Evening star., 1923-08-12
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

worked hard for living.
In the early sos Representative Jo-
seph Jefferson Mansfield Of the ninth
Texas district was station baggage
master and car recorder at Rosen-
berg, in Fort Bend county. Rosen
/ berg, now prosperous and thriving
city of several thousand, was then
but a railroad junction on the bald
prairie. The surrounding country
was uninhabited and unfenced, but
noted for its mosquitoes.
Three railroads centered in Rosen
berg-the Southern Pacific, the San
ia Fee and the "Macaroni." Quite d
lot Of railroad business was transact
ed. both passenger and freight, but il
was of transfer character. About
the only local business transacted
consisted of supplies for one lunch
counter and two saloons. which were
not without their patrons
The duties of the car recorder and
baggage master were continuous, both
day and night, requiring two in their
performance. Mansfield had as as
slstant in the person of Leslie p. Da
Yid, now banker of Gonzales. each
being on duty twelve hours a day, a
thing not uncommon with railroad
workers of that time
In the winter of 1882 the town Of
Rosenberg. which principally con-
sisted of a railway station house, was
destroyed by fire. After this, tenn
porary offices were provided for
time The Santa Fe opened up in a
box car, the "Macoroni" in a tent and
the Southern Pacific hastily con-
structed a weatherboard building
about y by 30 feet.
This building had rough board
counter across the center, the rear
portion being occupied by the Office
iorce, while that in front was used
as a waiting room for passengers
quenly required to wait for several
hours for the arrival of wood
burner" on the adjoining line.
on account of the scarcity of sleep
ing quarters in Rosenberg, Mansfield
and David placed a few boards over
| the joists of this temporary ONCE
building, upon which they spread a
small mattress. This bed was occu-
pied by them alternately, and the
space above it. under the roof. was
comfort. 1t also served as dressing.
quarters. This sleeping and dressing
room was about ten feet above the
! moor. and TO reach IL Stats were nailed
| To two of the studs in one end of the
! building.
Mansfield from childhood had been
| A somnambulist. 1t was quite com
| mon for him 10 get up and stir aboat
In MS sleep, sometimes even dressiIg &
ana going TO work in the car yards
On the night in question il was his
turn 10 occupy the sleeping quarters
| David being on duty. A blue whis-
tier was raging. and among the pas
sengfrS who crowded into the build
J ing for protection from the weather
was the Stutz travelling troop. con-
sisting OF dozen or more, both men
and women.
The members of the troop were
making the best of their situation.
some of them getting out their mu-
slcal instruments. upon which they
were making some unusual sounds
winch We're accompanied by hiIari-
Gus laughter.
The general noise and confusion
partially aroused the sleeping Mans
heid whose presence on the perch
above. up To this time. had been un-
observed. Ak the foot of the bed
! the boards supporting it extended
some distance beyond the joist. and
as Mansfield, in his confusion. placed
MS weight upon this position. they
! kicked up at the other end. spAlIng
him in the midst of the crowd below
PajamaS Were then unknown in
, Rosenberg. and Mansfield was dressed
only in loose fitting mighty" out
of which he almost completelv es-
capped in the fall. the tail of the, gar
ment having hung in some way. raus-
ing it to be pulled up over his head
The commotion that ensued was in
describable. The light panel door
was demolished and both windows
| smashed, as men and women made
! their escape at every exit Whether
they thought ii was an angel or a
thunderbolt has never been fully ex-
planned
Notwithstanding his ten-fooi fall
il was some seconds before Mans
field could realize what had happened.
| The coal oil lamp was then turned
out long enough for him TO scale the
ladder TO his perch. after which the
! passengers We're invited to return.
Several members of the troop re-
Ceived slight bruises. and all were
! more or less drenched by tae cold
! rain. but after explanations We're
made. being good sports. they seemed
! to enjoy il.
| Mansfield. deeming his quarters un-
! safe. afterward changed them. over to
Richmond three miles away, where
! he boarded at the Nationa: Hotel.
then presided over by Davic Nation
latter afterward becoming famous as
| a saloon smasher.
! John s Mills has had charge of the
! confidential printing of the Secretary
| of the Treasury and has personally
| presented the report which by stat
| ute has to be made directly to the
| Congress during that quarter of a
! century except on one occasion when
! Frank a. Vanderlip, then assistant
secretary of the Treasury. and Milton
! f. Allies. then private secretary to
| Secretary Gage. thought thsy would
! like to present the report and did so.
| Mr.. Mills personally met ALI the Vice
! Presidents on those occasions ano
| generally the Speaker.
! He is highly gratified that in all
! these years of confidential service to
| the Secretaries of the Treasury in
! connection with printing their annual
reports, and presenting them to the
| Congress. there has never been a
/ leak" except once. when one of the
| big press associations prema turely
! released the report. for which the
| Secretary received due apology from
/ the associa ton.
| Mr Mills was transferred to the
| Treasury Department in 1897. under
| Secretary Cages administration; was
put in charge of the confidential
| editor of Treasury Decisions" a new
publication. started by Secretary
[ Gage, containing decisions of the de-
| partment on the subjects of customs,
internal revenue. navigation. etc.
| While occupying this position, he
! compiled a Digest of Customs De-
| cisions" under the various tariff acts.
| He has compiled the finance volume
| of the Treasury Department. for a
| number of years In 1t are embraced
| the report of the Secretary of the
| Trea sury, the treasurer of the United
| States the controller of the currency
| the director of the mint, the registrar
/ of the Treasury. and the comm ssioner
! of internal revenue. He has also ed =
! tied reports of the department.:
He is the representative Of the