The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-01-10
4
TREASURYDEpA RTMENT
How Pandemonium Reigned
in Government Circles.
WIDOWS HAD BEEN FIRED"
Capt Burgess Writes of Times
at the Capital.

| For the Eagle
| Everything pertaining to this govern
nent of ours is OF interest to the major
/ ity Of its citizens; particularly to the ma
| tive born. The capital city, perhaps, has
more attractions ard scenes of interest
J than any other place. In the District of
Columbia, cutsout Of the state of Mary
| land, lying on the east side of the Po-
tomac river, is conferred all the chief de-
partments of the government. Here the
upper and lower houses Of congress meet,
and all measures of legislation here
emanate. Here the President resides.
Here sits the judiciary. Here are the
departments of state. treasury, war, navy,
Interior postoffice. Here is where our
currency is made. Here is the navy yard,
the patent Office, bureau of agriculture,
the Smithsonian. Institute, the National
Observatory, and scores OF other Official
bureaus and headquarters-alI constitute
ing the central head or light from which
flow the business of this mighty nation
pulsating with it's million arteries, every
business in forty-five great common
wealths, reaching from the Atlantic to
the Pacific ocean, and even reaching into
the seas thousands of miles away.
To tell all in detail of this wonderful
capital would require many issues of the
Sunday Eagle, ana then the task would
have to be repeated again and again.
Let us then. for short story, consider
for awhile the treasury department in a
general conversational way.
The treasury building is located on
Pennsylvania avenue at the corner of Fiji
teenth street, west. fronting street. 1t
is one mile west in a straight line from
the capitol building. This building is one
of the handsornest and most imposing in
the city. The original structure was of
a dreary monstrous appearance, but has
been improved and extended by north and
south fronts, and an elaborate addition
on the we5t The massive granite mason
ry, the colonnades, make tasteful ternlin-
atoms. until all monotony is relieved.
There are two inner squadrangles formed
by the center building, extending back
from the eastern entrance. These are 100
feet square. The walls of the building
are composed of p,lasters resting on a
base which rises twelve feet ABOVE the
ground on the southern or lower sides
Between the pilaSsers are belt courses ele-
gantly outlined, and the faces of the doors
and windows are finely moulded. In the
southwest and north fronts are porticoes. /
The building is of Grecian order, and sur
mounted by balustrade. The granite OF
which the building is built, was brought !
from the coast of Maine. The pilasters !
weigh somewhere near one hundre,. thou /
sand pounds. The building is over 465 !
feet 1Iong. not including .porticoes and is /
over $50 feet wide. The courts are orna-
mented with fountains, and the one in the /
space in front of the weather portico, at 1
the entrance to the Presidents park, is
very beautiful. There is also one at the |.
north front. and on reaching them. you
pass through great gateways. The yard.
both on tho north and the west sides, are
lower than the streets. The interior of
this building is extraordinarily fine. 1t
ranks next to the capitol in its strength
and magnificence. It's Offices are large
and airy, and very comfortable The walls
and ceiling psnelled with marble They
are completely and handsomely furnished
with the latest ana most approved fittings
and furniture. Uncle Sam doesn't do
things in a niggardly way, but always
gets the best. The great majority Of the
employees in this department are women.
Some are widows; some are wives Of en-
Dioyes: some are young girls. The salary
received range from $500 to $3.50 Il year.
and this is hardly sufficient 20 support
hem, the cost OF rooms and board being
nigh, and the demands for dress, with as
easements they have TO pay. leaves but
lew of them any surplus. Many have
antilles to support and others are in poor
lealth. and doctors bill in Washington
'ity is of that magnitude that IL paralyzes
he moral tributes and chills the functions
# the physical structure.
When in Washington l saw many pa
hetic incidents and could read between
he lines lives OF suffering tinctured with
romance too delicate 20 throw open t. |
he gate Of the public. At one time |
representative in congress emboo.ed in |
ill a reduction of the force In the Ge- |
and the chiefs OF divisions he'd !
sorry time in selecting those who should |
'e discharged. / knew one chief clerk, |
Who after three days OF work IN consult /
ng records. estimating Political Influences,
stening 70 the claims and backing Of h
he employees. went TO the treasurer and H
old him: Il viii resign my position be 4
ore I Will discharge oac oI the ladies n |
he counting room Then . committee n
7as Termed and each clerks record was Il
Investigated and many we're notified that 4
they were 70 longer needed
In company with Judge NcCrary of
owa. 7 went 10 the treasury building
be morning The depossd ones were moth
cd. They we're discharged and TIE scenes
then witnessed sill ever remain printed
pon nay memory. As ! went through the h
orridors Of that building, II secne5 axe 4
n insane ward Of an asylum. The cr.rs 4
ne groans the looks. all showed the gTiec i
I'd despair OF those who were being II
iTned out 70 battle against starvation. II
remember one lady dressed il liaez 1.
wi5ow, rushing ont OF the engraving II
,on. her black hair hanging 81 Wild DIS II
der her cloak held in cre hard. SWEEP n
z the Goor. her eyes asleze with anger III
appointment. ara insuiSes prize. cali 81
Z down the vengeance Of God ur0n th2 ~
,*ernnent- she beat The walls u the .
'-ridors until her hands hlAd. ard - :.
.hement ard CRAZY dsd she bscome ;hat =.
- had TO be held ard carried iato t1e
oak room This lady was The widow q !
solder She had three Children Gapend- !