New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-07-16
How the Festive Boys In Congress EDjoy
Themselves.

How the Festive Boys IN COR8reSS EUJOy
Themselves.
A Washin gton special of July 10, to the
Chicago Times, 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 unusu-
ally hot, even for this season of the year.
The thermometer had ranged from $50 to
1929 upon the floor of the House. Mr.
WiggingtO of California, had surrendered
ried home; G. Wiley Wells, Of Mississippi,
also mad a slight attack of vertigo and was
forced to retire to the cloak room. Othez
persons complained terribly of the oppressive
heat. 1t was proposed by Randall at this
time to adjourn Congress over for three or
four days, in order to enable the con-
ference committee to stand tree and
clear of legislative bothers in the House
for their work upon the appropriation
bills. The intense heat and close, sultry
atmosphere of the hall made the mem
bers very thirsty and they crowded
the cloak room and stood in detected posi-
tions about the water tanks and sighed fO1'
the good old Republican rule, when iced
tea and lemonade was furnished members
at government expense. 1t appears that
the tank of lemonade furnished last Satur-
az had been supposed The statements that
had gone abrc ad thai Uncle Jimmy Williams
had 80 far forgotten himself as to allow tho
public treasury 10 be plundered in the in
terest of the weaknesses of the members is'
untrue. The tank of lemonade on Saturday
was supplied by private subscription. So
this morning when the members crowded
about and looked for fresh tank. the at
tendant informed them that there was none,
and rush was made for Uncle Jimmy, who
was besieged all day long to relent, and
furnish the thirsty crowd something better
than ice-cold Potomac water, 1t was in
vain that the members appealed to Uncle
Jimmy, and told him how their lives were
threatened. He sat calmly in his 81 linen
coat, tanning himself with his FIVE cent
palm leaf fan, and to every appearance he
and iced tea you must buy it."
A subscription was started upon the Dem
ocratic side of the house about two o'clock,
and enough money was raised to buy tank
of lemonade. This was placed in the cloak
room upon the Democratic side of the
House, and here the members crowded
about like small boys on visit to a circus.
The tank was huge one, but its supply
vanished before the eager thirst of the mem
bers like snow before the MONDAY sun. In
few moments the tank was empty, and
the members were again bowling for more.
Exasperated by their taste of this cheering
beverage they were ready to 60 to extreme
measures. Mr.. Stone. of Missouri, ran hasti-
~ to his seat, scratched off resolution,
which he sent to the Clerks desk and asked
that it be passed under q suspension of the
rules. This resolution, when it came to be
read. declared that the House should order
the chairman of the Committee on Accounts
to prepare for the members proper supply
of iced tea and lemonade for the remainder
of the session.
Uncle Jimmy at this spraDg to his feet,
blsndished his tan on high, and called out:
"Mr. Speaker" in his shrillest tones. None
paid any attention to him, and cries Of
"Vote." vote" vote" went up from the
more good lemonade. So great was the
confusion for moment that the speaker
had to order the members to their seats
before he would allow q vote to be had.
Upon putting the vote to the members
there was q ferOcions yell of "aye," 'aye'
all over the house, but on the Democratic
side there were few faithful refOrmers
who sympathized with Uncle Jimmy. They
demanded that if 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
q record vote. They arose to the number of
forty.t and demanded that the yeas and
nays should be taken. This was sufficient
number, and when the members were con-
fronted 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 few Republicans
dared vote for the resolution. Upward Of
an hour and half OF the time of the House
was consumed in settling this much vexeG.
lemonade question. Uncle Jimmy RENAME
tonight triumphant