New-York tribune., 1886-04-04
STATESMEN AT SHORT RANGE
SOME OF THEIR HABITS, FOIBLES AND
IDlOSYNCRASIES.


OF either House of Congress when some bore IL on MS
legs routine business being transacted aud
watch the dongs OF the statesmen below IL IL at sueh
times that the traits OF character curious habits and
little diosy Dcrasies of the different kenators and Repre-
sentatives the surface and noticed do not
to be understood that they constitute the
man in any case, but they go far sometimes, In
furnishing key to his character and in explaining the
motive OF of his actions Thus. while unwilling
myself to attach undue Importance or sgnihcance To
them shall rest content IL considered. In this In
stance, merely as pckerup OF unconsidered trifes
The leader Of the minority the House one OF the
most interesting figures He watches over his flock with
the fathuness OF q big dog Surrounded by gronp Of
mpathizng friends TO whom he is probably relating
choice anecdote jeu esprit lie seems lost to
everything going in tho hall Or maybe he is buried
in the secuson OF one Of the cloak rooms You would
suspect him To be the last to know the dr tho
debate is taking. Yet nobody caught Tom Reed
mapping He will suddenly emerge from some dark re-
and make his way to the aisle There he VIII
plant himself his hands resting on two desks behind
him. scowling at the speaking member In front OF him.
Everybody expects spicy debate, wrangie some e1-
element to relieve the oppressive duness OF the pro-
ceedngs Nothing of the kind. After having scowled
for minute at his opponent smile overspreads
the couDtenance OF Reed and he drifts back into the
from where he emerged little while before The
thing repeated two three tmes day. 1t re-
minds OF big dog who rushes To the front gate I'M
with suspicion, but to the CONCLUSION 1t Is not
worth while TO tackle him. grunts and then retres to
his LAIR In the back yard.
Governor Long of Massachusetts, is u candidate for
the speakershp of the House, andso his enemies
assertis already training for the Consequently.
no matter how dull the speech delivered, he will
find It convenient to drop into vacant seat
nearly In front of the speaker and with rapture
and admiration into his colleagues counenance as II 1t
were some extraordinary wisdom or some astounding
piece OF information he listening TO. The same
thing is done by JUICE Gedlcs OF Ohio with this dlf-
ference however that he rarely leaves his seat He will
gaze though In the direction OF the speaker even should
latter be fifty feet away and the nose IN the cham
ber great make the hearing Of what is said prac-
ticaly impossible Judge Gcddes has the reputation OF
being very shrcwd politician It's not known that lie
got off the fence any conceivable question: pub
lie or private.
Congressman Reagan. of Texas, the Post,nasterGen-
eral OF the Confederacy Is the victim Of mania for cut
paper into the smallest attanaDle pieces. What
passes in his mind when engaged has puzzled good
many people. lie Will sit at hls desk for hours with
pile OF clean paper before him from which he proceeds
TO take sheet sheet until the pile has disappeared
Each sheet mcthodIcay folded by him and cut with
penknifc frat into quarters tnen sxtcenths and so OIL
until he has reached the smallest possible size.
Then he throws the pieces away and attacks the
next sheet The result ia that In less than half
hour after entered upon this highly intellectual
occupation the floor for many feet the .exan's
desk with bits of white paper and looks most
as IL covered by Ihave seen Mr.. Reagan occupied
this for hours at tho time. the debate raging
about him. members indulgng in hot personalities. he
not moving III his seat showing indication OF
being disturbed by anything Another peculiarly OF
Mr. Reagan is that OF always having piece OF twine In
his hand speaks It is like tho thread of his
discourse. He winds around his finger unwnds 1t.
winds 1t again. unwnds 1t and until something
happens-and ii be something eXtraor,iinary-to
stop him. Ordinarily 1t Is physical exhaustion only
which puts a limit to this queer proceeding of his
Senator Hoar whose chorub face reminds some OF his
colleagues OF the pictures OF Mr. Plckwck very fond
of playing with bunch OF keys. When be Is not en-
gagged at his desk either In reading writing. he will
take keys and begin gently to turn the ring to
which they attached. Their Jingng viii,
perhaps attract the attention OF tho Sen
alor speaking He looks In tho direction where
the Massachusetts Senator sits. He .pauses for
minutes Mr.. Pckwick at once knows what is disturb
ing the OF his colleague The keys instantly dis
appear in his pocket only to be brought out again at
some more convenient time 1t is all forco OF habit.
Tie most indifferent, however to the feelings OF hi.
brother in this respect is the lumber million
from Wisconsin. Philetus Sawyer. Keys won't do
for him he must have silver dollars And they make
noise. promise you. AS they drop from one OF old
Papa" sawyer's fat and comfortable hands into the
Other their rng clear and startling, heard above the
oudest din Of the chamber Everybody hears except
Pnlctus sawyer. Everybody Knows, tOO Wuete IL
comes FROM and wishes he had many Of the dollars
that this self-madc lumber millionaire could play with,
had he "A mind TO-"
"Rn" Morrison is rarely with his hands outside
OF his trousers pockets Even whea he speaks-and
that is Intervals onlyho does not withdraw them
from their favorite hiding place lie seems to De eter
nally suffering from cold. Or. maybe he Is looking for
thoughts iu his pockets instead OF his head He
is the most restless man the floor OF the
House. He occupies his seat.
lie is constantly moving about, dropping
this seat then another. suggesting incarnation
OF the principle of perpetual motion. lie Is often
stretched full length OF the sofas In the OF
the chamber which emergcs into the foreground
only to make his fayorite speech NJ Speaker. move
that the House do adjourn"
Senator Butler. OF South Carolina Is handsome man
perfectly aware OF 1t. too He is distinguished In
appearance and has the bearing OF soldier TheIe is
certain iusocnce Of manner in him. compat
blc. however with perfect dignity. lie has aristo-
cratic accatOa of the voice and expression OF the
eye which, when 1t Is directed at stranger, says as
plainly as words, " Who the devil youi" But what
chiefly proud OF Is his foot. He has only hay
ing left the the battlefield OF brandy Station.
1t is handsome at least suppose 1t is, for
II Is encased always In very tight htting small shoe
South Carolina Senator will sit by the hour with his
legs crossed his foot playfuy in the air where
It can he by the admring galleries. From timo
to time he inspects II critically to whether
the polish is still as bright It was when first
put on. have frtatons carried with the eye
by movements OF the hand but before with tho
foot. In this respect the Of Senator Butler is
unique.
One of the most incomprehensible In the Senate
Call. OF Florida His desk is always pilcd with law
books documents charts and papers, An hour after he
has entered the chamber floor about him is strewn
with the debris-sha say. OF his learnngi he is con-
stsnty writing and tearing up what lie has written He
suggests the picture OF boy practising the
of pcnmanshp The pages who are better acquainted
perhaps than any boay else with the little idosyncrases
of the statesmen whom they serve have repeatedly ran
sacked tho watepaper basket of Florida Senator to
find out what he is writing. and they report that his
favore copy exercises sections Of the Revised Stat
ues. As for Mr. Calls colleague, Il is hardly worth