The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-05-31
Number Of Residences IN Capital Can
be Had Without Cost Dur
ing the Hot
Weather.
IN VACATION SEASON
Proposed Liquor Prohibition Amend.
nent to Constitution 10 Haunt
ing the Congress
men.
tBy Burton K. standish, written for

the United Press.1
WASHINGTON, May 3o.-There's g.
scramble on among several hundred
Washingtonians today for rent-free
houses during the summer months in
the city's most exclusive residential
districts. Few people outside the cap
ital realize that there are in tnis city
scores of beautiful and costly homes
which are turned over to care-takers.
some times without rent. and with
coal gas and electric light bills paid.
On some occasions even, care-takers
are paid a nominal sum to live in the
houses.
Now is the season when these care
takers are the busiest. Those who
have had these positions in the past
are the most active and they besige
almost daily the various real estate
Offices in the city. For this business is
one Of the hardest for real estate men
to look after. In the first place they
must be able to judge character ION
the jump and be able to pick men
and women who would be capable and
honest. Then after selecting the
names Of applicants the agents have
to investigate tneir standing and trust
worthiness. In the selection OF the
tenants, widows almost have first
choice A good widow with children
is always regarded as the best care
taker.
While the occupation of care.taker
grew up originally when Washington
~ NJ fDy ar If
has extended to another branch now
that Of furnished houses for sale or
rent. For instance. II public official
who has lived here several years sud-
denly becomes a lame duck" and
moves "back to the farm" his Wash
ington home is for sale. Often 1t Is
difficult. to sell the place Immediately
or even to rent it. AS a result care
taker is selected. This party is given
possession of the house but is re-
quired to keep it in tip-top condition
ard to show it to prospective buyers.
No public question in years has
haunted congressman like the pro
posed liquor prohibition amendment
to the federal constitution. They take
to task-every time they can find
them-any member OF the house Ju-
dietary committee for reporting out
the Hobson amendment 1t is becom-
ing the customary sight in the lower
body to see any afternoon groups OF
three or FIVE representatives gathered
around a committeeman, protesting
that the prohibition question should
not have been brought out so boldly
and put up to the members in a way
that they cannot avoid being recorded.
Some members, OF course, W1ose
attitude on The question Is well known.
spare no pains In laughing at their
.sbrothers in predicament." Repre-
sentative Dies, Of Texas. struck that
note In debate in which he said:
81 shall discuss Mexico, the Colorado
strike, woman suffrage. and, If have
time, I shall take up national and In
ternational prohibition" Dies voiced
the opinion of large number of the
men, however, when he declared as
his belief that prohibition was state
question. and should not be injected
into national politics. When he made
tina. statement in the house his ad-
ditional remarks were drowned by
applause.
Congressman who are on the fence,
or those who desire the country at
large to stay wet but whose con-
stituents wish them to be dry are
making all kinds Of "soundings' and
HEADINGS to senators, hoping that II
The amendment passes the house, the
senate will table it. There is a grow
ing feeling in Washington, however,
that national public officials will have
to face the liquor prohibition ques-
ton either in the mex: presidential
campaign Or two years later. Evasion,
It IS believed, will no longer be pos
sible
Leaders in the house are planning
today to cut down the time required