Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-15
THEY WILL BEAR WATCHING.
A club OF Senators and Representa-
lives Who Play Faro.

An Augusta (Me.) special says: The Ken
nebec Journal OF this morning contains the
following Washington telegram:
.sTbe most startling piece OF congress
sional corruption and deprayity Is on the
VERGE az creating scandal greater in mag
niiiIde than the one Washington has Just
experienced with her police force. The FOL.
lowing was told tonight to the journal
correspondent by person who Is IN Inc po-
sition 10 know the true facts. lie says that
ne can produce unnecessary proof II called
unon 10 do 20. The names will not appear
for Obvious reasons. They " Ill appear soon
enough:
"Tbere is a club in Washington COM
posed az four senators. Three are south
western men, and the other comes FROM
section of the country not a thousand miles
from this city. In addition to the senator's,
there are siXty-one members oil Congress.
ard about twenty more OF the common
herd. The latter are mostly ex-menber>.
and those who are wealthy and have sport
ing lpclinations. TIE club plays faro eX.
clHsiyoly. They have for dealera young
man who has been at the business for 4
numbcr OF Years. He is also Interested in
the pool.seliing business here, aud when
Congress is not in session spends most
of his time IN pO0l-room not Tar
from Willard's Hotel. The members
Of the club thought they would avert
suspicion by changing the base OF pro-
ccedirgs six times week. So now they
have their game one night at the corner OF
Sixth street and Pennsylvania avenue. and
the next night al the CorcOran building,
and 50 on at different place every night.
To defray expenses they each contribute a
sum ranging all the way from IS 10 go per
month. This amounts TO considerable, even
after paving the rents OF the several rooms.
The surplus is expended in choice liquors
and cigars, which are given gratis To the
members. The dealer of the game has, by
some mysterious influence, been appointed
70 a sinecure on House commttee, to
which, by the way, the interests OF Maine
are closely connected. The chairman Is z
prominent member OF the club. The nobby
! poSsessor OF the sinecure draws 50 per day
| rs bis modest salary.
"The most startling part OF the who'll
| affair is that there are about four prominent
| pool sellers in Washington, and last session
| a bin was introduced IN the House OF lie
! personalities for the prohibition OF all man
! nor OF betting on se.racing, such a
p0Ol.selling, book. making. &c. II was oh
nous that the bill would have 10 be chokeC
on in the Senate, so the po0l-men made u
n sum Of 80, 80 To be divided among th'
four seLators who could pigeon hole The
Mn. OF course the job was given to th'
four members Of the club. They took ;
retainer Of goodly size aud succeeded II
killing off the bill, much to the gralitica
ton Of their ciIrptS, who believed theii
business was seriously endangered. Th'
| bill died an unnatural death, anC
has never been called up and probabl!
will not he until next session. This pr0b1
| Div is the most crooked piece OF WORK tha
has been perpotrated at the Capitol TO
many a day. From certain existing CIR
cumStance. it can be surmiSed that the rea
instioators OF the order TO shadow con
er,ssmen 50 a. 10 blackmail them knew o
this club, and, what is more, have been
! guests at IL scances. IL Is not nj all i'm
| probable that the cldb was IN the minds O
| those who originated the scheme 10 compe
! Congress 10 vote a large appropriation 10
tue extension Of Massachusetts, avenue
| Had this club been Taidcd II may be siicl.
stated that the ring could have secure
enough votes to cary their Uoint. Whtl
! this matter i ~ clearly ycutildlcd q, ~
The police unpl,lSlniness. then look ont
watch the sparks ly.'