Evening journal., 1905-02-25
WASHINGTON LETTER
[sneclal correapondence.l

used by Senator Frye IN calling Sena-
tors to order. This gavel is unlike most
OF the symbols Of authority welded by
presiding officers. 1t consists Of a piece
Of ivory shaped like an hourglass. No
body knows the origin or age Of the
gavel, save that it has been used in the
senate for more than 100 years. II is
yellow with age and is slick and smooth
as the result Of long handling.
"The history Of this gavel," said Mr..
Stewart the other day, lis wrapped in
mystery. We have traced Il back far
enough to know that It came TO Wash
ington from Philadelphia in 1901. and
has been on the vice presidents table
ever since. have Just ordered a silver
band with an inscription for the gavel.
1t will bear the date 1901. One hun
dred years after the arrival of this
gavel in Washington we bought an
inkstand for the use Of the presiding
officer in the senate. The stand and
the gavel are the only pieces Of furni-
ture allowed permanently on his desk
in the senate SLY
Telegraph Messages 10 Alaska.
So much pressure has been brought
to bear upon the government to induce
the officials TO facilitate the transmits
sion Of social and domestic messages
between people in the United States
and people in the interior of Alaska
that it has been decided to reduce for
such messages the telegraph tolls be-
tween Valdes and such Alaskan points
as are reached by the government lines.
Messages not exceeding ten words
may be sent via Valdes to or from
other Alaskan points at a toll Of 80
cents, or twenty-five words for 81. The
exchange Of such messages is to be
limited to two each month between
any two persons. 1t IS expected the
government will not be able to handle
the messages at those rates at a profit,
but the arrangement has been sane
toned by the cabinet in the interest of
the people.
To Continue Duty.
Paymaster General H. r. NJ. Harris,
chief of the bureau of supplies and ac-
counts Of the navy department, will by
law be placed on the retired list for
age next month. Payniaster General
Harris. although so near the retiring
age of sixty-two years, still enjoys the
maximum Of health and strength, and
his friends believe It would be a pity
for him TO relinquish active work at
this time. After comforting with the
president about the matter Secretary
Morton announced that Paymaster
General Harris would be continued on
active duty as chief of the bureau for
an indefinite length of time after his
nominal retirement.
Gift of France.
NJ. Jusserand. the French ambassa-
dor to the United States on behalf Of
the people of France. will present to
congress on Feb. % bronze bust Of
George Washington mounted on u
beautiful marble pedestal.
The bust is a replica Of the original
made in 1898 by Sculptor David dan
gers who was aided I'm his work by
General Lafayette. That bust was
placed in the capitol here and was de
sToyed in the fire Of 1851.
National Rendezvous.
A suitable national rendezvous in this
city for the members of the Spanish
war volunteer service and the many
military and patriotic societies of the
United States is the purpose Of a com
mittee formed in September last after
the convention of the United Spanish
! War Veterans at st. Louis, of which
Captain William A. English is presi
dent Delegates from the various as
sociations and military bodies interest
ed will meet here Inauguration week to
perfect a national organization and
, lease property available for club pur-
poses and a daily meeting place FOR
nonresident members.
GaveI For Fairbanks.
Vice President Elect Fairbanks has
received a gavel made fromsa single
piece OF red cedar. The tree from
which it was cut grew on the Vermont
shore Of Lake Champlain, and the CAV
ell was whitfield out with penknife by
! Edward =. Hatch.
L'Enfant's Grave.
Major Peter Charles LEnfant was
the talented French engineer who, more
than Il century ago, designed Washing
ton as the most beautiful city of the
new world.
While the national capital has ex-
panded and blossomed like a great
architectural rose along the artistic
lines suggested by his genius, the re
mains Of LEnfant have lain for sev.
enty-nva years in a neglected rural
! grave near Bladepsburg. Md, six miles
from Washington. With nothing but an
ancient cedar tree to mark the spot
Now :he citizens OF Washington are al
work upon movement 70 honor the
tn;ented II eccentric FreDchman appro-
priately.
II IS proposed that the grave OF LEN
fant be marked With simple thick
stone o. slate. briefly inscribed, and
that shaft or monument be erected in
one Of the prominent central parks Of
Washington.
Machen 70 ne Tried Again.
- rhe prosecution OF August W. Ms
chen for postal frauds did not enc
when he was sent to the penitentiary
at Moundsville. Va. for two years
Thirteen other indictments are stand
ing against him, and he viii be brought
back from Moundsyille within a montf
TO stand trial for conspiracy TO defrauC
the government in connection with tn,
letting Of the contract for carriers
, satchels 70 the Postal Lock and Devic,