The National tribune., 1886-03-25
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOings at the Ma
iiOnal Capital.
CONGRESSIONAL FUNERALS.


gressional Committee sent TO san Francisco
with the body of Senator Miller Will be Sl3,uJ0
or more. An iuquisitive person, whose cred
ulty is somewhat staggered by these large
figures. might feel p desire 10 see Dill oil
particulars III the matter Of expenditure. ot
course the amount, whatever II may be, vail
include all the funeral expenses. 1t has long
been the custom OF the Government TO pay the
cost Of burial, with all the attendant pagcaa-
try in the cases Of high civil or military Off
cials who die while " in the service" The
question Is being seriously asked whether,
when Congressman die, the sending Of joint
committees Of both houses 10 attend the final
obsequies at the place of iutcrmcnt, may not,
without improperly or want o. due respect TO
the deceased. be discontinued. y committee Of
this kind rarely numbers less than dozen,
including a Sergcant-at-A Arms and other attend
ants. whose duties are solely to minister to the
personal comfort and convenience-wew VIII not
i'll this connection say pl2asure-of the party
making the trip. 1t may be safely assumed
that the shedding OF tears by these official
mournors is not INDUCED 10 such an extent as
TO leave n damp trail along the country
through which they pass. The fact is that they
usually have good time al public expense.
They drink wine and smoke plenty of good
cigars, ali of which are charged MP TO the Gov
eminent under the convenient item of Incl
dentais "a word that, like charity, " covers
multitude of sins" Instances have occurred
in years past of these funeral trips being turned
into conyiyial junketings, giving rise TO 10
little scandal Two years ago Congressman
Haskell of Kansas died here, and IN accord
with custom a committee OF i've IRON caCh
house wassent to Kansas with his remains. When
the bill was presented it was 90 enormously
large that the accounting officers held 4 careful
inquest upon it, The result was that items OF
expense aggregating nearly sI.5GG were dis
allowed, and the Members who ieasted so roy
ally had 30 pool liz and pay the amount out OF
their own pockets. The equity of this pro
ceeding was not questioned by body except
the honorable gentlemen who had 10 foot the
bill. And yet. what they did on that trip had
been done many times before. Since that eN-
pose greater degree of selt-denial i'll the graft
1icaton OF the appetite has been practiced,
and the bills for funeral expenses have shown
a corresponding reduction. 1t is urged, and it
must be confessed with good reason, that the
proprietes would be fully met by paying proper
tribute to the deceased at the services held IN
Washington, and by sending a single persona
colleague or friend-to attend the body to its
last resting place. There would seem to be a
good field for practical reform il this direction.
In the case ex-senator Miller it was not possible
10 find five San8toTs-the usual number-who
were willing 10 CO. The trip will take at least
two weeks, and none Of them want TO be alb
sent so long while the absorbing issue with the
Administration is pending. Only one Senator
Jones, of Nevada-went with the party. Ten
times the number required wanted TO go from
the House.
CRANEs AT THE CAPITAL.
There are cranks and cranks in Washington.
This observation is prompted by resolution
intr0duceGa few days ago in the House by Mr..
Weaver, of Nebraska. Ii was prefacad by sew
eral "wheTeases," reciting that nearly every
Congress embraces at least one crank" that
- the present Congress is no exception to this
rule" and that =" il should not be in the power
of an idiot, insane man, or crank, TO prevent
the consideration of any measure" Then fol-
lowed the resolution, to so amend the rules as
10 require objections from at least two Members
instead of one as now 1t is understood that
the preamble was aimed practically at MIR. Hol-
man, of Indiana, who has long been known as
the Great Director. He objects to everything
except his regular biennial reelection. This IS
his l1th term in Congress. 1t is told of him
that when he was married, as the parson notified
those present, that if any one had object on 10
the marriage he should speak now or forever
hereafter hold his peace. MT. Holman, from
sheer force of the habit that was already getting
a hold upon him. raised his hand and exclaimed,
o object. As tits he is never invited as guest
at a wedding. for he IS always sure TO object. lie
can't help it; he was made that way. In the
House Members, before calling up a measure
that requires unanimous consent, often 90 10
Mr.. Holman beforehand and, if possible, exact
from him a promise that he viii not speak
those two words that have so many times in
the last 20 years bothered the Congressman.
But so far the new House has not developed
any such monumental cranks-if we except Mr.
Holman from this categCry-as Calamity"
Weller of Iowa, and White, of Kentucky who
served in the last Congress. They were unap-
proachable As a bymeneal crank the cake"
has long since been awarded 10 Senator Jones,
OF Florida.
Washington seems to be the favorite resort
OF erratic individuals whose brains are turned
on various subjects. There are financial cranks,
TyhoSp heads fuil of TTror;ap schemes
blessing mankind. They come here TO instruct
and enlighten the financiers of the Govern
Laent. They insist on personal interviews with
them. They haunt . Newspaper Row" seek
ing to reach through the press the ears of the
people with their plans, which shall make
money to flow as a river into everybody's
pockets. Political cranks of both parties are
very numerous. They arc generally insane
upon the subject of their claims for official po-
sition, by reason of the inestmabIe political
services they have rendered.
This city has its full share OF religious cranlSs.
One OF these-a fine-looking man, tall and erect,
with long, flowing beard-Inay be often seen
marching up and down the principal streets.
bearing upon his breast large placard on
which are inscribed the words: Prepare to
meet thy Cod" While few may DENY that
this is good advice, such methods Of seeking to
save lost and ruined world are not usually
considered the most effective. One might i'm
agine him a stragger from the Salvation Army.
lie appears TO be Impressed with the belief that
Washington is liz great need Of such precepts,
and Oh this point few will take issue with him.
Social cranks abound here. They are much
addicted to snobbery. This class consists
largely Of persons who hold, or have held. sub
ordinate official positions, by reason Of which
they have greatly inflated idea of their value
as factors of the Government and in society.
good many Of them wear shouder-straps
and are profusely decorated with gold lace and
brass buttons. Among these cranks may also
properly he claSsed hundreds Of young men
who dance beautifully, wearing swallow-tail
coats and expansive shrt-fronts They are not
anything in particular themselves, but their
fathers are Judges or Senators or Generals.
POLITICS AND DINNERS.
1t is very rarely that Washington peoJic per-
NIT their social relations to be disturbed by
politics. An illustration of this is found in the
President determination to dine all the Sen
atOrs-in two lots-beginning right in the heat
Of the debate over the rugged issue that has
been 50 squarely raised between the north end
of the Capitol and the White House. half u
them were banquetcd one evening last week
1t seems somewhat anomalous, under the cir
cumstances TO think of the frosty Edmunds
the fiery Ingalls, and Sherman, and Evarts and
the rest OF his political enemies sitting with
their knees under the Presidents festive board
But the latter docs not carry politics into his