Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-08-28

MET HIS OBLIGATIONS.
The Senate committee on private land claims
q more honorary than useful. II rarely sves
Ms any business referred 70 Il, and ~ q rule
does not perhaps meet oftene than once during
session Of Congress. But 1t has become the
custom to keep up the committee as one be-
longing to the minority, and the Senate would
rather attend . funeral than break custom.
|. Notwithstanding its insignificance In matters
legislative, that committee long held the lead in
the Senate In matters social. When Senator,
now Secretary Bayard, was its chairman, he
dispensed q generous hospitality within the
four walls Of that small committee room. The
handsome mahogany sideboard was always
bountifully supplied with choice liquid refresh
mend, and the several rows Of brightly shining
glasses seemed to say "help yourself"
The committee room is regarded g the pri-
vate property of the chairman 70 considerable
chairman makes use Of it Is . reception room
and for such other purposes a. he may see fit,
Senator n IS sns q b.
lature, was called upon TO welcome distfn-
guished democrats and 10 bestOw some atten.
and political friends were wont 70 cali on him.
mittee room. Mr.. Bayard RARELY ever varies
you take glass OF whisky end water with
GATHERING HIS CLANsMEN.
During the days OF his service in the Senate.
and while privileged to hold the committee
room on private land claims. II was a custom
chamber whispering to q Senator here and an.
other there, as he selected the list Of favored
ones. Mr.. Bayard then, with his quick, sprinyy
COMMITTEES room. Then by twos aud threes his
ssnaporial guests would follow, to gather In
tors who were the recipients of these invitations
soon got to understand what Mr.. Bayard
meant and slight nod from him was con.
The COMMITTEES room was kept supplied with
sea-biDcutts, cheese, crackers, &c. as pleasant
accom- paniment TO the whisky and water.
pltahty OF the committee room was not open to
everybody. Mr.. Bayard is genial host, but he
caefully selects his friends.
It long ago became the unwritten law in the
senate LOT the chairman Of the caucus to sup
Rly hqui h refreshments tor party conterepces
Ior democratic uses. II Is labeled
CONFERENCE RoOA,"
ana within Its walls democratic caucuses are
held. The chairman Of the caucus is permitted
to occupy this room with all the privileges that
committee craftsmanship carries Senator
pend!eton, when he was chosen chairman of
tne caucus, yielded ready obedience to this un-
written law. He dispensed u lavish hospitality,
and he was continued as the head OF the caucus
used to laughingly remark .'that it was no use
FOR any body to try to beat George Pendleton;'
that he understood the implied obligations Of
his position too well. Pendletons room was
Kept supplied not only with choice brands Of
hrandieS and whiskies, but also with fine Wines
IL was common thing for him to open basket
OF cham payne for friends, and the sideboard
was always open to democratic Senators and
their friends. Senator PendletOn extended q
standing invitation to all his party associates
70 help themselves Nd llbitum TO the best the
sldeboard contained.
THE OLD AND THE REV.
An old employe who did the sweeping and
cleaning up, and who no doubt came in for q
good share Of the Refreshments" under the
liberal Pendleton dispensation, thus described
the difference between then and now to STAR
reporter:
"Sento Pendulum he didn't toto NO keys.
He des' let dat ar sidebOr' open all dc time
But dat amt Sentor Beck Pendleton's successor
Il chairman OF the caucus). He too close, dat
man Is Dey don't no dram 60 out err dar lessen
Sen'tor Pendulum he pay tor ali dem fine lickr
ers what he git; Lord knows how much money
ne pay out Tor dat room. But Sen'tor Beck
don't buy no Ticker; no, deed he don't When
he git out he 1is' sot down and rite to dem
Kintucky 'stilerymen, why in hi don't
you SEN me mo- or DAT ar whisky Dat de
way he do"
HOW SENATOR KENNA TURNED THE JOKE.
When Senator Kenna was chosen chairman
OF the democratic congressional committee,
Beck contendedthatt that position outranked his,
and that the duty Of providing LIQUID refresh.
ments aevolyed on Kenna. As = joke he wrote
an order TO KenAa, as chairman ct the commit
toe. to furnish senator Jones, Of Arkansas, q
democrat in food standing. with q drink.
Jones got the drink, and Kenna turned the joke
on Beck by retaining the order, and saying he
was going to have It published.
TranSfoHa II Roal Eatatn