News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1906-12-12
WASHINGTON LETTER
Continued from page ~


acted as if they were equal to lots OF
had work and meant good business.
Physically Senator Platt is yet very
feeble and probably will never be any
better But he is failing slowly if at
all, and his head i, as level and sound
as ever. He is one of the hardest
working Senator's in the bunch, near
ly always first of the entire ninety to
be in his seat and turns out a big
grist OF wo k on the floor and in his
committee room every day. He ism t
going to die-nor resign. That is a
safe bet. Senator Depew looks to be
in perfect bodily health and has thus
tar been constant in attendance.
There were only three or four alb
sentees when the Senate was called
to order, which, in a membership of
ninety, is pretty good record.
Seemingly all the cranks il the
country, sooner or later, find their
way to Washington. Probably the
majority hasten from the depot at
once to the White House to instruct
the President in the art of govern
ment. If they get out whole and es.
cape being hustled into the station
house or lunatic asylum they next
proceed with all due diligence to the
Capitol. Here they search out any
one or all the statesmen in seclusion,
and to them issue their general or
ders. Here if..they become very per-
sistent and pestiferous they are as
quietly as possible led away by the
capitol police. Some are entirely
harmless, quite inoffensive and come
to be regular visitors. Ihave in mind
two men from St. EIizabeth's-the
great lunatic asylum across the river
who march in every day. arm in
arm, walk sedately through the cor
doris. look out of a certain window,
and then march solemnly back to
where they came from. Another old
gentlemen from the asylum frequent
y drops in, s1x-footer, heavy full
beard, sack coat very much abbrevi-
ated, and over all plug hat of the
'rop of Lincoln. He is covered with
medals, buttons. faded flowers and
,m-crac1 S OF every variety conducts
himself quietly and courteously to
very one and soon disappears for
he day. 1t is usually the ones who
Ire supposed to be tame, but in whom
ome one wheel is out of plumb who
make the disturbances.
AS to the questions asked by the
lverage visitors, angels and minis.
ers of grace defend us! They don't
Gem to, however. The ordinary
'lain people, tourists in town, and
ven residents of the city out for a
lays sight seeing, appear, as rule,
o lose their way and their mind as
Don as they get inside the big build
ng, and see endless corridors all
boxing alike, stretching away into
he dim distance in any direction.
instead of quietly trying to adjust |
themselves to their new surroundings |
nd asking for and receiving specific
,structions as to how to get where
hey want to go, they at once pro-
eed to get more and more ratified
very second and finally try to rush
indy in every direction at once
Ike blindfolded rat. Then the fun
egins and lasts until they are out of
reath and are compelled by mental
nd physical exhaustion to quiet
own.
A nicely attirel lady asked me
lie other day in which committee
pom the Tr, asury Department and
ension Office were located. tried to
II her they had temporarily been
owed down town to make room for
lie winters supply of coal, but she
fused to be comforted. Another
Try intelligent looking and appear
& lady wanted to know if the gal
ries of the Senate were located
Dove or below the floor of the cham
r! She evidently thought that
ley were kept in storagein the base
emf, as rule, and carted around to
pply the demand of the moment.
young lady who looked intelligent
ough to be a school-ma am came
me one day and wanted to know
e time. told her thatit was so.
lie said that she knew better; it was
ter than that, for as she was com
2 in the saw mill whistle blew for
on. l passi6ed her by telling her
at she was undoubtedly right, as
lad criminally neglected to set my
atch by the whistle for several
US. A young man came up to
. yesterday and very cautiously
lispered an inquiry as to the where C
outs of the Council chamber" S
oect he thought that a city govern s.
mt was in session there somewhere.
1ozen people an hour ask me for
. whereabouts of Congress" By "
s they mean the House of Repre- p
Itatives. 1t seems to be impossi- Il
to convince the great unwashed