Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-02-26
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent,


Washington, D. c., Feb. s0.-It wal
thought that the absence of forty mem
bers Of the Senate and House at the
funeral of Mr.. Hanna In Cleveland
would result in semi paralysis OF
Congress, or ar least In combining its
discussions and business to pension
bills and other personal claims-what
the abbatoir men would call the "bi.
products" of legislation. But matters
are very lively Notwithstanding the
important hegira. Before the funeral
train reached Ohio the Panama canal
question was up again In the Senate
and Mr.. Spooner had the qualification
of hearing his own voice for three or
four more hours, and insisting, against
the declaration of the most skillful en-
gineers of the world, that the Panama
route was better than the Nicaragua.
Senator Morgan dipped into his inex.
haustible tank of information and
vastly puzzled and embarrassed the
Wisconsin man with questions which
be could not answer.
In the House, discussion centered on
the Notifications bill. John Sharp
Williams, Democratic leader, asked
that such fundamental measure as
the fortification of the Philippine Is,
land be postponed till Republicans
should decide what was to be the fu.
ture OF that archipelago. The bill
passed, however. Mr.. Cochran, Dem. j.,
Mo-. found no better way to occupy
his time than to assault Mr.. Cleveland
with unrestrained bitterness. He said,
IF had to make a choice between
voting for Grover Cleveland or for
Booker Washington for President, l
would vote for Washinton, but would
go to jail before voting for either.
Possibly might vote for Washington
rather than 90 to the pc nitentiary."
A Washington spectacle which ex.
cites both envy and admiral ton is that
'f young fellow perhaps not thirty
years old, acting as private secretary
10 big Secretary who is member of
The Cabinet. This specimen of the
eunesae doree has salary of $1,000,
'n1oys the luxury of a magnificent
private office, has his own stenographer
Ind sumptuous typewriter, comes
mostly from Ohio, and has at his be-
lest, and at the expense Of Uncle Sam,
smart horse and carriage costing
Il, 900, which be could not keep at less
han $50 a month, and coachman who
g on the government payroll.
One of the most interesting and val
liable sections of the exhibit which the
fish Commission In this city, will make
It st. Louis, consists of the food pro-
lucts now manufactured from fishes
collected from all parts of the world.
every part of fish Is now utilized,-l
or food, for oils, for CLUES for the arts
md sciences and for fertilization. The
xhibit will be larger than that at
chicago and with much finer aquaria.
'ome Of these will be for saltwater
ish, the sea water being brought from
he Atlantic in tank cars.
Mrs. Roosevelt'S Transformation of |
be White House seems to be q failure.
t cost 5000 900 and the walls of the
.nnex already, In less than two years.
how large assures. and evident signs
II disintegratiOn. In one place the
laster has cracked from floor to cell.
ng. The ugly little box built for the
Executive office. which cost sos 900
Vhen the White House was "renovat.
d." show obvious crumbling away
nd will probably have to be torn down
within two or three years.
The political complexion of the Uni.
ed States has been changed material
by the death of Senator Hanns.
While to the outside world Hanna and
Ioosvelt were friends, really, the bit
erness antagonism existed bntween
hem. Had Senator Hanna lived there
} no doubt that Mr.. Roosevelt would
ave very hard time in winning out
t the Chicago Convention. As things
land now it is a Thousand to one shot
nat Mr.. Roosevelt will be nominated |,
nd in mis- nomination the Democratic
arty will find very easy candidate
beat. A pretty good evidence of !