Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-06-22
err. or WARRINGTON LIFE.
Minor scenes and Incidents Sketehed
on the SPOT.

BITS OF WARRINGTON LIFE.
Minor scenes and Incidents Sketehed
on the spot.
Warned by experience inauisitive gov
eminent officials now exercise systematic
caution lest those who are quizzcd might
al later proceedings plunge into the "im-
munity bath" The Interstate Commerce
commission lie particularly careful to avoid
this peril and has formulated a new rule
Of conduct In the hearing TO be given the
presidents Of eastern railroads whose sub
ordinstes are charged with grating and
Relating These dignltaries have not been
subpoenaed or I'm any oficial manner called
upon 10 testify. Instead Of that they have
been proffered the opportunity to come
before the commission voluntarily and
make such statements as they may desire
In regard to the scandals involving their
various companies. They will not be sworn
rs witnesses. and may answer or decline TO
answer questions as they see it The COM
mission takes this course in order to avoid
the danger OF involving the government in
the situation possible under the immunity
clause Of the Elkins act. which led TO the
miscarriage Of Justice in the Chicago pack
ers' case.
Several veteran employees OF the senate
recognized William Pinkney whyte. Mary
lands new senator, when he appeared in
the chamber last week to be sworn in and
gave him warm greeting. Inside the
democratic cloak room he found Robert d.
Nixon. the financial clerk of the senate,
who was there when Mr.. whyte left the
senate in 1881. 1T really does make me
feel at home when l see you Nick" said
the ne ba ,,rftI h
old friend Senator whyte came down to
the senate half an hour before It convened.
As he entered he remarked to his grandson,
William Pinkney Whyte, jr., who accom-
panied him and who will be his secretary:
Il have not put my foot in this chamber
since I left here twenty-six years ago.
Then was Sc; now | am So, but It looks
so familiar so familiar"
Among the first to be introduced to the
new senator, after he had been sworn in,
was Senator Ia Toilette who welcomed
him to the senate: This is the man about
whom have been hearing so much"
Yes" said La Toilette. but remember
only half Of what you hear is true"
When he went to luncheon with his col
league Senator whyte was surprised at
the elaborate menu served. "why, when I
was here twenty-six years ago." he said.
the regular luncheon was a bowl Of milk
with bread broken in 1t, and It was a
wholesome luncheon too. That was all we
wanted"
Congressman John Sharp williams Of
MISSISSIPPI does not reserve his sarcastic
wit Tor exhibition in the house of repre
sentatives. Some time ago he was on his
way to Augusta, Ca. to address political
meatiDg he Nrat
and Mr.. Williams commented on this cir
cumstance repeatedly. The conductor took
these observations to be rather personal
and not knowing the identity Of his pas
senger. said angrily: 1T you don't like
the speed Of the train you can get out and
walk Far from being crushed. williams
calmly replied; II would, only the good
people OF Augusta don't expect me till the
train gets in"
Senator Bacon of Georgia was making n
speech on the proposed Erie ship canal and
one OF his attentive listeners was the new
senator from Maryland Mr. Whyte II
was noticed that Senator Whyte was un-
usually interested, and when the GeorRi,
senator mad concluded the MaryIander went
over to call upon him. Senator, where did
you get those figures you submitted 10 the
senator asked the new Maryland sem
ator Il don't know exactly where they
came from" Senator Bacon replied hut
my secretary dug them up somewhere and
am willing to vouch for them, for he ia
very careful and painstalking fellow" 81
can vouch for them, too" answered SEN
ator Whyte, for / used the same figures
IN speech on the subject when I was in
lne senate before The speech Senator
"hyte referred to was one delivered in the
senate in 1881.
More than 5000 was received at the dead
ietter once OF the Postoffice department
IN May. Only small percentage of this
amount can be returned to the senders
Tor the reason that the writer's give IN
sufficient addresses. The majority of these
letters are written by poor persons. in
ciudlng many foreigners. and are, for the
most part intended for mail order houses
out on account of wrong addresses finally
reach the dead letter office.
The total number of pieces OF unclaimed
matter received during the month was
SS,66s, against 667,1OO in April, but not
withstanding the large increase in receipts
every piece OF mail received was opened
and treated. leaving no accumulation at the
beginning OF this month.
new record was made in the percent
age Of letters returned to senders, 30 per
cent being the average for the month II is
estimated that not more than IS per cent
OF the so-called "returnabe" letters can
in fact, be returned. The number OF let
tiers returned last month was l25,Ols
against 1882 in April 1906 and los, S12 IN
May. 1905.
Money was found in 1928 letters, to the
amount OF s6,l6I5l. In May. 1906, $4.56sU5
was contained in 1850 letters, showing a
slight decrease for 1906 in the number Of
letters received containing money, but
quite a considerable increase in the amount
OF money enclosed.
A New York artist who painted a por-
trait OF President Roosevelt had the privi-
lege OF spending several days knocking
around the White House to get some men
tai notes of the presidents varying express
sions. He would sit here, there and yun-
der to watch the head of the nation as