The Republican journal., 1905-01-12
letter From Washington.
Men and Measures at the National Capital.

WASHINGTON, ID. G., Jan. 8. There is
one historic thoroughfare here IN Washlng-
ton hardly ever mentioned in newspaper
stories, and then but casually. And yet
there is not a public man since the Civil
war who has ira yelled some parts of it and
many have passed and repassed. If one
would see true picture of the people who
come here from every part of the country,
even Porto Ricaus, Hawaiians with dark
skin, and likewise Philippines. he neeG
stand only half hour to one side and see
the multitude pass.
Presidents of the last IS years have trod
over its level way, for every President in
performing his official duties has had occa-
sion to travel there. Dignitaries Of every
class and kind who visit Washington are
likely to go over the same narrow way.
1t is the long corridor that stretches
straight as an arrow from the central door
of the House to the central door Of the SEN
ate; where, in session time, three white
electric lights blaze for pubic proceedings
and three red electric lights blaze if the
Senate is engaged on secret business
These days. as in many, many days, long
gone, it is filled with a peculiar throng,
some Fastening earnestly and others wan
derng leisurely. Far more famous for its
famous occupants than historic Pennsyl-
yania avenue is this main corridor. The
statesmen, who guide the councils OF Sen
ate and Honse, touch elbows there with
curious tourists and not infrequently with
STABILITY dressed loungers, who seek the
Capitol because it is warm or who are be-
sieging Senators and members on some inn
possible mission. What an array of dis
tinguished names one might mention OF
those who have travelled the main corridor.
Mckinley, Blaine and Garfield have often
been along there on errands of Importance
TO the country. Lincoln walked there, al
though in his day the corridor was not as
long as now. He was a member OF Con-
gress and like all members at times tramp
ed back and forth to see what the Senate
was doing or to exchange greetings with
his senatorial friends. Hannibal Hamin,
toe four years presiding officer OF the Sen
ate. SWING into the corridor, as he did
when he served as Senator, a Democrat, in
ante bellum days, a Republican afterwards.
But the throngs that jam through the mar
row way or eddy around the rotounda
through which the corridor passes, look
upon it as one of the uninteresting features
uf the Capitol and ignore it for the great
paintings and other historic scenes in
which the building abounds.
Representative f. G.. Stevens of st. Paul,
one of Names Seafarng sons, raised around
Rockland, is an enthusiast on the prospects
of better days for American shipping, in
which Maine is so keenly Interested lie
is the only native of Maine who served on
the Merchant Marine Commission that re-
Gently reported to Senate and House, pro-
posing subventions and mail subsidies to
make our flag once more prominent on the
seas
at looks to me- said Mr. Stevens recent
w. s'aS though we have agreed upon plan
now by which American shipping can be
revived Our bill will aid the sailing ships
that are built down on the Maine coast. 1t
is designed to help that kind of shipping,
not the greyhounds that carry rich Ameri-
cans to Europe. 1t seems to me as though
in the next congress some of the provisions
we have recommended should command a
majority of the votes in Senate and House
and become law. There are too many other
matters pressing at this short session to
make the authorization of subsidies posi-
Die before the next congress convenes. In
the meantime there will be plenty of oppor-
tunity for discussion. The former bills
have tended to make the idea of ship sub
sides unpopular. Our bill probably will
suffer somewhat from that impression, but
the more It is studied and discussed the
more its terms will be approved"
The filling up of statuary hall with statues
Of sons OF the several States of the Union
furnishes a timely reminder that Maine at
no distant day shonld select another OF her
many famous sons to be bonored there. The
hal is the old House of Representatives,
occupied up to the time of the Civil war
when the modern wings of the Capitol were
added. Each State is permitted to have
Two statues in the hall, but the legislatures
must determine what the statues shall be-
Texas has recently added its two statues,
those of Houston and Austin, both of whom
are represented in the garb of frontiersmen
Kansas has recently added the statue of In
gals Maine has had but one statue, that of
Gov. William King. which has been there
for years. 1t has often been suggested that
Maine should have one other but the diff
iicuty is in selecting the one. 1t might be
lIamlin, Fessenden, Evans, Blaine, Reed,
Dingley, or some one of d dozen others that
could be easily mentioned. New Hamp-
shire is the latest New England State to put
two statues in the Hall, those of Webster
and Putnam.
Assistant secretary to the President, B. F.
Barnes, whose mothers home was at Eden,
Me, tells an interesting anecdote of how
ne helped introduce monographs into one
of the Departments, where, some years ago,
he was employed. lie is an experienced
stenographer and the official he was with
aid not apply himself enthusiastically to
the dictaton of letters. This official would
talk along in Il loud voice, as he paced up
and down the room, but would gaze out of
the window. If he saw a fine stepping
horse or an attractive bit of millinery, this
officials voice would gradually grow fainter
and fainter and finally die out altogether,