, that congress will adjourn about
-
May l.
The Widow Will Stay.
Some time ago Secretary Shaw APP
pointed two widows to temporary clerk
ships in his department. The time al
lowed for temporary clerkships has
expired, but the secretary insists on
keeping the two widows on the pay
roll.
The civil service commission has
ragged impotently at this decision. 1t
has quoted precedents to the secretary
showing how it is against all kinds of
statutes for him to keep the two wom-
en- on the payroll and has offered to
certify other clerks for the places, but
the secretary calmly refuses to remove
the women.
"They have four or five children
each," he said to the commissioners,
"and you can protest until you are
black in the face-they will still hold
on. These are the only cases in which
I have violated these sacred rules of
yours, but with these little clerkships
those women can manage to support
their children, and they will stay there
as long as I am in ofice.'
"But," said the civil service commits
sioners, what are we to do about it?
It is clearly a violation of the statute"
"Oh," replied the secretary, make
your protest to me in writing, and
make it as strong as you can; then you
will have done your duty and eased
your c-onsciences, and after that these
poor women will continue to hold their
jobs"
Would Furnish Subjects.
An agent for a high explosive had a
hearing before the committee on inter-
state and foreign commerce., which is
presided over by Representative Hep
burn. He insisted that he had an ex-
plosive that was superior to all others
and offered to give the committee a
demonstration.
1--WE can do that" said Hepburn,
"and furnish you the subjects upon
which to test your explosives"
II would suggest Admiral Walker,
who has been testify1ng before u.s." re
marked one member. II don't believe
any explosive would feaze him"
II would offer Bristow," said another
member. II think the entire house will
be with me-"
The chorus Of assent left no doubt as
to the feelings of the committee to-
ward the fourth assistant postmaster
general.
One Senator For" the Architects.
In all the abuse that has been heaped
upon thea architects who had charge Of
the SO called improvements at the
White House n voice has been raised
In defense. Senator Newlands has de-
ctared that the architects are all right
and that they did the best they could
under the circumstances. The Nevada
SoonS f0 no n,,i<o oln~o to~, l