The National tribune., 1909-03-11
comes to the point where loves young
dream shall dawn.

President and Mrs. Roosevelt succeed
ed in smashing some more "precedents'
just before leaving. 1t is customary to
believe that the home of foreign Elm
bassador or Minister constructiVely
stands on foreign soil, and that Presl-
dent of the United States must not ac-
cept any hospitalities from such for
eigners that will lead him to cross the
threshold of their door. The reason for
this is that the home of Consul, Consul
General ambassador or Minister Pleni-
potentiary is sanctuary" for the op-
pressed, and that they without proper
process of law cannot be forced to leave
the place of protection SO long as that
Government protects them. President
Roosevelt by going to the home of a
foreign ambassador, according to Gus
tom and precedent, placed himself un-
der the protection of that Embassa-
doris country, and that country, IL 1t
liked, might also have made him pris-
oner, under the unwritten law which
governs the homes of such foreign OFF,
cfaIs. President Roosevelt has had lit
tie regard for these Old World customs,
however, and SO, with Mrs. Roosevelt,
lunched with Baron and Baroness Hen
gelmuller, of Austro-Hungary, and q
good time was had.
Congress worried thru its closing
days in a much more peaceful and Or
derly manner than was supposed to be
possible week or 10 days ago., Lag
gard as it has been, it bent vigorously
to its tasks, and as the end approached
dispatched vast amount of business.
There was little work at night. The big
supply bills were all completed on time.
Occasional flare-ups there were, a few
angry debates, and some hot party
clashes, but ut.these were less pronounced
h OF oh pnrtC nf,
A very large contingent of Senators and
Representatives who were reelected
are remaining in Washington, as it will
be only II days till the extra session
convenes. President Taft is very anx-
ious to hasten the work of tariff revi-
sion, because he believes it will hasten
the return of old-time prosperity.
Said a Grand Army man the other
day: eff we had not had an ex-Con-
federate for Secretary of War we would
not have had President Roosevelt or
dering Jeff Davis's name restored to an
arch that 1t should not have been on,
anyway. 1t is stated by Maj. Spencer
Cosby. of the United States Army, who
was charged with looking into the mat
ter for the purpose of investigation,
that Jeff Davis never even approved
the plans for Cabin John Bridge.
Jefferson Davis was not Secretary of
War when Cabin John Bridge was
built" he said. land 1 can find nothing
in our records to show that he ever saw
or approved the plans for that struc-
ture.
He was Secretary of War when
work on other parts of the aqueduct
was started. in 1853, but the plans
which he then recommended for ap-
proval showed bridge of five arches
over Cabin John Valley. The actual
construction work on the bridge was
begun in 1857, shortly after Mr.. Davis
ceased to be Secretary of War.
'At the present time it is not usual
to place the names of public officials
upon structures erected by the Engi-
neer Department. If 1t is decided to
lhave any names inscribed on Cabin
John Bridge, there are many Presi-
dents, Secretaries of War. Chief Engt-
neers and Assistant Engineers whose
names it might be claimed should be
among those selected"