Daily Los Angeles herald., 1883-02-10
A Frugal Statesman.
washington cor. philadelphia Record. |

Washington cor. Phiiadelpha hecoro.l
Senator Edmundsis believed to be in
very comfortable circumstances. He
has good brick house on Massactu-
sets avenue in this city, and good
frame house at Burlington, VT, and he
lives very nicely in both. He has big
rugs and big dogs in both. He is fond
Of them rs ho ia Of good table and a
good sideboard. But he is very care
full man. Probably that's the reason he
Is very comfortable man. His Bur.
lington dwelling is the onlyhouse on the
street without strip of sidewalk be-
fore IL. The sidewalk come down to
the Senator's limo; then there Is break
Of gravel, then the sidewalk. He was
was only there in Summer, he said, and
gravel was good enough for him. The
town did not lay the pavement, because
IL doubted whether it would ever get
its money back. 1t knew that tho Sena.
tor did not pay taxes willingly. 1t re-.
membered that when the legislature
passed an act levying personal tax the
Senator quietly declared it unoonstitu-
tional, and announced that he would pay
no taxes undor it except such as were
wrung from him by force. Tho asses
sors didn't have much luck with the
Senator. The act gave them the right
to double the value of all the personal
property they could find. They strongly
suspected that the Senator was worth
something like $500. 900; but all they
could find was q COW, horse or two,
some jewelry, gold watch. some furni-
ture and so on, worth in oil $1,000 or
$4,000. They doubled 1t. They col
lected about one.tenth Of the tax they
ought to have collected. The Senator
smiled grimly and stroked the silky
back Of his largest dog. The Senator
never wastes anything, not even words.
Last summer he invited two
friends, both well-to.do lawyers
like himself, though not SO well
known outside Of New York, to fish
from salmon streGsa annually placed at
his disposal by some Canadian friends.
He gave his guests an idsa of the num-
Der Of days he contemplated remaining
on the stream, and informed them that
it would be "basket lunch EVERY
body to contribute something to the gem
eral table. The lawyers were delighted
with the invitation, and rather impressed
by the fact that it was extended by a
man who was wanted by some people
as President Of the United States. They
equipped themselves as though for an
arctic expedition. They did not see the
Senator again until they reached the
fishing camp. He had preceded them.
They could not sec the baggage he
brought. 1t was presumably under cover
IA
fectly perceptible. Tho first man to
<unpack turned out potted meats and veg.
etables, dried meats and fruits, preserves,
bread, cakes, crackers, cheese, sauces, jel-
lies, condiments, wines, liquors, cigars and
all tho other good things to be found in
Boston. Then the Senator's other guest
opened his hamper. He had almost
every edible that the other fellow had,
and more drinkables. The contents of
the two magazines covered about all the
vacant space there was around the camp.
When they had laid everything they had
on the ground the guests looked Mt their
host, who was quietly stroking his long,
white beard, as who should say; ''Show
your hand, Senatorl" The Senator re-
turned to his baggage train and soon
reappeared, bearing his contribution
without difficulty in his two hands.
Some crackers, some cheese, some simple
dried and sailed meats, n little good
brandy, and that was about all. The
guests had profound respect for the Sen
ator, but I'm told their somewhat dis
respectful opinion of the man was fully
visible in their faces. He is very care
full man, as well as very good Senator.