Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-06-26
Washington Life
Some interesting Phases .
ana Conditions Observed
~ the nations Capital


the sights of the national capital few
days ago and having absorbed all the
scenery his system would hold he eased
the pressure by talking shop" to a
Washington Post reporter. II am just a
little weary" he complained. weary of
this constant talk about the wonderful re-
suits of scientific apple raising in West
, Virginia Oregon and other apple-growing
states have no objection to the results,
but l do not like to see the apple get all
the glory. Bless you. out my way, and in
many other states have recently visited,
there are farmers who are getting rich
every year raising potatoes The poor old
potato is much more a staff OF life than
the apple and the farmer who raises
potatoes in e scientific way lie much surer
OF crop than the neighbor who depends
on the tickle and luxurious apple"
II you happen to have a new treasury
) note in your pocket and viii examine It,
you will find upon IL the name of w. T.
Vernon, register Of the treasury. Mr..
Vernon, who recently relinquished that
office, is Just now a political storm center,
and during the last two weeks he has
caused President Taft much worry He
is a ful-blood negro with a skin as black
as night. He came here about four years
ago to become register Of the treasury,
a place which for years has been accorded
to negro. Previous to entering the pub
lie service he was president of a negro
university in Kansas, and he himself is
recognized as we'll educated person.
When he came to Washington the d.
rectors of the university gave him leave
OF absence so that he could return to the
institution after he had served his term
as register thus providing an anchor to
windward, which all politicians do not
have.
But while Vernon was serving his coun-
try, facuonal lines were drawn among the
republicans of Kansas, and as the sup
porter Of Senator Curtis, Vernon found
himself opposed by Senator Bristow, Gov
ernor Stubs and other radicals. SO that
when Vernon left the treasury and started
back to take up his work as educator he
discovered that another president had
been secured and his leave of absence can
celed.
Senator Curtis asked President Taft to
give Vernon a place in the Indian serv-
ice and the president appointed him as
sistant supervisor Of Indian schools. as
signed to Oklahoma. This Job pays 81 600
a year and travelling expenses, but no
sooner had the appointment been an
nounced than a storm of protest came up
from Oklahoma The people there OBJ
jected to a negro official in their midst,
and the whole question was fought out
at the White House Finally II was agreed
to leave Vernon on the rolls. but keep
him in Washington for the present, in
stead of sending him into the field Thus
the storm has subsidized temporarily, but It
may break out again at any time.
Representative Nicholas Longworth de-
voted part OF his speech on the wool bill
in the house to ridiculing the democrats.
He said that so far as he had noticed
the country and the newspapers were not
wrought up over the speeches In favor
of the bill.
THE public Is taking nos interest In
this measure" said Mr.. Longworth. 1T
get this impression from the press of the
country which Is ignoring the bill"
win the gentleman yield?" interposed
Mr.. Longworth's neighbor, Representative
Alfred Allen OF Cincinnati.
Certainly"
well, the gentleman from Ohio should
] not complain. / understand that the speech
he is delivering now was printed in the
afternoon papers of Cincinnati recently"
said Mr.. Allen.
Mr.. Longworth blushed and finished his
speech When he got through the last
page he went over to Mr.. Allen and got
him to agree that the Congressional Record
be credited with scoop"
'obiter dicta" is the latest thing in the
nomenclature of opprobrium barred by the
United States senate. reports the New York
Herald correspondent Senator Knute Mel
son OF Minnesota tried to put It over on
the supreme court of the United States,
but the senate would not have it,
Mr.. Nelson offered a pamphlet by Albert
H. Walker, q New York lawyer, on the
recent rulings OF the supreme court on the
Sherman law and asked that 1t be printed
as a senate document
II referred to the decision of the chief
justice as IAN obiter dicta." This was OBJ
jected TO by Senator Borah OF Idaho.
rs this the pamphlet which has been
| circulated here in the last few days? II
It is. suggest that some one should read
1t before we have 1t printed" said Sen
ator Borah.
TITS all right" said Senator Nelson.
II understand that 1t speaks of the SUI
preme courts ruling as an obter dicta,"
said Mr. Borah.
"You don't mean to say that It speaks
! OF the supreme courts ruling as an obiter
dicta?" said Senator Lodge. An affirma-
tive nod from Mr.. Borah put Mr.. Lodge in
his seat, gasping with horror,
What is It. anyhow murmured one
senator, glancing back at Senator Jeff
Davis seat.
An exodus to the cloak room and a hasty
search OF the dictionary showed it up.
Webster says:
"obiter dictum-A thing said by the way,
or in passing"
There are a lot of wrecked hopes strewn
about the capitol these days. and many a
democratic patriot is nursing his disap-
pointment and vowing revenge. With the |
advent OF the democratic house, a great
many men came here with the certainty OF
| landing fat jobs at the capitol They have
found how frail are human promises. One
fellow arrived in Washington equipped
with a frock coat and silk Mat, with as
surances OF getting a place as reading
] clerk OF the house at $1,000. Today he is
sadly conducting an elevator at a stipend
of 500 q month. Perhaps this 500 a month
would have looked very good to him
| short time ago. but 1900 is awfully small