The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-09-05
A CONGRESSIONAL EPISODE.

On the morning of July 4, 1873, Jas
per Lyttell Wagclthorpe, better known
among his scholastic associates as
Jap" young man of thirteen years,
and the eldest son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Ezekiel r. Wagelthorpe, was dispatched
from his home to neighboring gro
Gerry for three quarts of red raspber-
ries, it being the intention of his par
cnts to entertain friends in the evening.
The proper committee had reported
the estimates for procuring these sup
plies, and the House had appropriated
thirty cents out of the general fund for
the purchase. This amount was in
trusted to young Mr.. Wagclthorpe,
who was appointed a Select Sub-Com-
mittee, and instructed to negotiate
with the proper parties for the sup
plies. He gave no bonds, and, in fact,
was required to give none. 1t appears
from the records that his instructions
were very simple, and that the order of
the House was that he proceed at once
upon his mission.
Mr.. Wagelthorpc (Jasper l.. looked
carefully at the funds which had been
placed in his hands, and suggested that
they were insufficient.
The Speaker (Mrs. Wagelthorpe)
said it was all the House had appro-
priated for that purpose, and was and
must be sufficient.
Mr.. Wagelthorpe Casper L.) still
hesitated about departing on his mis-
sion, and said that he heard boy saw
that boy told him his mother said she
heard market-man say red raspbcr-
RIGS would be worth fifteen or twenty
cents quart this morning.
The Speaker called Mr.. Wagclthorpe
to order, and protested against the in
PRODUCTION of irrelevant hearsay evil
dence from irresponsible sources. The
committee would proceed upon its mis-
sion at once.
MIR. Wagelthorpe Casper H. asked
for information whether, in case the
appropriation should, as he feared,
prove insufficient to close the purchase,
he would be authorized to draw upon
the general fund for the deficiency, or
to apply the credit of the House in
making the purchase?
He was again censured by the
Speaker. and warned not to 90 beyond
the instructions of the House.
Mr.. Wagelthorpe Casper L. then
made an effort to tack on to the appro-
priation bill clause appropriating ten
cents for fire-crackers.
Lost, by an overwhelming majority,
the Speaker herself voting in the mega.
tive.
Mr.. Wagelthorpe (Jasper L.) being
the third time and in q most peremp-
tory manner ordered to depart and car
~ out the will of the House. then rose
to question of privilege. Did anybody
know where his hat was?
The Speaker being now thoroughly
convinced that the committee was
merely filibustering togain time, called
upon the Sergeant-at-Arms, Mr.. Wa
gelthorpe ezekiel r. to escort the
committee to the door of the House
with his single. This was done, and
shortly after the departure of the COM
mittee, the House took arecess to await
the report of said committee.
Upon reassembling, it was ascer-
tanned that it lacked but five minutes of
tea-time, and that the committee had
~ yet sent in NO report. Sub-commit-
tees that were appointed with Plenipo-
Tertiary powers, went out and returned,
submitting reports to the effect that no
traces OF the work Of the first commit
tee could be ascertained, and asking to