The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1884-03-08
Poker at Washington.
Washington Budget

The "Tice meter,n which was IN
tended to measure the amount of
whiskey produced by a distilIery was
one Of the biggest jobs ever known
here. A law was introduced in Con.
gress requiring the Commissioner of
Internal revenue to compel the in
| PRODUCTION of the Tice meter in every
distilIery in the United States, and
as they cost from 81, 500 to So, OOOeach,
thereswas a big percentage to be
divided somewhere. The Chairman
of the committee to whom the intro
duction of the meter was referred,
however, could not he persuaded to
report it back to the House favorabIy
and a variety of methods were emf
ployed to secure his sanction. Finally
he was invited to play a game of
draw poker, OF which he was extrav-
agantly fond, in the parlor of MIR.
Tice at Wizards hotel.
The game was q lively one, and when
the party broke up the Congressman
was jubilant and the meter maker was
sad, having lost $4,000. The next
day a bill was reported in favor of
the meter, which became a law, and
MI. rice sold a large number Of his
machines to the Government. OF
course his loss in the game Of draw
poker had nothing to do with its
introduction.
Poker players say that General
Bristow, ex-Secretary of the Treasury
and the pet candidate OF the r%efornlers
eight years ago, can sit as quietly
behind three kings and q pair of aces
and not betray his feelings as anyone
in Washington; indeed, all OF these
Kentuckians who refuse to drink
sugar in theiI whisky play good
hands at poker, Fernando Wood had
the reputation of having lost more
money playing poker than any other
Congressman. He was the same at a
poker table that he was in his seat in
the house-a regular Turvydrop of
department., never taking off his coat
nor mOulting his dignity. He might
swear a little occasionally, but he
rarely unbent ever for this purpose. !
His face was a perfect mask, giving
ne indications even if he b I'D three |
aces and a pair of kings, and he could
bet $1,000 on a pair of mines and no
one could tell he Was bluffiug. Yet
he was not a successful player.
Boyd Winchester, once q Repre-
sentative from Kentucky, would play |
all day and all night, and for two or
three days running. He could Away.
be depended upon. Whenever the
boys wanted to get up a little game
they knew they had only to find
Winchester to make up the hand.
He would leave a committee meeting
a session Of the House to take a
hand at draw, and he was q fearless
player. Unless his opponents knew
Lis manner OF playing he was likely
to pocket a great deal of their money.
It was shown by the Ways and
Means committee that about the time
of the passage of the Pacific mill
subsidy Winchester deposited with
the Seargeant-at.Arms 81, 1000, and by
some it was thought that he had re-
ceived the money from the corrup-
ton fund. 80 he was summoned up
here from Kentucky to give his evil
dence. He acknowledged to having
deposited the money, but he said he
voted against the bill and did not get
a dollar from the company. He
acknowledged having won
the money ut the gaming table, and,
beng pressed somewhat. gave the
committee to understand quietly
that one OF its members could bear /
testimony to the fact. He alluded to
Wood, and that gentleman
subsequently, said he was personally
of the facts. Winchester
also told some Of the members of the