The Washington times., 1911-04-29


Since a recent unfortunate experience
Alexandrtans have been a bit shy of
banking enterprises. but a good many
Of them are planning to take some stock
In the postal savings bank that opens
Monday.
A couple of scientific societies of
Washington have gone down to in
Vestigate the Dismal Swamp It is not
really expected that they will find
where they made her grave too cold
and damp for a soul so warm and
true
May 15 will mark the semi-centen-
nial of the District of Columbia fire
department. A world Of local history
and deep heart interest cluster around
the etghty-one graves of former mem
hers of the organization which will be
decorated on that day.
According to figures just given out
on this months real estate transac-
tions. the Capitals boom is still on,
with good prospects that the records
OF 1910, heretofore the banner year,
may be broken. The total for the
month is s5,6Oo,Ooo. a big gain over
March.
While that plan to pay for inebriates'
asylum out of liquor licenses lacks the
tonune element so dear to the sporting
spirit, 1t is bound to be a comfort to a
man to reflect every time he takes a
drink that he is providing a home for
his old age. Altogether, it is a fair
- proposition that the Georgetown w. c.
T. U. has offered.
When the circus comes to town next
week. it is going to prove a treat for a
lot of insane as well as sane people
Following a custom as old as st. Eliza
beth's itself. several conveyances filled
with patients are to be sent from the
Government Hospital for the Insane to
the tented field for view Of the per-
formance. Some will go each day the
circus shows in the city.
Attorney Gaddess, of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, is doing a yeo-
mans service in breaking down the ar
bitrary restrictions Of delivery estab-
Eshed by express companies. Already
he has brought one company to promise
reform after May 1, and expects others
20 follow. And he has made this fight
all alone, but his victory Will be en-
3oyed by thousands.
Henry s. Stafford, who received an
appointment under Lincoln, and who
served under three other Presidents,
with a wide acquaintance among the
older employees of the Government, es-
pecially In the Interior and Agricul-
ture departments is dead; and 1t is
but Just to say that he was not one
OF those recently referred to by Dr.
Eliot, when he said that Lincoln ap-
pointed many bad men to office, and
the best proof of this is that Mr.. staf-
ford has for years been a warm per-
sonal friend of Dr. Eliot.
The death of Maj. Walter Gwynn, of
this city, recalls that he reported tho
famous debate between Lincoln and
Douglas, and in consequence ended his
career as a newspaper man. His paper
was strong for Douglas, but young
Gwynn was carried away with the
speech of Lincoln, saw that he was
talking not to win the Senatorship or
to his audience, but over their heads to
the entire South calling upon them to
repudiate Douglas. His report was
printed on the editoCal page OF the st.
Louis Republic, and the same day he
got his walking papers.
The Indictment of william waple, jr..
on a charge OF forgery emphasizes the
fact that nothing has yet been done by
Congress to regulate the loan sharks
of the District, who were largely re-
sponsible for Waple's offense. Thous-
ands OF young men and women uf
Washington are in the clutches Of
money lenders, and many Of them may
be facing the temptation to which