The National tribune., 1908-12-31

Congress keeps on not voting th'
money to build big Convention Hal
IN Washington, and every four year:
the old scrap comes up as to where al
inaugural ball will be held, and if it !:
not best not to have the ball at all
= The Pension Office Building was erected
for the purpose of holding the inaugura
: balls there. 1t is admirably adapted
for that purpose, but the trouble is thai
it costs the country about 100000 to
hold up the Pension Office while it is
being arranged and decorated fer the
inaugural ball. Everything stops at the
office for period of two weeks, and
yet salaries go on. 1t is not considered
Fight to hold up the granting OF pen
sons for two weeks. and yet it must
be done if the Pension Office is used.
Congress has already burned up more
Than a million of dollars in this holding
mp of work in the Pension Office, and
. IL must be admitted that very nice
AConvention Hall might have been erect
ed for that sum Of money Congress IS
apt to be penny wise and pound fool
Ssh. and here is one of the instances.
1t is said that there is not building in
the city that can be. used except the
Pension Office, and four years ago Con-
gress by special act said most emphat-
ically that it would never again let the
Il
the same old bill has been introduced,
and the same old plea is being made,
and the same old leave to use the Pen
sisn Office will be given by Congress.
Now, just stick pin there
Col. Harry Skinner, United States
District Attorney of Greenville, n. c.,
is quite sure that in the next four years
the old Tar Heel State will swing clear
sround into the Republican column
He has been in the city for a few days.
and formerly represented his district
in Congress. He thinks that there was
hope for Republican victory this year
If things had been managed properly.
Over 500 of the children of the en-
ployes and clerks and officials OF the
Post Office Department were enter
1ained at Christmas tree by Mrs Geo.
Won L. Meyer, wife of the Postmaster
General, on Christmas afternoon. a
tremendous Christmas tree was set up
an new Masonic Temple, and trimmed
with all the novelties of the season. 1t
was joy to behold. The presents for
all We're stored in the basement, and
aiter enjoying program that was car
Ifed out around the tree all the guests
Mere invited to the basement, where
they got their presents.
As santa Claus" Mrs. Meyer was
mighty good to them, too. There were
fine roller skates, and beautiful dolls,
and books, and balls, and games, and a
host OF other things that gIaddened the
hearts of 500 little boys and girls.
Mrs Meyer was ably assisted in her
undertaking by DIR. John A. Holmes, of
The Post Office Department, and corps
of young men from the same Office.
They superintended the work of the
decoration and arranged the presents
for distribution
Another of the pretty Christmas phil
anthropies was enacted at the Saks
Furnishing Store. For several years
this firm has given out at Christmas
100 overcoats to small boys who come
with proper credentials emitting them
TO be considered These boys are near
1y always of the abjectly poor class.
but are youngsters who have good rep
utations as workers. if old enough for
that or who are lame. blind or other
wise incapacitated for work. The sight
was pathetic one, as the boys lined up
in front OF the store on Christmas
morning, each lad bearing his letter
from some responsible person, who said
he was eligible in the good boy'' list,
and it might have been added, the very
poor list. for of all the tattered. run
deWn-at-the-heel little fellows. The
good men who give the overcoats do not
confine themselves to the oyercoats.
,yVniIe they do not intend to give any
thing else, when a kid comes into the
store with his toes out, his pants" in
tafters and just an excuse for a shirt,
Die Is pretty apt to get fixed up from
top 10 toe. One little lad got an over
csat two years ago, and was back for
another, carrying the old one, which
was in very good condition. IT'S got
So little l KANT wear it," he said, so
came to get one that is bigger il you
will let me, and / want to give this TO
some other feller." He got his and the
pore feiler'' got the old one aud Was
happy too. Charities like these must
make the angels laugh. II means 50
little to those who have means TO carry
out such a charity, and means so much
oh. so much. to those who have to ac-
cept it.
Representative and Vice President.
elect Sherman had Christmas turkey
as is a turkey. II was bred in old
Kentucky by Hon. South Trimble, for
Jneriy Representative in Congress
from Kentucky, and a warm admirer
of Sunny Jim," Vice President-elect
Sfr. Trimble sent with the turkey some
rare "old rye" to wash it down Mr.
Trimble sent 20 turkeys to as many oi
his old colleagues. and II they were not
-medalIioned with hand embroidery in
1Sattenburg lace" they were hand
raised" by the jolly ex-RepresentatiYe
Francis E. Leupp. Commissioner oi
Indian Affairs. is going to retire with
she Roosevelt Administration. Mr.
Ieupp, who was for many years g
Washington newspaper correspondent
accepted the post of Indian Commits.
sioner TO put into the administration OF
The Indian Service certain policies ht
had long cherished and of which Presi
dent Roosevelt approved.
For many years prior TO accepting
The office Mr.. Leupp was agent of the
Indian Rights Association in Washing.
son. II is said by Mr. Leupp's friend:
that he would have retired from Office
long ago. but he promised the President
he would remain in office until the END
of Mr.. Rooseyelrs Administration. Mr.
IeupD is the author of the book "Ths
Nan. Roosevelt" 1t is understood sha
I,e will resume literary work when h,
Tytires from office.
Admira. Dewey was II years old las
saturday. Dec. 25. but there was n
celebration of the event Admira
Dewey has been suffering for six week
with sciatiea, and is not able to endur
long drains upon his strength.
The Tafts were ali together 10
Christmas at the home in Augusta, Ga
which the friends of the city presente
TO Judge Taft for Winter resort unit
he gets ready to come TO Washingto
to be inaugurated They had dinner /
the evening with Mr.. and Mrs. Lando
Thomas They were the recipients G
axsf ha ri dc