The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-07-28
Man Living at Washington,
D. c., Saw the Father of
Country in Coffin.
"A REMARKABLE INCIDENT
INTERESTING FIGURES SHOW
HOW THE GOVERNMENT IS
SOAKED" BY THOSE HAVING
REAL ESTATE IT WANTS.
(National News service,)


Washington. d. c.. July 27--The on.
ly man living who saw the face OF
George Washington-that is the sur
prising title accorded to an octogenari-
an of this city. concerning whom GER
tain interesting facts have just been
brought TO light OF course, IL is not
surprising that he should be the only
one, but rather that. having seen the
face of the first president who died
in 1f99-almost 107 years ago-he
should have reached the age of only
eighty. The figures hardly seem to
jibe at first, although the explanation
makes them clear. 1t was not during
General Washingtons life that Mr..
Lane, of the eighty odd years, looked
upon his features, but 72 years ago,
when in 1854 the body was removed
from the old vault to the tomb which
1T now occupies. The removal, which
was made by stage coach. was an oc~
casion of much ceremony, and in the
crowd which gathered was the youth.
full Lane who had played truant in or
der to see what was going on. The
little fellow climbed upon the drivers
seat while the coach was waiting and
was permitted to go along. At the
tomb, before the body was laid away,
1T being in a state of excellent pres.
ervation, one of the statesmen pre- sent
lifted the boy up to look at the face,
which was exposed. Thus 1t comes
about that Mr.. Lane, though little
over fourscore years of age. has look
| ed upon the faces of Presidents who
were elected and served in the differ
ent centuries-the face OF the first
president, as well as that of the last,
and many between.
u X x
Some rather interesting figures in
| the time-honored game known as
soaking the government" have just
| appeared, showing the tremendous
premium which the government has to
pay because 1t cannot transact busi-
ness as a private corporation or indi.
vidual. According to these figures.
when the land for the new Senate OF.
fee building was bought. 1t was as
sessed at $232, 1000, and could probably
have been bought by private pur-
chaser for $350.O00 The government
had to pay $74S.00O. For private
purposes all the land between Penn
sylvania avenue and the Hall--an area
of new and partially made land along
the river which is now being deyel-
oped, may be worth $5,000.000. But
by those who have had to study the
subject, 1t is asserted that this same
land even under condemnation pro-
ceedings. would cost the government
$50 100000. And SO the game goes
ON. it being pretty well established
axiom that a government, whether ma
tional or merely municipal, has to pay
far more for the requirement and
maintenance of property for the bene-
fit of it's citizens than would those
same citizens in their private business
capacities. And 1t all comes out of
their pockets, Fortunately for the
national pride, however, this merry
game is played in other countries as
we'll Reports have just come from
Scotland, for example. stating that
after six years of continual financial
loss, Glasgow has given up her at
tempt at municipalization of tele-
phones. The city has been unable to
compete with the private corporations
and the people, tired of footing the
bills, have decided to quit The sig
nificant part of the whole situation.
however, lies in the fact that the un-
profitable business has been turned
over, not to a private corporation, but
to the postoffice. Soaking the gov.
ernment" seems to be a universal
game.