New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-08
GOSSIP AT THE CAPITAL
! BATCH OF ANECDOTES ABOUT PUBLIC
MEN.
rHE HANDsoMEsr MAN IN THE HOUSE Jones
AN RtAcKRuRx-IAMAR ONCE MORE

AND BLAcxpueN-LAMAR oNcK MORE.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 7.-ME stahlnecker. OF New.Yerk
ne new chair OF the Library Co umittee 10 consd
Bred tho handsomest in the House of Representa-
HIVES general impression Is that Mr. stahnecker
aware of this fact and docs not hide his light under
bushe dresses with great and his attitudes are
both graceful and etauesque As the chairman the
Library Committee 1t will be his duty write orders for
bouquets for his fellow members Of Congress to be filled
by Mr.. Smith, the superintendent OF the Government
Botanical Gardens and he will perform that service
with neatness and dispatch. But 1t for the
purpose of controlling the distribution Of the bouquets
that Mr. stahnecker mportuned the Speaker persist
entity for this assignment He has omahawk TO grind
and will have 1t In good condition by the time bill is
introduced. 1t shortly will be- purchase a certain
painting that has been un Ter way for couple OF years
and is no almost completed And thereby hangs tale
When the bill for the erection of library building
to cost 100000 passed after pending In Congress
for nearly quarter OF century was suggested as
good idea that the Senators and Representatives who
had been active In the promotion OF the project and
whose efforts had been finally successful should sit for
their portraits to be painted In group with the front
elevation Of the building after the
fashion Of the picture OF the signing OF the Emancipation
Proclamation the Electoral Commission and other his
toricai and persons 1t was thought that this
would make appropriate decoration for the new
building. and the canvas was selected of size to hit
certain place In the vestibue An artist was chosen,
and those who mad in the interest Of the plan
were invited to give him sittings.
"A group was arranged, with the venerable Senator
Morrill, of Vermont in the foreground for he the
father OF the bill. and around him Senators Voorhees,,
Sherman. sewe; Representatives Singleton. OF Mssis
sippi: Cox Of NewYork; O'Nei OF Pennsylvania, and
other members Of House. and Secretary Lamar who
a chairman Of the Board of Construction, Librarian
epoord and Mr. Smthmeyer, the architect whose plans
were adopted by Congress.
Mr. stahlnecker, who subordinate member Of
building. which decided upon before he was
assgned the committee also invited to sit inthe
ruup AMI took great interest In It, 1eslrous OF afford
Ing postcrty deserved enjoyment by giving 1t his hand
some features and form on canvas as legacy He was
placed In conspicuous place in the group when II was
originally sketched the but before the picture
had made much progress some one suggested that
Speaker Carlisle who had always shown marked inter-
est in the new library, should be invited TO Join the
group The suggestion approved by every one and
tie Speaker gladly gave the artist several sttings
The latter after consulting Messrs Morrill, voorhees,
and Others decided that 1t would not do to place the
Speaker of the House OF Representatives in sut ordi
nate position In the picture wiped out the craycn
sketch Of Mr. Stahnecker and moving him into corner
where he was less conspicuous, placed the Speaker
where Mr. Stahlnecker had been. This made the
Yonkers Congressman very angry. He Insisted upon
being placed in the foreground The artist appealed to
the Senators and the Others concerned in the matter
They all agreed that the gentleman from New-York
should take a back seat But he declined to DO So.
Voorhees, Morrill,. Singleton and Cox abored with him.
but in vain. Mr. Carlisle must surrender his place i'll
che picture Mr. Sahlnecker would not gave the artist
sitting.
when the Speaker heard of the trouble he very
fully offered give way to the gentleman from New
York the others interested would not listen to such
thing
picture is almost finished 1t is spoken of in high
by those who have seen it, But the place where
the handsome features of the gentleman from wlork
should he is dismal vacancy After all the other por
traits were completed more attempt was made 10
reconcile the handsomest man IN tue House," but he
not only refused allow his face go into the picture
but told the artist that he would never allow bill for
the purchase of picture pass the House Of Repre-
scntatives long as he was in Congress-
Mr. stahlnecker Is chairman of the Library Committee
and his tomahawk is very sharp.
Governor Proctor Knott OF Kentucky has been here
the last week for the purpose Of beng admitted to prc
tiee In the United States supreme Court Marcus
Poaski Commissioner OF Charities and Correction for
Michigan and a political friend of Governor Luce
has also here for the purpose. MT Pollaskl
can hardly be said to have cut his wisdom teeth as yet
he ia so young but he Is nevertheless fired with much
laudable ambition order give his admission 20 the
high tribunal the proper ORA matte effect he induced
ATTORNEY Garland to make the necessary motion
before the court. He occupied front seat IN the
of the Supreme Court and felt greatly eated at
the distinction about to he paid to him But this feeling
was turnel to chagrin heard the Attorney General
include Two names in his motion. POllaski did not
oach second but he saw the applicant to be
tall loose onted bushy haired Southerner and 1t quite
disguised him to be admitted alongside OF some moss
back lawyer from brakes perhaps of Arkansaw
Glad TO be admitted beside young man., said the
stranger as the two walked into the clerks Office
Hem" responded the Michigan youth, haughty.
Then Polaski wrote his name boldly on tine court
register greyed to think that 1t had to be beside the
signature of this backwoods lawyer for the Polasks
are prond race, and this POlask claims some of the
Polish kings his ancestors.
The other applicant wrote: Proctor Knott, Ken
tucky"
~why. this is not OK Congressman Knott asked
Michigan feeby.
The same"
Governor Knott"
Governor Knott, at your service"
well. Governor" stammered the other never sds-
pected-that is-dO you-wil you give me the pleas
ure-what do you"
The rest was lost TO the bysausrs but the two were
soon afterward vending their way arm in arm, In
the direction of the SenaCe restaurant.
A certain well known memb, Of Congress is in the
habit occasionally OF dropping into beer saloon in
Eeyentlst, kept by good natured Old German named
Gebner The other evening while sitting near the stove
ouanjng a schooner" OF lager the Congressman pro
posed to old man Gebner that they play Ii tile game
of Help your N ghbor Ian apparently simple and
innocent game at cards.
The old man did not understand the game, but upon
the Congressman's volunteering TO teach him and an
assurance that the would be small he sat down
and took hand The stakes were nominal-a penny or
two being the limit of single bet Indeed tho Con-
could only scrape cents together out OF the
vast Of his capacous pockets After the game
had proceeded for about half hour the
found his winnings amounted TO 70 cents AZ whch aot
he WAS much ested and the Old man correspondingy
decreased However. the LUCK changed and tie Con
gresham lost the rs cent aud OF the cents which
had formed hs capital when beginning the game
Tell you what. Gebner" no said we will put all the
money ZIP in this hand" the all consisting OF the
IT, ~u..au..o. cants and tho old mana and