The midland journal., 1907-02-01
WASHINGTON LETTER,

The Senate after giving the House
scare in the matter of raising Congress
sional salaries finally concrrred in pro.
viding for the increase and though there
was many timid man in the lower
House afraid to vote for the raise the vote
was decisive and taken in the open. 1t is
not believed that there will be any ohjec.
ton in the country at large to increase
The people everywhere are only too we'll
aware of the cost of living since Con
gressional salaries were first fixed at FIVE
thousand dollars not to approve an
advance of twenty hundred. But as
each expenditure made involves several
more not counted on it is now incumbent
on Congress to raise the pay of the Gov
ernment clerk. This is much more
serious proposition of course but if Con-
gressmen need larger salaries because
they have to live in Washington par,
of the year, Government clerks who live
here the year around feel that they are
even more entitled to raise. The aver.
age Government clerk spends three. fifths
| of his energy anyway looking for a
l"promotion" as an advance in wages is
called, SO that the work of harryiug Rep
resentatives until such bill is passed will
not distress him uuduly. 1t is altogether
likely that having gotten higher wage
the Congressman will have to work hard
enough to earn it until bill providing for
the Government clerks is passed,
~
The resignation of Mr.. Theodore Shonts
as Chairman of the Isthmian Canal Com.
mission which has been accepted by the
President did not come as surprise ID
those we'll informed on Canal matters and
| it is generally rumored that it did not
leave the President nor Secretary TAFT
broken hearted Mr.. Shonts' appoint
ment has never been confirmed by the
Senate and there is talk to the effect that
his resignation was induced by the infor
nation that the Senate would not con-
firm him. AT any rate the Canal is now
in charge of Chief Engineer Stevens who
will be appointed chairman of the Com
mission Mr.. Shonts has accepted the
Presidency of the Iuterborough Metro
politan Company, owned by the Ryan.
Belmont combination which controls the
rapid transit lines of New York The
position is better one so far as salary is
concerned. The Presidents letter accept
ing the resignation Of Mr.. Shonts is
enlogiatic of the services he has render
dered. and everything is done to divest
the affair of any sensational features.
The removal to New York of the family
of Mr.. Shonts will take from Washington
one of the most ambitions families that
has ever essayed the social role here
Previous to their coming the daughters
were presented at the English Court and
this matter was heralded daily in Wash
ington papars as the bugle of their ap-
proach. Siuce their arrival no day has
passed in which the goings and comings,
the beauty of their persons and gowns,
the rumors of their marriages to titles
and all of the other press work incident
10 social career have not been flliy
exploited. Washington is in sense new
to this social advance agent theatrical
star business and quite naturally has been
taken by storm. 1t is to be wondered If
New York will be so easily overcome or
if such willing and active press will be so
available in that Metrcpolis
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