National Republican., 1883-03-01
ON THE AVENUE.

One Of the most conspicuous figures in the
house is Hon. Leopold Morse, Of Boston. Mr.
Morse" wrote a correspondent in giving q
private pen picture Of the gentleman, us
little duck legged democrat from Boston who
has represented republican district for years
and can stay in the house as long as hesees Rt
His seat Is under the gallery at the speakers
right hand, but he is essentially pedestrian
and cannot sit still long enough to warm
chair. The little bull pen in front Of the
clerks tables and the speakers desk
is his special stamping ground, and there
he can be seen nine-tenths Of the
time, pacing up and down with COM
ical, breezy swagger, his thumbs buried In his
pantaloons pockets and his head cooked to
one side knowingly. He never says any
thing, but someway he impresses strangers
with q feeling that he is on the point Of
taking tho house by the neck, and that he is
restraining himself by mighty effort Of the
will. never see aim that an image does not
rise before my eyes Of saucy little tugboat
darting hither and thither, putting, snorting,
whistling. and blowing of steam, with an air
that says palmer than words, i am not
as big as some Of your propellors
and ocean steamers, but 1 can frisk
around quicker and 1 know 1 have
q louder whistle than any boat In the harbor,
toot, toot toot-to.o-o-ot, to-o-o-ot, to-o-o-o-
o-o.o-otp Now If 1 could imagine myself
deaf and witness of all this in pantomine
would have the picture complete. Little
Morse never utters a sound, but he has an ap-
pearance of intense activity and nervous bel
ligcrency. Everybody likes him, and he is a
sort of pet of the house. There are none
like him"
Sergeant-at-arms Hooker, Of tho house, is
the only man-ofiicer or member-who can
call each and every member by name at sight
without stopping to think and do the mister
mister-mister- -hesitating act.
So
Representative Belford made the greatest
effort of his life yesterday in his speech in
support Of an amendment to the river and
harbor bill, proposing an appropriation of
$1000 900 to build reservoir to catch and hold
the surplus water Of one Of his Colorado gulch
streams at point where 1t emerges from the
mountains, for the reclamation Of arid
lands by the irrigation plan. He
SPARED at the house in a manner that
would have made tho Maori mad with
envy, and his evident desire to fight the op-
position clear around the ring produced pro-
found impression in the galleries. When he
took the floor everybody wondered what use
he could find for a water appropriation in
Colorado, but he soon put his audience out Of
agony. Having talked for his far away con-
stituency for ten minutes he withdrew his
amendment and retired from the ring with
out q scratch"
So
The capitol is one of the most attractive
resorts in Washington this week. 1t Is
crowded with strangers and their city friends
night and day. The galleries are packed, and
an air of hustle and excitement pervades the
whole building. The evening sessions Of the
dying congress appear to be especially inter-
esting to visitors, judging from their eager
ness in swarming up the hill. The house
draws best. There is more turmoil, sluggine
repartee, excitement, and spectacular oratory
| in the lower house than in tho senate. The
members enjoy the notice they are receiving
and the audiences enter fully into the spirit
of the proceedings. Altogether the show Is
better than a circus.
s"s
The senate is strongly hostile to the river
and harbor bill, and several Of the fighting
senators are preparing to train their guns OF
the measure when 1t reaches that end Of the
building. "when the senate gets through
with that omnibus job" whispered q western
senator, "its father wouldn't recognize 1t. II
will be literally eviscerated.i'
s%s
Commenting on Senator Dan Voorhees's op'
position to the confirmation of Hon. ]. w
Foster to be minister 10 Spain, an Indiana
member said: "Voorhoes and Foster are
from the same town, and have known one an
other from boyhood. Voorhees, has always
been an active politician, but Foster dropped
into politics by accident. He was grocer il
Terre Hqute, and made large fortune in thI
business. He was one of Morton's admirers
and the latter made him chairman of hi
state central committee nine or ten years ago
In the distribution of patronage the Mexican
mission fell to Foster and he held the offic,
six or seven years. He is now Independent
of politics and business. His Mexican con
nections yield him over 100000 year,
understand, and he can afford to play tn
diplomat if he wants to. Voorhees, never hat
high opinion of Foster, and looks upon hi
advancement as q sheer run Of luck"
80
1t was expected in many quarters that tn
President would announce number Of i'm
portant New York nominations and send Il
the name Of new district commissioner, bu
in the batch that reached the senate in tn
evening these names could not be found
1t was reported, however, that the nomina
tion will be made to-day, and that M. "
Cooper is to succeed Collector Robertson, {
New York. Elihu Root is believed to be tn
lucky individual who is to be district attorne
vice Gen. Stewart L. Woodford.
s~s
"You will sec regular parrot and monke
time from now on in the house." was the il
formation connded to the Avenue man las
} evening by veteran house doorkeeper; an
then he added, "About hundre
and fifty members are going out, pc,
haps never to return again to congres
and nine-tenths Of them win have some p,
, life and death scheme to run through in I'll
last three days. They will fight aud cathal
in an interesting manner, you can depend 0
, it, and tho galleries will have fun enough
last lifetime"
, Somebody seems to have gone to an VI