Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-12-16

LIQUOR IN THE CAPITOL.

In the Senate yesterday Mr.. Frye called
up the bill embracing code of joint rules
for the two houses of Congress. He believ-
ed the United States Congress to be the only
legislative body in the world that had no
joint rules. Mr.. Frye briefly explained the
rules. Rule l3 provides that no in
toxicating liquors be sold in the Capitol.
Mr.. Riddleberger moved to strike out the
words 'for sale," 30 that the rule would e1.
clude liquors, whether for sale or not. On
this he called for the yeas and nays, but the
call was not sustained, nobody rising to Sec
oud it but Mr.. Riddleberger himself. He de-
manded the call again, saying the real ques.
ton involved was whether whiskey should be
permitted in the committee rooms.
Messrs. Edmunds and Vance seconded this
call of Mr.. Riddleberger's, but the yeas and
nays were not ordered.
On the committees proposition 10 strike
out the rule the yeas and nays were demand
ed. and resulted-yeas 20, nays So.
Mr.. Riddleberger again rose and insisted
that if there was to be prohibition in the
Capitol it should begin with the committee
rooms, and Senator should be made liable
to fine and imprisonment for keeping Whis-
key in his committee room.
An amendment of Mr.. Morgan's was
agreed to combining the joint rules to so
much OF the Capitol as was in the control
of the two Houses of Congress.
Mr.. Cockrell offered an amendmentto the
effect that any Senator or member of Con-
gress violating the rule should be liable to
expulsion.
The clerk, at Mr.. ingalls, request, read
aloud the wine list, with the prices of the
different brands, much TO the amusement of
Senators. Under the head of Madeira
wines" he found "Blackburne's Reserve"
the reading of which was greeted with
shouts of laughter, and some one was heard
to say, soto voce, good for Joe." When
another brand was announced as "hottled
expressly for the U. s. Senate cafe" the
laughter was renewed, and on the conclu-
sion of the reading Mr.. Butler expressed his
surprise that the clerk had found ''cold tea"
on the list.
Mr.. Cockrell said he disiked drunkenness
everywhere, but had seen more of it among
the Senators that the employees of the Sen
ate. He had known the Senate to be adj
journed because of the condition of some of
its members.
Mr.. Cockrell further said that one of the
Senate rules required the Chairman of the
Committee on Rules (now Mr.. Frye) to
approve the bill Of fare of the Senate res
taurant.
Mr.. Frye replied that no wine list had ever
been shown to or approved by him. He
defended the restaurant keeper however,
and said that if the Senate concluded to
shut out whiskey the present restaurant
keeper could be relied upon to enforce the
rule.
Mr.. Vest said that he would not trust any
Maine man under Heaven go far as selling
liquor went, if the opportunity offered.
There were more saloons licensed under the
United State laws in Maine than in West
Virginia-a State of about equal population,
but having high license law instead of
prohibition.
Mr. Frye denied this, and said the reason
why Maine seemed to have so many liquor
licenses was because druggist could not
sell drop of alcohol without license.
Mr.. Cockrell's amendment was disagreed
to-yeas 20, nays IS.
On motion of Mr.. Edmunds, the clause
providing for the dismissal Of clerks who
should ''connive" at the use Of liquors was
stricken out, in order to make the rule bar"
monte with the sense of the Senate on Mr..
Cockrells amendment. With that clause
out the thirteenth rule was then adopted by
viva voce vote.
On the further motion Of Mr.. Edmunds,
the ninth rule was amended so as to pre-
serve to the Senate the power to appoint
conference committees, in order that Vice
President might have it In his power to de.
feat the will of the Senate by conference
committee.
The Senate then, at 4:50 p. m, went into
executive session. At SOS the doors were
reopened and the Senate adjourned.