Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-03-08
ECHOES OF THE SESSION.
THE CHARMS OF A CONGRESS.
MANS LIFE.

| Carnival of Billingsgate-Van HOor-
his Luck-Keifer Keifer to the Last
His Brutality to the Press-His Last
Act Characteristic-S4,O0 900 for Moth
ing.
! WASHINGTON, March I'VE have many
members OF the House and Senate yet with
us. They seem 10th to withdraw from WASH
lngton. This is specially the case with that
large number OF members who failed to be
returned to the next House. Congressional
life is, after all, very fascinating. Those who
once taste it, and who make pleasant acquain-
tances in this city of pleasant people, do not
return to their homes at all willingly. There
is a certain glamour about Congressional
life that is very attractive to all men.
II is true that the member OF Congress is not
looked up to in Washington as he is elsewhere.
We are so used to bigger people than the ay-
erage member that he does not attract much
general attention. Stll II is always pleasant
Tor man TO be in public life, no matter If he
IS incapable OF shining there. 1t is q satisfac-
tiOn for a man to be in Congress on the same
footing with others who really are men OF
ability. Ii is the fascination of as
sociation. II you are not a big man.
you certainly have the same pay
and the same number OF votes as really
big men have. and there is always in Wash
lngton sufficiently large number OF tuft hum
tiers for even a very ordinary Congressman 10
have his satellites, and there are always
not think much of you, yet they pay you
certain Difference simply because you are in
Congress. These are some of the reasons why
a man when he once has a case Of Con-
gressional existence would like never to
get over it. Said q gentleman whose
constituents have seen ft to succeed him by
some one else to me to-day. mo, haven't
gone home yet, and do not expect that win for
some time to come. like Washington, and
have couple of daughters with me who would
never leave il If they could help it. There ~
nlpntV a
the bear garden has shut down until next
December. do not pretend, as many OF my
colleagues in falling TO get back do, that am
glad l was not reelected. To say IL
would be to tell what is not true, and be-
lteve that nine such statements out OF ten are
those old sour grapes again. don't know but
what shall come back, hang out a lawyers
shlngle, and continue the enjoyment OF the
many pleasures inwhch Washington ab0unds.
am awful sorry that was tidal-wave vic
tim"
cannot recollect session OF Congress In
which there was so much personal language
used by members to each other as that one
which has Just closed. IL began early in the
session. 1t began II the Senate, which is moth
ing, if not dignifed. The House abounded in
it. There was not as much leaving out OF the
record OF hot words spoken in heated debate.
There was one sweet member, Mr..
Van Foorhis, of New York, who went to the
other extreme. He reviewed his remarks one
night before they went to the Congressional
printer. He put in words OF personal
abuse of brother member that he had not the
courage to say on the floor. 1t was pity that
the House did not expel him when he called
Page gambler and other pet names. have
never in my life seen man as near being ex-
PEELED as was this sweet statesman from New
York that night. Had he waited but a few min
apology for his billingsgate he would have
gone certainly. And the personal passages
which piled themselves one upon the other
politics but in rare cases They were simply
the result of passion. Oftener that Demo<
crat abusing Republican or Republican DEM
oerat. Republican attacked Republican
the Republican side were very
handy with their mOuths-excuse the mixed
metaphor-in bandying ePithets with each
other. Ii is q WONDER taking the previous
record during the session, that the House and
Senate went out in such comparative quiet-
ness. There were. of course, the usual last
scenes and the usual evidences of liquor put
where it did the least good. But it was not
near so bad as is generally the case. Taking
its previous abundance of scenes, it is a won.
in free fights, scalp and war dances, and other
little things Of such enliyening character.
Keifer was Keifer to the last. He turned
loose the sisters. cousins and aunts of members
upon us in the gallery. Some OF these gentle
ladies were very pretty, but when they took
your seat from you and talked and chatted 30
perslstently that YOU could hardly hear,
much less write, it was too much, 1t was be-
yOnd all human endurance. Finally we got
the reporters in during the dying hours Of Con-
was passing resolution of thanks TO Keifer
the reporters in the gallery passed resou-
tiOn of censure upon him for his un-
warranted and high handed course. Keifer,
when demonstrated with about il, told one
of the correspondents that he did not care a
d d for the press. The press reciprocates
most heartily. Keifer will pound no more.
His gavel days are over. He will cut q very
sorry figure in the next House. lie had no
respect from any one this session but the job
bers and such respect as his high Office sur
rounded him with Keifer's political carcas
will make an interesting view.
And the last thing that Keifer did was TO
remove one of the best stenographers that the
House has ever had. He did this in order that
he might put in his stead his own nephew,
who will draw 81, 900 between now and next
December, when the appointment viii expire.
The salary runs on during the recess,
when there is nothing at all to do.
The man turned out has not made much
money. He has had to employ so many as
attended TO the committee report
ing-that his salary was well eaten into. It
is during the recess, when there Is no such
expense, that the official reporters make their
money. The young man that Keifer has ap-
pointed was at that time his private secretary,
whose pay also runs on to December next.
The vacancy caused by this young man get
ting $4,000 for nothing was filed by another
relative of Keifer's! While he lasted Keifer
was dandy. POTOMAC.