Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-18

Events at the National Capital.
Many and various are the odd drafts
made upon Uncle Sans long roll. For
example cats are esteemed a valuable ad-
junct to the postal service and an allow
ance for their maintenance in the large
offices of the country has been made by
the postmaster general. They are to be
carried on the payroll as regular en-
ployes, and their maintenance comes out
of the FUND for 'incIdentals to offices Of
the first and second classes" Rats and
mice will take snotice and keep under
cover. Usually congress makes specific
appropriations for equally strange things.
Although slave trading is a thing of the
past, this country contributes 500 a year
as its share Of the expense Of keeping up
at Brussels an institution known as the
International Bureau for the Repression OF
the African Slave Trade.
In Brussels there is an international
Bureau for the Publication Of Customs
Tariffs. 1t costs money to maintain the
bureau and the United States pays $1,SSS
annually as its proportionate share OF the
expense. More expense still is the annual
membership fee of the United States in
another institution with headquarters in
Brussels. Every year $2,27O is paid by this
| government as a contribution TO the main
t~tenance Of the international Bureau Of
Weights and Measures.
It costs the United States no less than
$1L,1OO annually to provide prisons for
American convicts in foreign countries
These prisons are under the Immediate
Jurisdiction Of the consular officers in
various cities in China, Korea, Japan ana
Turkey. They are seldom used, but they
must be maintained nevertheless, The
prisons, with the cost of rent and salary
Of keepers, are as follows: Bangkok, $1,000;
Shanghai, 1850; Yokohama, $3.50; Turkey
$1,000. For keeping and feeding such
prisoners as may from time to time be
confined in these prisons 5000 is set aside
every year. r.
on, the coast OF Morocco, at Tangier ana
Cape Spartel, mariners used to expert
ence great difficulty in avoiding disaster
on account Of the absence OF warning
night signals on the shore. Lighthouses
were sadly needed, and, as the govern
ment of Morocco would not provide them
the great powers took the matter in hand
| In lnG slnlCICnl VI ACAA my
Lighthouses were established and the
powers are assessed so much annually for
their maintenance. The share OF the
United States in this expense Is $S25.
It is sometimes necessary for the United
States to bring back to this country from
abroad persons charged with crime. It Is
rather expensive work, and for 1t there
is an annual appropriation OF 5000.
-
This government Is ever grateful for
any service rendered its citizens in case
OF marine disasters by those of foreign
countries. Such services are usually sub
stantially remembered and there is a spe-
ciaI provision for them. An annual APP
proprIation Of $500 is made for expenses
incurred in the acknowledgment OF the
services OF masters and crews of foreign
vessels in rescuing American seamen and
citizens"
The Washington monument comes In
for a good-sized appropriation every year
In order that 1t may be kept open to the
public and receive the necessary repairs
congress allows the War department an
annual appropriation Of t11.b2O. The same
department is given S547, 275 annually to
be expended in providing artificial limbs
for soldiers. and an additional sum OF
| eEfNVu - dPRAbRAA I /"
ances for the veterans.
Five statues recently placed in Statuary
hall now await acceptance. Washington
and Lee. the statue OF the former being
a reproduction In bronze OF the Houdon
statue, long represented there in plaster,
have been contributed by Virginia. South
| Carolina presAnts a statue OF John G.
Calhoun. Indlanians will rally 70 the dedi-
cation Of the statue OF General Lew Wal
lace. The statue of George l.. Shoup, pre-
scented by Idaho, will also be accepted
with appropriate ceremonies. The statue
Of General Washington Is a faithful re-
production Of the Richmond marble statue
which Virginia prizes so highly, because
It is the work OF that eminent French
sculptor, Houdon. who was commissioned
by Thomas jefferson TO chisel the statue.
Houdon came 10 America in 1855 in the
company OF Benjamin Franklin and visited
Mount Vernon, where he prepared a model
from which the statue was made. II is
OF life size. and the dress Is the military
costume OF the revolution.
The statue OF General Lee is also OF life
size and is In the costume OF a major gen
eral OF the confederate army. Friends Of
the Lee family pronounce IL an excellent
likeness Of the general. The statue OF John
c. CALHOUN viii represent the South Caro-
linian attired as a statesman. Senator
shOup has conn into the hall in civilian
dress.
When these five new statues are placed
in the halh there will have 10 be q shift