The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1910-08-18
L.lEIIlIk from SEAT
or GOVERNMENT.
News and Comments Of General
Interest From the Daily Her
aid $ Special Correspondent.
(By Frank Fuller.)

f
There are a great many ex-Sen-
ators and members who hang
around the city making a living
out of their supposed influence in
Congress and the Departments.
One ex-senator now located here
is constantly alluded to as a con-
ductor on the underground rail
roads of Washington, meaning
that his influence is great in gov
ernmental matters, and his ser
vices are in demand in nearly all
the important measures requiring
favorable action. These men re-
pudiated at home by their con-
stituents abandon their states and
come here to profit by the prestige
of their former positions. They,
are especially active during the
sessions of congress, before which
they often appear with retainers
on both sides of pending matter,
so that it makes no difference
which way it goes they are on the
winning side, and their retainers
are enlarged into substantial fees
based on their supposed success.
One of the most valuable histo-
rical documents in the country is
the original will of Washington,
which is of record and among the
archives of the Clerk s Office of
Fairfax county, Virginia, just
across the Potomac river opposite
this city. This will is in Washing
toms own hand writing and was
penned in 1899, the year he died.
An order has just been issued by
the Judge of the judicial district
in which Fairfax county is situat-
ed, permitting the librarian of
congress to photograph this will.
1t viii mot be removed from the
clerk s Office. and the photographs
must be made in the presence of
Mr.. Berwick, the expert who has
restored the will as far as possible
to its original condition. Only
four copies will be permitted to be
made, two for the librarian of con-
gress and two for the county
clerks Office of Fairfax county,
and no duplicates, prints or repro
auctions in any form will be per-
mitted at any time. From the
nature Of this order it appears
that this particular county Office
has sort of a monopoly of this
particular instrument and pro-
poses to keep it.
The White House is undergoing
its usual summer renovation and
most of it is closed to visitors. A
few clerks and many guards are
still on duty but they have but lit
tie to do. There is not a cabinet
officer in the city andzdepartment
al business is at standstill. The
post Office department is till work
ing out details for the postal saw
ings banks and hope to have same
installed by October 1st. Several
deposits have already been re-
ceived here from uniformed peo-
pie who, seemed to think all this
business is to be conducted di-
rectly with the department here.
This is not the case as this Office
has no authority to transact any
such business, as it must all be
done through the local designated
Offices in the several states.
The census Office is now having
its troubles, more than contem-
plated by law, and, one Of the most
sls94Uo0 sQ4 I9Ao sesIIB SuoI19s
between rival cities and towns as
to population. Many of these
are jealous Of their local rivals,
and all sorts Of schemes are re-
sorted to in order to maintain as
tendency. Already protests are
coming in objecting to the figures
given by rival towns, and the Office
is investigating some of these COM
plants. In some instances trains
were held up as, they passed
through these towns and passen-
gers were entered as part of the
| population, tombstones in GENE
taries- were canvassed and other
up to date methods used to swell
various localities, if these protests
are to be believed.