Imperial Valley press., 1914-02-18
STANDISH'S GOSSIP
FROM THE CAPITAL
By BURTON X. STANDISH
Written for the United Press)

I =
Washington, Feb. 18.-"Battling
Ben" Johnson, representative from
Kentucky, and known to fame because
of his near-fist fights and his self-con-
fessed proclivity for "toting a gun," is
not extremely popular with society
folk here. Also the real estate agents
just positively shudder when they hear
his name. It's all because johnson
delved deep into musty tones and dis
covered precedent whereby he in
sists that the District of Columbia
ought to pay all its city expenses, in
stead of saddling the federal govern
ment with half of them, as has been
the case for nearly third of a CEN
tury.
Johnson, being Democrat, and nat
urally bug for the Democratic econ
omy stuff, has been making the rich
society folks and the real estaters
shake in their several boots pretty
nearly every day since that time by
pushing his scheme ahead. He is chair
man of the house committee which leg
islates for the city of Washington, too,
and that means he is in a position to
make his recommendations carry
weight. He holds that the tax rate
here is entirely too low, and that by
making the rich society swells who
own fine homes here which they oc-
cupy during the season" pay more
taxes, matters will be evened up.
The old "half and half' plan was
adopted because the government
owned SO much property here, in parks,
government buildings and reserva-
tions, it was thought Uncle Sam
ought to pay half of the Districts ex-
penses. Johnson would have the gov
ernment pay some. But he insists
this shouldn't be half of the city's ex-
penses. Naturally residents of Wash
ington are fighting the Johnson plan
as hotly as possible. Johnson continu-
ally receives threatening letters every
so often. Therefore the pistol pocket
and the determination to go ahead
with his ideas no matter what happens.
President Wilson has such fond
ness for faction" in the drama that he
frequently annoys society by popular
izing playhouse here that is distinct
ly questionable. 1t is occupied by a
stock company which plays nice and
thrifty shows. Durings the summer
folks thought the presidents weekly
attendance was because there wasn't
any other show house open, but now
that all the other theatres are running,
they've discovered that it's matter
of preference.
Audiences have discovered that the
president gets an immense amount of
enjoyment out of Williams and heroes
and lurid climaxes. He sits at the edge
of his box and just absorbs the play.
"Alfalfa Bill' Murray, representa-
! tive from Oklahoma, was showing
some constituents of his around Wash .
ington the other day. They had walk
ed weary miles through the treasury
and bureau of engraving buildings,
and finally arrived at the Washington
monument. Murray led off with
grand little lecture about the big pile.
A policeman got so interested in some
of Murray's facts CD about it that
when the congressman finished the po-
liceman's nose was right over the Ok
/ lahoman's shoulder.
"Some little talk, wasn't it," AL
falfa Bill queried.
''Oh, yeh," negligently retorted the
bluecoat. "But you forgot about the
cat" ....
'sWhat cat?" demanded Murray.
"The brindled cat of 1896"
"Well, what about him? :" demanded
Bill, hot under the collar.
"Oh, nothing"
"See here, you tell that story
shouted Bill. The minion of the law
moved away little distance.
sit amt much OF "a story he be,