Omaha daily bee., 1905-12-13
BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE.
Minor scenes aud Incidents sketched
on the spot.


the spot.
Captain Charles Lynch of the medical
stan of the army. is back in Washington
and busily engaged in preparing the report
Of his observations OF the medical service of
the japanese army during the war with
Russia. Captain Lynch was an attache Of
observations, discussed with newspaper
men. is the revolution wrought by that war
in the standing of war correspondents re-
specting their activity and Importance at
the front THE correspondents had hard
time of it," he said For instance. at the
battle of Mukden. where 1 was stationed
on an emnence, so that 1 could see over
the plain for considerable distance the
line OF battle was so long-extending for
100 miles or more-that 1t would have been
impossible for the representatives Of the
press of the world to cover the entire
ground. Some of them did cover 1t prob
ably during the ten days of the battle, but
II was not possible to survey the entire
conflict from some commanding position as
in others wars. II the fight is concentrated,
the correspondent may have his old-time
advantage, but this is not likely, because
battles are fought on a far greater scale
than they used to be. Correspondents now
adays have to keep close to the command
ing general IL they wish to get the news
from the whole line of action"
Andrew Jackson Houston Is contesting
with Moses Sycurgus Brooks for the seat
from the Second congressional district of
Texas. occupied by the latter. There is
something more than the names in this
case. Houston is a son of the first presi-
dent of Texas and United States marshal
for his district. But there is something still
more in che case-the same being a bundle
of valuable historical papers bequeathed to
Houston by his distinguished father. Put
there Is still more than that in the case.
Theodore Roosevelt Is said to have cast
covetous eyes at that bundle Of papers II
being in his mind to write the history of
Texas. Texas is of a different mind. There
fore Texas fears that a bargain may be
made between Roosevelt and Houston
whereby the former uses his good Offices in
behalf OF Houston an1 the latter turns tho
papers over to the president for such use as
he may care to make of them. Therefore,
the Texas congressman are doing every
thing they can to show that Houston has
no more right to the seat than he has to
water rights in the Marian canals.
Some day soon former Speaker Keifer and
Senator Lodge will foregather in the cloak
room to discuss the question of slang Both
are connoisseurs in that form of speech
Both delight to discover the fact that what
often passes for the last work in the lexicon
OF slang is older than the Christian era The
| expression, mot in it," according to the
reading of the former speaker, is so old that
the man who uses IL as slang ought to be
punished for disrespect to old age. THAT
expression is 2,Ooc years old at least" said
the former speaker. "Epctctus uses II in
talking about the coward in battle. He used
| 1t in exactly the same sense that II is used
| today. He said that the coward is there in
the sense that his body is in the fray. but
that really he is not in it. That is. he is no
! more in 1t than the man who makes a Door
run for an ONCE, and who is doing some
thing his heart does not approve"
One OF the liveliest OF the lesser contests
before congress will occur in connection
with pure food bills. Senator McCumber Of
North Dakota, who has championed the bill
| In the senate for two sessions, is preparing
10 push II with more vigor than ever be-
| Tore The house OF representatives has twice
passed such bill, and the indications are
that 1t will not hesitate to do so this winter.
| The present plan is to get the bill through
the house by the middle of January, and. il
/ possible, to secure a place for Il In the
senate. while the session is yet young. Law
| makers carrying the burden of the fight
realize that it will not be easy to get this
legislation through the senate
The forces demanding a federal food law
are stronger than ever before and there
is some expectation that they will have
| the support of the new blood" I'm the
senate. Since the subject was first brought
to the attention of congress many states
have enacted laws on the subject and there
is noticeable general awakening through
cut the country All state laws. IL is
averred, strengthen the campaign for a
national law by educating the public State
laws help, II is pointed out, but 1t has been
demonstrated that they do not accomplish
the desired result.
Some states that have enacted drastic
laws governing the sale by their local
wholesale merchants of aduiterated foods
are finding that the local laws are evaded
by shipments into the states in unbroken
packages. The manufacturers of adulter.
Same
game that was worked by the liquor dSat,
ers in supplying the demand for intostc. 81 q
in prohibition states. This discovefy. bov-
ever. strengthens the sentiment. Tor ssnA
tional law. Wholesale grocers, who fdfmei
ly were not inclined to become iptekestea
in the subject, now see that their business
is injured by the entrance of food pSeparh-
lions in unbroken packages. and ST. he
| coming anxious for national legislation lha
will discourage these shipments. Z
These consignments in unbroken pack,
ages, it is said. are made direct to mer-
chants in the smaller cities and towns, and
in this way the wholesale groeers In the
larger cities are deprived of business.i Uni.
formity in food legislation is also needed
The enactment of food laws by so many
states has helped the cause OF federal leg.
islation by making it next to impossible for
manufacturers Of certain food products Il
comply with the conflicting state require
ments.
In the opinion Of Congressman John sharr