The Washington herald., 1907-04-28

OF tickets to charity balls, and church
sociais. and other kindred entertainments
The State officials of the various Commons
wealths are afforded no sort Of protec-
ton against this sort of folk, but let one
Of them undertake to ply his avocauon
IN the Capitol of the United States and
he, Is nIpped In hurry Even If the
vendor happens to be a beautiful woman,
she Is taken In custody by an officer,
piloted out of the building, and warned
not to return The quarantine against
beggars and book agents is never relaxed
and detectives tn plain clothes are
charged with the enforcement OF this reg
ulation
The officials, however have never been
able to enforce a quarantine against
the stealthy advance OF the demon aicO-
hol Since time immemorial liquor has
had habit OF creeping into tbe Capitol
and taking up its abode IN the commit
tee rooms There is never any back OF
opportunity for solons 10 wet their wills
ties. In one of the committee rooms, for
instance there Is sideboafd with the
usual accomplishments and its atmosphere
IS TedOlent with the seductive oder Of
rum. Time after time Congress, smart
ing under criticism. has enacted legisla-
ton to Danish liquor from the Capitol
Time after time liquor has refused to
be banished. and it sin holds the fort,
militant and triumphant.
lis Wonderful Size.
The size OF the United States Capitol
its bare magnitude-is almost beyond
comprehension. Its cubical contents are
l696l,S $50 cubic feet The cubical con
tents of the dome are 26iS6j0 cubic feet
There are 100000 pounds Of iron in the
dome alone The building covers six and
one-sixth acres The total cost of the
building. according to revised figures just
completed by the superintendent Of chs
Capitol. is $i3.5sl, 03125.
II a modern philosopher paraphrasing
Hamlet, should opine that there are
more things in the United States Capitol
than are dreamt Of in our philosophy"
he would rot go wide of the mark. The
Capitol Is a little universe in itself 1t
has It's world Of paintings and statuary,
and its underworld OF curious subter-
ranean caverns Among the latter is the
tomb. directly under the center Of the
dome, that was built to receive the body
Of the immortal Father OF His COUn-
Try. and which failed of the purpose for
which II was created. because John A.
Washington. who followed George s the
proprietorship OF Mount Vernon declined
To permit the removal of the remains
OF sis ilustrious kinsman from the Wash
ington estate In the place where it was
intended that the body OF Gen Washing
ton should rep0se forever. lies the cata-
fa!que upon which. successfully. rested
the bodies of the maTtyred Presidents,
Lincoln, Garfield, and Mckinley. while in
state in the Capitol r0tuuda. The cata-
falque has been stripped by cHio seekers
OF almost every vcstlge OF the black
brOadci0th which originally WAS SIS sable
cover, This vandalism has left exposed
the rough pine wood Of which the cata-
faique is made To protect il from further
ravages. Elliott Woods. superintendent Of
the Capitol, has fenced 81 in with d brick
wall Helcef0rth IL can be- seen. but Ihu
hand OF the Vandal cannot touch IT,
Indiana Men.
In the executive management of tile
Capitol and lis affairs, Indiana laen are
much IN evidence. AIr. Woods. WHO has
control Of The physical property OF the
capitol. who looks after repairs. aud who
has displayed cJnsummase ara m resior-
lag various features 10 their pristine
beauty. was d resident Of Indianapolis
until he came 10 Washington a prorCEe
OF Thomas 4. hendricks Do 1SS5 He has
crowded into his forty-twO years "A vast
amount of achievement lie is a violin
Isl. an astronomer AN expert wireless
telegr4pher- "a photographer. and an arch
ltect and has other accomplishments too
numerous 20 mention. Col Daniel III.
haEsuell. Sergeant-at-arms Of the Sen
ate. is also o. indianapolis As sol
dieT who left an arm on The held, q
politician. and tine most intimate friend
of Benjamin Harrison h- IS sell haowu.
The superintendent OF .he police foiee
of the Capitol, the efficient head Of as
wei organized 81 body cf men as ever did
police duty. is john p Nesrew. Of Lafay-
elite. Ind. also veteran of The greatest
oI American WaTs.