Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-22


al heard a curious instance of how the
new government salary table which went
into effect July l last operates to the dis
advantage Of an employe who received a
promotion in grade and salary remarked
a government official the other day Under
this table" said ne. All payments are made
In twelve monthly installments. allowing
thirty days in each month, employees receiv-
ing each month one-twelfth of their annual
salary. regardless the number OF day 5
in the month. The consequence of this ar
ranGement is that changes made in the
month of February, with but twenty-eight
days. such as a promotion from one grade
to the next higher grade. causes the pro-
NOTED clerk TO receive less money for that
month than if he had not been promoted.
A copyist in the Navy Department at $50 a
year, who works twenty-eight days in Feb
ruary, receives $40 for that month. copy
list at $50 promoted February II to the
$500 grade receives for the month of Feb
ruary fifteen-thrtieths of his pay at the
rate of $50, or So For the remainder of
the month. to wit thirteen DAYS he re-
ceives thirteen-thirtieths. at the rate of
$500. namely. $3.50 making his total pay
for the month of February S61..0. Had he
not been promoted he would have received
$40 pay for that month. It's u curious sit
uation that couldn't occur in any month
but February.
= * i
The raptdty of change in substituting new
methods for the old is nowhere shown more
graphically than in the lighting of the
grounds of the Capitol. When the terra e
OF the big white building that surmounts
Capitol Hill was constructed there was no
thought of any light to be used about the
terrace except gas. Gas was used through
out the building and throughout the city.
Electric light had made its appearance but
the realization of that style of illumination
for ordinary purposes seemed SO far off
that no provision was made for it within
or without the building. At great expense
gas pipes were run through the terrace
walls and all along the coping the pipes
were run to the top of marble balustrades
ready for the lamp attachments There
was some delay in supplying the gas lamp
and before the appropriation was made
SUCH strides had been taken in electric light
development that II was seen that within
the near future the electric current would
supplant the use of gas. For that reason
Congress delayed supplying the lights for
rounds the building. Long since IT has
been recognized that electric light must
come. but the electric lamps have not yet
been appropriated for. That is TO be done
IN the near future. But the gas pipe has
about the same relation to the construction
of the Capitol today that the vermiform ap-
pendiX has TO the digestive organs of a
man. In this case however it need nor all
IN part. while Il portion of the pipe will
Undergo the sage operation that is so fire.
quently applied to man-it will be cut out
x i K \ x
The popular idea that members of the
House of Representatives are laying awake
at night hoping they will have an oppor-
tunity to get in the Senate is contradlcted
in many instances. 1t is a fact that seat
in the Senate offers many advantages over
N
the two bodies is considered But il is the
lmpoSSioility of some of the older and es-
tabhshed men in the House securing an
equal position in the Senate that csuses
them to turn their backs upon suggestions
o. such promotions"
The time was when Speaker Cannon was
not displeased when his friends declared
that he would be moved into the Senate
on the very frs. opportunity That was ne
fore he was Speaker. 1t is quite likely that
he would have been willing to give up the
desirable Craftsmanship of the committee on
appropriations for a seat in the Senate, but
now that he Is the autocrat of the Hon 90
IN the position of Speaker he could not
listen TO such siren talk without a suspicion
that It was inspired by ambitious hopes
OF men who might like to succeed him as
Speaker.
Representative Hepburn of Iowa gave
very decided evidence of what he would
think of a transfer from the House to the
Senate when Dollver was moved 10 the So
called higher body. Mr.. Hepburas friends
declared that the veteran msnlber from
Iowa had the appointment in his hand and
would undoubtedly have been elected to
fill the vacancy that went to Doiliver. But
he couldn't see 1t that way.
= have made my place In the House, -
said Mr.. Hepburn to some OF his friends
al the time, but It will take long time
TO get an equally good place in the Senate.
There l would go in at the foot of the class
Il would take me a full term at least 10 get
into position as desirable as that | have
in the House now. No, no; l am too old
10 think about It. The House for me-"
tie remained in the House and at the
head OF the committee on interoceanic can
ais which has now become one Of tile
most important places in the entire list of
committee ass gnments. In addition to that
his familiarity with the House methods of
procedure and the position there that his
long service natural gives place him in q
very favored place.
s. + X
do you know that Washington is In one
sense the greatest ham market in the
couutry?' said grocer to a Star man the
other day.
What kind Of a market"
Ham market; that IS. Washington is the
distributing center for fine hams for all
the eastern states. | do not refer to the
common ham of commerce. the coarse and
vulgar ham which enriches the pot of cab
bage Of the plain people and scents the
early morning atmosphere of the cheap
boarding house. | mean the ham which is
the choicest mOrsel that comes to the
mouth Of man, the dainty enticing de-
licious ham Of careful breeding and good
curing
"AI the east seems to have a run on
or restaurant in Philadelphia. Boston or