The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-11-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Correspondent Writes Of the Doings
at the Capital.
The President and family have re-
turned to the White House for the
season, and visitors can now meet
the Chief Executive at his public
daily reception at two o'clock. He
meets all callers a. his public offices
which are connected by passageway
to the White House. Visitors who
wish to inspect the mansion itself,
must secure a pass before they are
allowed to enter. This pass permits
the holder to go through the histor-
ic public rooms and inspect the cur
los and bric-a-brac, consisting large
ly of china and household belongings
of former occupants, extending from
Washington to Rdosevelti Every
i new tenant discards former furnish
ings, and these relics so into the
White House museum, which now
occupies a large part Of the basement
| floors.
One of the humors Of the admi1-
istration has just come from g. New
York man in his making application
for the job of Postmaster General.
The applicant wrot the Post Office
Department and asked that he be CIV
en- consideration in connection with
the Cabinet officials probable re-
tirement. He stated in hfs letter
that he was anxious to know the ed
ucational qualifications imposed by
the Civil Service Commission in Sc
lecting Postmasters General. He
asked that this information be for
warded him before the matter Of
appointment of him be proceed with
further, as it might be necessary for
him to coach up some before the test
came for him to take the job.
There are many rumors regarding
the early retirement Of Secretary
Ballinger, which is placed imme-
diately after the convention of Con-
gress and filing Of the report of the
investigation committee. This re-
port is ready to submit, the majority
finding there is no fault to be char
ged to the Secretary. Upon this be-
ing made he will resign and new
Secretary, whom it is reported has
already been selected, will be nom
mated. This new man Is said 10 be-
long to and have the Endorsement OF
the insurgent element, and will be
their special representative IN The
Cabinet.
The Supreme Court met Monday
with two vacancies. Governor Hu hes
was inducted into Office with the US
ual ceremonies attending such cnan-
ges. Justice Harlan, the senior JUS
tice, occupies the seat Of the Chief
Justice until an appointment IS
and will continue to act Us Chief
JJustice until an appointment ls
made to fill this Office, which will be
done when Congress convenes. There
is no Indication as to whom will be
appointed to this exalted position,
but the President t being lawyer Is
especially qualified to make a salts
factory selection.
The pension records here shown
that one year after the civil war, the
Government paid to disabled soldiers,
their widows and orphans, $15,OO0,-
600. In 1874 the annual pension
bill was s31,OoQ,000, and then it
began to decline, so that in 1878 it
was only $28,000,00. In January
1879 an arrears bill was passed and
in the space Of two years the amount
paid jumped to s58,000,000. The
sum increased from year to year un-
til 1889.
The amount paid was s92,000,-
600. Then came the law declaring
that the poverty of the applicant had
40 bearing on the right to pension
and the amount paid went up to
S110,O00,0 900 and 1t continued to go
up until 1898, when s161,000,000
was paid. In 1906 the service law
was passed giving widows on ninety
day men a pension and the sum
went to s165,00O,0 1000, and it is esti-
mated that this year will require
$157,000,000.
The Agriculture! Department is
keeping up the pure food campaign.
1t is now after frozen egg dealers,
and recently caused the arrest Of p
commission merchant here who had
in his establishment a large num-
ber Of boxes Of macaroni which was
labelled Made in Italy" while as
matter OF fact It was made in
Philadelphia and shipped directly
from there to Washington. Much Of
the olive oil is found to be linseed
oil, and breakfast foods to be COM
posed of corn cobs and peanut shells.
Happily Married.
Tho Calhoun Advance saws a very