The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-07-19
WILLIAMS WINS.

HIS LAST TRIUMPH OVER WASTE.
HOW THE TALL RETRErcHER FROM INDI-
ANA TAPPED THE LEMONADE ISSUE ON
THE HEAD IN THE HOUSE.
The Washington correspondent OF the
Chicago Times of yesterdays issue says:
Toward the close of the session of the
House this afternoon there was one of the
most ridiculous scenes that has ever taken
place in Congress. The day had been un-
usually hot, even for this season of the
wear. The thermometer had ranged from
90 to 102 upon the floor of the House. Mr..
Wiggington of California had surrendered
to the heat by fainting, and had
to be carried home. @. Wiley Wells Of
Mississippi also had a slight attack of
vertigo aud was forced to retire to the
cloak room. Other persons complained
terribly of the oppressive heat. 1t was
proposed by Randall at this time to sd-
journ Congress over for three or four days,
in order to enable the conference commit
Lee to stand free and clear of legislative
bother In the House for their work upon
the appropriation billie. The intense heat
and close, sultry atmosphere of the hall
made the members very thirsty and
they crowded the closk room and stood in
detected positions about the water tanks
and sighed for the good old Republican
rule, when iced tea and lemonade was
furnished members at government ex-
pense. 1t appears that
THE TANK OF LEMONADE
furnished last Saturday did not come
from the public treasury as bad been sup
posed. The statements that had gone
abroad that Uncle Jimmy williams had
so far forgotten himself as to allow the
public treasury to be plundered in the in
terest of the weaknesses of the members,
10 untrue. The tank of lemonade on Sat-
urday was supplied by private subscrip-
ton. So this morning, when the men,
bers crowded about and looked for fresh
tank, the attendant informed them that
there was rome, and q rush was made for
Uncle Jimmy, who was beseiged all day
long to relent, ard furnish the thirsty
crowd with something be ter thsn ice cold
Potomac water. 1t wss in vain that the
members appesled tn UuDcle Jimmy, and
told him how their lives were threatened.
de sat calmly in his 81 linen coat, fan
ming himself with his 6ve-cent palm leaf
fan, and to every appearance he said
"Gentlemen, If you want lemonade and
iced tea you must buy it" A subscrip-
ton was started upon the Democratic side
OF the House about O'Clock, ard enough
money was raised 30 buy a tank oflemon-
ade. This was placed in the cloak room
upon the Democratic side of the House,
and here the members crowded about like
small boys on a visit to c rcus. The
tank was huge one, but its supply van
ished before the eager thirst OF the men,
bers like snow before the MONDAY sun.
IN FEW MOMENTS THE TANK WAS EMPTY
and the members were again bowling for
more. Exssperated by their taste of this
cheering beverage, they we're ready to go
to extreme measures. Stone of Missouri
ran hastily to his seat, scratched off reso-
luton, which be sent to the clerks desk
and asked that it be passed under a sus-
peDslOnsof the rules.i This resolution, when
It came 10 be read, declared that the House
should order the chairman of the commit
tee on accounts to prepare for the members
proper supply of iced tea and lemonade
for the remainder of the session. Uncle
Jimmy at this sprsDg to bis feet, brand
ishtd bis fan on high. and called out: "Mr.
Speaker" In his shrillest tones. None
paid any attention to him, and cries of
"Vote, ""Vs te, ""Vote," went up from the
thirsty members, hungry and piniDg for
more good Lemonade. So great was the
confusion for a moment that the speak.
or had to order the members to their seats,
before be would allow vote to be bad
Upon putting the vote to the members,
there was q ferocious yell of "Aye.b
AYE" all over the house, but upon the
Democratic side there were few faithful
reformers who sympsthiz-d with Uncle
Jimmy. They demanded that ii the house
should by solemn resolution order Uncle
Jimmy to make iced Tea and lemonade for
them at government expense it should be
taken by record vote. They arose to the
number of AZ and demanded that the yeas
and nays should be taken. This was
sufficient number, aud when the mem bers
were confronted with the appalling fact
that they had to go on record as having
ordered for themselves free drinks at the
expense OF the people none but a few Re-
puolicans dared vote for the resolution.
Upward of an hour and half of the time
OF the House was consumed in settling
this much-vexed lemonade question.
Uncle Jimmy remains tonight triumph
ant.