The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1910-07-27
FROM THE CAPITAL
BY CARL scHOFIELD. Washington Cor
respondent,

reSpOnoent.
The United States government
should consider the question of the
superannuated clerks in a broad light
regardless of any f%actional spirit that
may prevail among the clerks them
selves in their efforts to formulate a
plan for the equitable retirement of
the aged public service workers. It
should not matter in the least with
congress that the clerks are divided in
opinion as to the best method for the
effective and humane clearance Of the
service of the comparatively inefa-
cient. This is a question that rises
far above the wishes Of the clerks
themselves.
The Government Clerks.
Nothing is palmer in this whole
question than the fact that under the
present conditions the more capable Of
the younger employees are constantly
looking for opportunities to leave the
service with advantage to themselves.
They regard the government service
as merely a stepping stone to some
thing better.
Yet it is a fact that most Of the
government clerks are exceptionally
faithful to their tasks. They know
that there is no opening in the upper
ranks for them. with the rarest Of ex-
ceptions. and they are confronted with
the virtual certainty that when they
have been incapacitated after years of
service they will be dropped as worth
less by an ungrateful government. 1t
may be that the hope that the United
States will see its need clearly in time
to provide a retirement system in sea-
o to affect them personally holds
some Of them in the service.
Changes In Congress.
Although Senators Aldrich and Hale,
leaders of the upper branch of con-
gress, do not retire until March, their
seats in the senate chamber. which
are regarded as most desirable, have
been assigned.
The unwritten law of the senate is
that the first senator who makes claim
on the seat of a departing member OBJ
tains possession as loon as it is va
Gated.
Senator Burkett of Nebraska beat
the rest of his Republican colleagues
to it when announcement was made
by Senator Aldrich of his intended re-
| tirement. Senator Deliver Of Iowa
was the next to make claim and OBJ
tain the seat occupied for so many
years by Senator Hale.
A considerable number of members
of the house have already given it out
they will not seek reelection. The
eason they assign are various. In
some cases the political unrest is the
real cause.
Among those who are going to step
out at the end Of this congress. max
ing no effort to remain. are Lowden
of Illinois, Cooper OF Pennsylvania,
Sperry of Connecticut, Reynolds OF
Pennsylvania. Huff of Pennsylvania.
Dawson of Iowa. Jameson Of Iowa,
Foss of Massachusetts and Ravens of
| New York.
A Youthful Matron.
Nine. r. de Lima e Silva. wife of
the Brazilian charge d'affaires in
Washington. is the youngest matron
in the diplomatic corps in the national
capital. She is only seventeen years
old. is strikingly attractive and ex-
ceedingly popular. She is the daugh-
ter Of the Mexican minister to Great
Britain and before her wedding had
been out Of the convent school only a
few months. She has large. dark eyes
and auburn hair. Until the death Of
Ambassador Nabuco in Washington
last January De Lima e Silva was in
London. attached to the Brazilian EN-
bassy there. He was engaged to the
young Mexican girl only a short time
when he was directed to come to
Washington. Because of the youth of
the girl it had been intended that the
couple should wait a year or so before
getting married. When. however. De
Lima e Silva got orders to come to
Washington the couple We're married.
and their trip to Washington was their
honeymoon.
Russian Books at Public Library.
In response to requests for books in
their tongue by native Russians living
in this city the Public library an
nounces that sixty volumes of stand
ard Russian works have been received
and are ready for distribution. A card
catalogue of the books may be consult
ed at the library. 1t Is stated a num-
Der of other orders are outstanding
which will bring the collection Of
standard Russian works up to about
$50 volumes.
The New Thsator.
Plympton B. Chase, the lessee Of
the new theater to be erected by the
Riggs Realty company at Fifteenth
and G streets. northwest. on the site
of the Riggs House and old Citizens
bank. recently placed on record a lease
from the company Of that portion Of
the premises. The building is to be