The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-02-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.


| The best known street Of Washington,
Pennsylvania Avenue, is beginning to
assume an inaugural holiday appearance
Seats and grand stands have been built
in front of the White House where the
President, after his Inauguration ON the
4th of March, the diplomatic corps, and
high government officials will sit to OBJ
serve the grand parade. Thousands Of
others will here occupy seats on both
sides of the Avenue at prices varying
probably from one to two dollars. As
usual the mile stretch of avenue from the
Treasury Department to the Capitol
grounds on the south side, will be lined
with seats or bleechers very much after
the manner of those used in baseball,
football or other athletic spectacles.
Windows all along the avenue on both
sides are rented at exhorbitant prices and
from these thousands will gaze at the
military, political and civic professions
as they pass to and from the Capitol on
the 4th of March.
As has been already observed President
Roosevelt will be seen in the carriage
only as il proceeds TO the Capitol. He
will not return with his successor to the
White House but will go direct to the
Union Station from the Capitol, and
there take train for his home at Oyster
Bay. This is an Innovation, but by no
means, as the public we'll knows, unusual
for Theodore Roosevelt.
His personal household goods are al.
ready in process of shipment to his New
York home and after President elect
Taft shall have taken the oath Of Office.
Theodore Roosevelt will become a pri.
Fvate citizen. There is good sense and
propriety in his effacing himself and
turning his back on the White, House and
the Capitol, aud leaving the glory and
the burden, without diversion of his con-
spicuous presence, entirely to his
successor.
~
Congress is, to all appearances, vast
ing its time discussing nonessentials aud
having furious debates as to whether an
appropriation of twelve thousand dollars
shall be made for automobiles for the
coming big president, involving ques-
tion as TO whether the machine shall
supercede the horse or whether the horse
ch ali eto rd rat-,,1 doc.. a.
These questions seem frivolous in view of
the fact that the appropriation bills have
not been passed and that conservation of
the natural resources, the reorganization
of the naval establishment, and other
great questions equally as important are
awaiting the action of the legislative
body. But it must be remem bered that
Congress is talking to the galleries--the
galleries being their constituents in far
off states and Congressional districts. In
Congressional committees work on ap.
preparation bills is going on and the ap-
preparation bills, complete or half com
plete, will be rushed through on the last
days of the session.
~
Important differences have developed
among the members of the Committee on
Ways aud Means that are expected to
involve bitter fight over the tariff bill
when it comes up before the House at the
special session to be called for the tenth
of March. The republican siandpatters
on the committee are in the minority 1t
appears that Serene Payne, leader of the
House, and John Dalzell. the leading
standpatter are not working harmonious
ly on the new tariff BILL From latest in.
formation regarding the Ways and Means
Committee, Dalzell of Pennsylvania.
Bonynge of Colorado, Needham of Cali
foruia, Fordney of Michigan and Calder
head of Kansas are still as rigidly stand
pat as ever, but those in favor of revision
downward and of a more liberal policy
are Payne of New York, Mccall of Mass.
achusetts, Hale of Maine, Boutelle of Hi.
nois and Lougworth of Ohio. The two
remaining members. CrumpacEer of
Indiana and Gaines of West Virginia ap-
pear TO be doubtful element but it is
thought majority lin favor of real re-
vision. 1t is said that some of the diff
ferences between the two groups are ire
concilable and that they will not be
settled except after long debate and a
bitter contest in the House.
~
The President, as was expected, has
vetoed the Census Bill appointing three
thousand clerks without civil service ex.
amination. His most remarkable words
in the message vetoiug the bill we're 81
do not believe in the doctrine that to the
victor belong the spoils. but think even
less of the doctrjhe that the spoils shall
be divided witfout<a fight by the pro