Washington State journal and Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-14
Washington Chat.
by our special correspondent

steps toward the Capital City to begin
the closing season of the 59th Congress.
Coming with them will be the vast
throng of people from all parts of the
country who make it a practice to take
up residence in Washington during
the Congressional season, some to
transact business with one or the other
of the legislative bodies, others to re-
side at the seat of government just to
participate in the social excitement.
For these reasons the hotel men, board
ing house proprietors, real estate deal
ers and shop keepers are wearing the
smile that won't come off, in anticipa-
ton of the harvest that is to be. All
lines of business expect a prosperous
period and judging from the numerous
hotel bookings already made, the late
corners will be obliged to take about
anything that is left in the line of &C.
comodations.
Senators and representatives upon
returning to the Capitol Building, will
find that during their summer vacation
thorough housekeeping has taken
place and everything put in tip-top
shape for ''clean" session. Not a
single nook or corner from the sub
basement to the very top of the dome
has failed to receive scrubbing with
the result that the marble walls shine
brilliantly, the stone floors are as clean
as the kitchen of New England house.
wife and the crystal windows give the
entire building the appearance of a
''spotless town.
In previous housecleanings, the car
pets and rugs, of which there are sew
eral thousand, have been taken up and
sent to carpet cleaner, but this year
all were left on the floor and cleaned
by the compressed air process. This
was great saving in money and labor
and the carpets look as well, if not
better, than when done in the old way.
Some of the committee rooms have
been entirely refurnished while others
contain the dingy furniture that has
done duty for untold years. Most all
of these rooms would have been
brought up-to-date by new fittings were
it not for the comparatively short time
until the new house of representatives
Office building will be finished.
1t was an inspiring sight that took
place in the big open court of the Post
office Department Building, when the
largest American flag in the world was
unfurled at noon on November Sd. This
occurred in the presence of Postmaster
General Cortelyou, various other Off
cials and the employees of the depart
ment numbering about $500.
Promptly on the stroke of twelve
O'Clock bugler sounded the "assem.
bly," call, the signal for every person
in the building to come out on the bal
comics surrounding the big court to 8
height of eight stories. Standing or
the third balcony was the sweet voicec
singer, Miss Nellie Corrigan, who az
the big flag was pulled slowly across
the court, began to sing the national
anthem, 1.-The Star Spangled Banner
With her were eight or ten young
women who took up the refrain. Their
the entire twenty-five hundred persons
on the eight floors poured forth Their
voices which echoed and re-echoec
through the corridors, ending in a long
and mighty cheer. The postmaster
general joined in the chorus. The flag
which is fifty feet long and thirty feet
wide, is stretched on a cable from
west to east on the seventh floor. The
bottom of the flag reaches to the third
floor. This banner takes the place OF
the old garrison flag which was loaned
by the War Department. The new
flag is the property of the Postoffics
Department.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
has not as yet found satisfactory So
luton to the problem placed before il
by the War Department as to whether
the federal government is violating 6
provision Of the recently enacted rail
way rate law, when it accepts for the
carrying of troops a lower rate O.
transportation than private parties arr
able to secure.
1t is shown that both small and larg,
bodies of troops are at present being
transported by several different rail
road and steamship lines at lower rate.
than are granted to theatrical com
panies, circuses and such. The righ
of transportation companies to gran
party rates is not questioned excep
where, as in the present case, it is moi
made to apply to all alike. War De
partment officials see no reason why
their present agreement with the rail
roads should not continue, but pending
decision by the Interstate Commerce
Commission, they do not care to discuss
the matter. If the decision is in favor
of Uncle Sam, it is more than likely
that the interests barred from receiving
the same concessions as the govern.
ment will make a strong fight for the
privilege now denied them.
Owing to the carelessness of many