San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-02-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Queen of the Lobby-The cOmptroI
Ter Of the Currency, Etc.

Prom our regular Correspondent,
WAsHINGToN, January 2G, 1886. saw
'sthe Queen of the Lobby the other day.
I've read about her in novels, in stories
of Washington life, and in the letters OF
correspondents who write fanciful lines;
but although I've been around the capi-
tOl for dozen years or so, never saw
the lady before. While was sitting in
the marble room of the Senate bridal
couple came in under the escort OF a
guide. lie described the room to them,
told the story of its construction, pointed
out Senator Logan and Senator Hamp-
ton, who were receiving constituents,
and then in a melO-dramatic whisper
exclaimed: "Do you see that fine look
ing and richly-dressed lady over there,
with the paper in her hand and bunch
Of red roses in her bonnet? That's the
Queen of the Lobby. You've read all
about her of course. She's got more in
huence in Washington than the Presi-
dent himself. Congress will do anything
she wants. She secures legislation
for railway companies, gets big
claims through Congress, and is in all
the big steals. She lives in a fine house
! in the northwestern part of the city,
! gives big dinner parties to senators and
| congressman, plays poker with them,
and gets her schemes through in that
way. She gets bigger fees than any
lawyer in Washington"
GLOW much?" gasped the awe-striCk-
en- bride.
! H,,t al, -
| touch thing for less than a thousand
! dollars, and | suppose she often gets as
much as fifty thousand. She's paral-
yzed the old man there; see how she
works him. He can't resist that smile;
suppose that paper she holds in her
hand is some big railroad subsidy, and
its pretty certain she's got him to sup
port it,"
The couple looked with all their eyes,
The handsome temptress they had read
so much about was right before them
the woman whose business it was to
juggle with Legislation and give smiles
for votes. The bride didn't overlook q
wrinkle in her dress, and the groom was
impressed more than by anything he
saw before or after in Washington
The mental photograph they will
carry home with them will be that o.
the President OF the Home for Destitute
Colored Women asking Senator Morrill,
of Vermont, TO introduce bill to eX'
empt that institution from taxation.
1t is surprising how many things hap
en- in Washington that the newspaper
do not get hold of. AS an instance o
this may mention that army and navy
people have been gossiping for weel
at lively rate over the fact that a re
tired officer of the navy was reelected
to represent that branch of the segvic,
at the first State dinner at the Whit,
House. OF course Admiral Porter wa
first invited, and he being too sick t,
attend Vice Admiral Rowan WAS tn
proper person to have filled his place
At any rate. no retiring officer was Off
Cially eligible for this invitation so Ion,
as there was anybody, even naval ca
Diet, on the active list who could accep
it. The army officers are inclined +
make little fun at the expense of thei
brethren Of the navy over the fact tina
an officer whose active service Ion
since ceased should have been called up
on TO represent il upon this occasion.
The Office of Comptroller Of the Gun
rency is sort of kindergarten for ban
presidents. In resigning his official du
ties to enter into banking, Mr.. Canno
| Is only IOllONluS tue tAutlptt Vi tuOse
his predecessors and he has only ha
} four. While his resignation embarrasse
the President, Mr.. Cannon can scarcel
be blamed for leaving a position whic
is always a target for political attacl
and whose tenure rests upon the will {
a President with whom he is not in pC
litical sympathy for permanent, indt
pendent place; or for leaving $500
salary for one of $4,000, with plenty
I opportunities to make money outsid,
The Comptroller OF the Currency is pre-
a bibited from holding an interest in an
business he il simply tied down to h
salary, and the Government cannot e!
pect to keep a good man in the place fl
that pay. One who is capable
, filling this position can get
larger salary in any sort
! private business. and a cheap man
not wanted. There are plenty of cal
didates for Mr.. Casnon's shoes, but
understand that none of them are qui
up TO the required standard, and tn
the President has directed q search f
o another $4,000 man to fill this $50
), place.
l. see by the Congressional Director
s. that the Senatorial windmill from n
braska has forgotten the day of his Dirt
- His autobiography reads: "Charles
3; VanWyck, Of Nebraska City, was bo
K at POughkeepsie, n. Y, on the - day
Il November, 1884" Two of the Senate
do not give their ages - Logan al