Evening star., 1925-06-22
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE

1t is an appropriate moment to
observe that Grace Goodhue Coolidge
has weathered triumphantly a year
OF poignant trial. No circumstance
has been more remarked in Wash.
ington than the fortltude with which
the flrst lady of the land has
borne the grief which afflicted her in
July, 1924. She has bravely refused
70 wear her heart upon her sleeve.
Everybody knows that the smiles Mrs.
Coolidge has for all occasions screen
very deep sorrow. But she has
suppressed it in order that the exalted
duties that fall to the wives of our
Presidents may be punctiliously alb.
feared that Mrs. Coolidge might not
continually succeed in suppressing
her emotions. That she has done so
is at once a tribute to her courage,
her consideration and her constitu-
ton.
All records for passports are being
smashed at the State Department
these days. Hitherto. tho issuance of
1000 a day of Uncle Sans credentials
has been a high-water mark. For
many weeks past. owing to this year 8
stampede to foreign parts, Secretary
been grinding out passports at the
rate OF $500 q day. AS they cost the
tidy sum of SO apiece, 1t means that
State Department revenue has been
accruing to the extent OF nearly $780,
600 a month. Thanks to passport
fees and consular invoice fees abroad.
the United States foreign service Is
virtually on a self-sustaining basis.
X
Albert jeremiah Beveridge has just
concluded a fortnight Of research at
the Congressional Library in connec.
ton with his monumental life" of
Lincoln. The Hoosier statesman-his-
torian claims to be immersed in that
work, to the exclusion of all other
interests. Nevertheless, Senator James
e. Watson plans to put in a busy
Summer in Indiana digging In against
the menace of a contest with Bevertdge
in the 1926 Republican primaries.
Beveridge will return to Washington
periodically during the next year for
more Lincoln data. One of the gems
he recently disinterred was docu-
mentary evidence Of Lincoln's bitter
commissioner of the General Land
Office. The Great Emancipator was
an Unsuitable seeker for Office in
Illinois for years before national
honors gave him Immortality.
Although the new foreign service
law Rogers billy increased the pay of
junior officials at our embassies and
legations abroad, salaries Of ambas-
sadors and ministers were not raised.
Ambassadors still have to worry along
on $17,500, and ministers on $4,000 a
year. One Of our $4,000 ENJOYS has
lust asked to be transferred to a place
where he Is not required to live above
his income. It happens to be a capital
where the representative OF the richest
country on earth 10 expected to keep
up a correspondingly fancy front. The
minister in question finds 1t hopeless
to try to do so on his Government
pay, which Is all he has. He Is going
to be sent to a less expensive Job.
His friends say there Is more than
meets the eye in last weeks defeat
of Senator Walter E. Edges primary
candidate for the governorship OF New
Jersey. Senator Edge, once Governor
of New Jersey and twice elected to
the United States Senate, has very
busy presidential bee buzzing in his
capable head. He Is young, as well
as ambitious, having Just turned so.
so that even II the lightning should
not strike him until 1882, he would
still be in presidential prime. The re-
lection of the Edge gubernatorial
favorite is the first serious setback
the Senator has encountered In all OF
the Is years and more that he has
been q factor in Jersey politics. Even