The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-01-12
Our Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent

DOCK OF reference, that no hote board.
ing house library in Washington car
do without. Besides what Senators
and Representatives think and say Of
themselves, where they were born,
where educated, and what they have
done is interesting reading. The dir
ectory of a new Congress is looked for
with peculiar interest because its auti-
biographical sketches serve as a sort of
Introduction to the new members
whose representative station at once
lifts them to position of national i'm
portance. The directory of the forty
eihgth Congress shows great diversity
OF taste in what members regard as
worth telling of themselves. Messrs.
Skinner of N. c. and Hauseman of
Mich. are pleased to give only their
names and place of residence. Mr..
Mackey Of S. C. consumes the great
er part OF a page in presenting his
political history, step by step, as he
assembled the ladder of fame to the
climax of congress. Mr.. Weller, of
Iowa details series of defeats in rum
ming for Office, which most Congress
men would be careful to conceal. Mr..
John 5. Wise of Virginia makes prom
lnent the fact that he was captain Of
the Richmond Light Infantry Blues"
for several years. Col. Tom. Ochil-
tree of Texas proclaims the fact that he
is the first native Texan ever elected
to Congress of the United States, but,
being a bachelor, prudently refrains
from giving the date of his birth. A
grandson of Henry Clay who sits in
the House modestly confines his sketch
to three lines. A representative from
New jersey sees fit to mention that he
is practical halter, and is now in the
retail business in Newark. Senator
Brown of Ga. admits shat he be-
came very unpopular" because of his
acquiescence in reconstruction meas
ures but declares she has always been
successful when q candidate before the
people" Gen. Rosecrans of CAL in
dulges in the largest biography, and
Mr.. Woodward of Wisconsin is the
only native of Washington in Con-
gress. Messrs. Malone, and Riddle
berger make their confederate records
conspicuous part of their personal
sketches. Senator Anthony ranks all
others in length of service, having now
entered upon fifth term. Eleven Con-
gressmen are natives of Ireland, four
first saw the light in Scotland, three
are English born while one is nor
wegian, and one Canadian. No 9TH
er National assembly is so cosmopoli-
tan as this. Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont
is the patriarch of the Senate, though
his colleague Mr.. Edmunds is thought
to look older. Senator Keena of West
Virginia is probably the youngest man
ever exalted to the position, not hav-
ing reached the age of thirty five
when he was elected to the Senate.
His clean shaven face adds to his
youthful appearance, so that he looks
out of place in this staid body, com
posed mostly of elderly men. But |
will leaye the directory wherein ev-
erything interesting to know concern
ing congressman cannot be learned,
and give you some personal details
cleaned from other fields, some facts
too, to which l can testify as an eye
and ear witness. No Congressman has
stated in the directory that he is
distinguished for his personal attrac-
tons, his beauty of face and figure.
1t is agreed, however, that among
the Senators, Messrs. Butler. Riddle
berger and Aldrich divide the highest
honors in this respect. Last session,
Mr.. Aldrich held undisputed claim to
the palm, but time is no respector Of
Senators. He has laid heavy hand
on the handsome Rhode Islander since
last March, and has taken several
years of fire from his eyes, freshness
from his complexion, and yivacity
from his manner. Senator Hoar,
man whose locks have been snowy fer
years, returns to his seat looking
brighter stronger, and younger than
ever. Messrs. Edmunds and Garland
are thought to be the ablest lawyers
in the Senate, they are also INSOFAR
able friends. Senator ingalls, of Kan
sas, tall, stately, and slender, is con-
sidered the sharpest debater, but no
Senator can crack as many coarse
Jokes and tell as many funny stories
as Mr.. Vance of North Carolina. Sen
ator Morgan of Alabama is thought
to be the finest logician. He is a re-
markably smooth speaker but very
prolix. By reason of the latter quail
ity he is eficacious in clearing the
floor as we'll as the gallaries. Rich
men are always interesting to the
public unless their wealth has become
hackneyed theme like that of the
Vanderbilts, Goulds, and Astors. The
very rich man of the Senate s Mr..
Fair of Nevada, but Mr.. Bowen OF
Colorado also poSsesseS MANY millions.