The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-07-05

a DRENKHNG CONGRESS-.
a -Whiskey jug i'm Every CoIn-
Rmitlce Room,

EmIttce Room.
This Congress, says Washington
letter to the New York World, is maxi
ing a place in history as the heaviest
drinking Congress of modern times.
Liquor is sold in every form in each
one of the restaurants, and there is
not committee room without its
demilohn or private cabinet The
worst drinking, however, is on the
Senate side. There tho monotohy of
legislative existence is absolutely ter
rife. The Senate at last is nothing
but club-room in these latter DAYS
and its members have the habits and
manners of club men. Senatorial
courtesy and much social hobnobbing
have practically oblitcratcd party
lines, A partisan discussion in the
senate at present would be an impos-
sibility. When Democrats and Re-
publicans clink glasses together doz-
Ell times day, the keen edge of par
tisan feeling is apt to become blunted.
| do not really believe that there is
such thing as temperance Senator,
1t is very rare that any one of them
gets actually drunk, but 8 80 o'clock
every day will find twenty or thirty of
them, without regard to party, in
fuddled condition, although the pub
lie could have no reason to suspect
this fact from the grave outward APP
pcarance,
The Senate has two conference
rooms set aside for the supposed pri-
yate purposes of Democrats and Re
publicans. In old times these rooms
were rigidly maintained as private
rooms for the purposes for which they
were originally assigned. 1t would
have been a rare occasion when Re
publican would have venturod into
the Democratic room, or vice versa.
To-day these conference rooms are
nothing but private barrooms attach
ed to the Senatorial club | think
that more Republicans go into Dem
ocratic room than Democrats. The
ausetre Edmunds, the President Of tho
Senate, is oftener seen in the Demo
cratic conferance room than tho
Chairman OF the Democratic caucus.
There ic special cause for the great
er popularity OF the Democratic room.
A certain wealthy and generous Dem
ocratic Senator out Of his private
purse keeps in this room stock of
good liquors. He started this room
years ago for the convenience OF hay
ing something at hand TO treat his
visiting friends, When Senators were
in tho room they were always includ-
ed in these invitations. Gradually
Senators came to look to him as the
fountain for all their supplies, He,
being easy and good-naturod, has
drifted into the habit Of supplying
about half the Senators with their
dozen or fifteen drinks. Some Of the
Senators who have drank so remorsc-
fcssly at his expence for years occas-
sionally say that they will send up a
supply of liquor to the room to relieve
him from the burden, but they mover
do. The man who is willing to pay
for other peoples drinks in Washing,
ton will not meet with any opposition
however high or distinguished may be
his associates.
The house people do most OF their
drinking in the committee rooms, in
the restaurant and at the Congression
al Hotel, stones thow southeast
from the House wing of the Nationa,
Capitol.
Tho Supreme Court has ita bar
room, too. This fact is not generally
known. 1t is between the Clerks OF
| fee and the private dressing-room O.
the Justices whore they put on thcil
ridiculous gowns The room is &
small, square one, fitted up witt
broad, easy chairs, plain, a horse -hail
sofa and an open fire-grate. A. little
block-iron tea kettle hangs upon {
crane near the CRATE This is usct
FOR boiling water when hot grog il
served to the court after arduous In
bors Of the day are done. There is ,
very smart colored boy in attendanc,
upon this judicial barroom. His skill
in mixing fancy drinsk is said to equa
, any Of the artists of the best barroom
of New York.