Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-09


aodss that MARI the Progress o.
Events at the National Capital.
The demand for change Of the date Of
the Inauguration Of president and vice
president from March TO q day promising
more agreeable Washington weather de-
velops more than the languid interest ex-
cited heretofore The experience of the
multitude in the abominable weather Of the
last occasion--weather so disagreeable as
20 compel abandonment Of outdoor exer-
cises-brouRht home to public officials the
oft-repeated truth that a later date should
be chosen. both for public health and gen
eral convenience. How the change may be
effected Is a question which one Of the,
house committees will consider and report
at this session. Several pending measures
fix various dates in April and May. Repre-
sentative Gaines Of West Virginia, chair
man OF the committee, says ne proposed to
go into this subject thoroughly. 'Involv
Ing as II does a change in the vast and
complicated machinery of the government
with a lengthening of the term OF one pres
ident and a general readjusting Of dates.
there should be no haste IN dealing with
the subject" he said
Chairman Gaines said the committee
would hold as many hearings as may be
necessary to reach a full understanding
OF the subject. and determine what should
be done. -
The anteroom Of President Taft's new Of
fices affords an entertaining and varied
spectacle these days. especially when tho
hand shakers call In tow OF their senator
Of representative. They came from every
where, and by their appearance and their
actions demonstrate anew that, though God
made man in His own image HE hath
sought out many Inventions" All sorts
and conditions Of people come to the White
House while congress is in session to make
many and curious requests. An astounding
number of them come to beg the president
or members of the cabinet to make speeches
in various parts of the country. Anything
from the annual meeting of state bar
association to the celebration of a harvest
home festival brings a delegation TO Wash
ington looking for big gun" to make
the speech of the day. Not one-tenth of
these requests can be granted. The presi-
dent tells all the delegations that come
to him that II the cabinet officers accepted
one-third of the invitations they have to
speak, the government business would be
sadly neglected.
For the first time in over forty years the
Postoffice department is considering the
printing Of postage stamps with another
design than the display of the features Of
some national hero in the form Of a medal
lion. The dozen or more designs submitted
for the new 12-cent stamp, which is to be
used in lieu Of the 1O-cent on the registered
letters, show the spread eagle Of the ma
tional coat of arms, with the Stars and
Stripes adornlng his breast The post
master general has deferred passing on the
design for a few days. but the change Is
likely. r.
A senator came into the cloak room in
rather pensive mood. and stood silent for
some minutes-thoughtfully smoking, re-
lates the National Magazine 1t was sup
posed that some problem Of legislation lay
heavy on his mind, until he broke the
silence, without even a preludei
Il have been bothered with rats and it
makes me nervous because / have been
reading so much about the bubonio plague.
We had six cats in the house, but sud
denly five left, leaving a lonesome tabby.
l tried ball OF yarn on him. Every time
he jumped after that ball, he struck wide
Of the mark. Then i caught him, looked
closer and, behold, the cat was cross
eyedl
What puzzles me now is to decide
whether or not there Is an aristocracy Of
cat life into which a crooked-eyed cat can
not come. He was evidently an outcast
and pariah with his kind, for he care
fully kept his corner all the time the
other cats were around. Now, the rats
left with the cats, and what 1 want to
know is whether there Is not some feel
Ing OF caste among rats as well as cats
In refusing to associate with a cross-eyed
cat No bubonic plague, gentlemen, with
cross-eyed cats available. It's in the old
Hindu Hoodoo book"
This is a story about John Eversman,
right hand man for Representative Nc
Kinley Of Illinois, and playful as a pup
with bone; L. White Busbey secretary
to Speaker Cannon ana dignified as
blind owl and Asher Blnes, legislative
clerk OF the house, and neither playful
nor dignified to an extreme
! They were riding uptown from the capi-
tol on street car when, with one accord,
they all lifted up their voices and each in
sisted on paying the fares OF his com
| paniOns.
NO" said Eversman, who is the playful
guy Of the group; wen match to see who
pays"
! They flipped up coins and each coin fell
heads up. BY this time the conductor was
getting red In the face
| Well said Eversman whoever has the
coin bearing the earliest date must pay"
| The three coins upon examination proved
to bear each one the date 1882 At this mo-
ment the conductor walked away from
them and swore volubly, but In a low tone.
Mr.. Busbeys dignity began to feel sore
and Eversman was laughing greatly. Hines
looked puzzled.
BY the time the car had reached the Post
office department these three high browed
employees OF a beneficent government had
decided that each must pay his own fare
EYersman was the first to hand the con-
] Il hYgtr he