The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-02-10
VATCHDOGSIN CONGRESS
ALL MEAN WELL BUT THE NEW
ONES NEED BRE AKING.

mt Bloupt of Georgia, Kilgore of
Texss and Bland of Missouri Have
Very Keen scent how Kngore Was
Outwitted by Yankee,
Copyright 1881
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3. Alert and wary
ara the watchdogs in congress. They IN
,rs,se in uumber each year, They give
tongue on the slightest scent, and their low
row is heard i'll every hour devoted to
LEGISLATION Since the war they have saved
,br country more THAI 81 $4,000. Holman
alone ought to be credited with a third Of
,ois sum. and the corrupt schemes blocked
nv Randall are bard to enumerate. These,
however. ara not the only watchdogs.
There are nearly dozen in the cougres-
sioual pack, and when they all yelp there
sra right lively scenes in the House. The
more FOXY the quarry. tbs snrsr it is RIM to
earth
A good legislative watchdog car ask ulors
questions in twenty minutes than the
,brewdest lobbyist can answer in week.
Each dog stands upon his own merits
He banks without reference To his fellows,
nut his bark is pretty sure to bring ont tie
"
Tbe old dogs keep their noses to the ground
and strike no false scents. They are thor
ougbly trained and are never lost in parlia-
r,entary thickets. The new dogs, however.
arc ant to be over watchful When too
circuuspect, they throttle the most deSery-
inc apuropriatons. At times they u event
The payment Of just debts Of tho govern.
meut Many a patient creditor If the
United States is to-day in des air because
one Of these dogs has barred the way to a
settlement of his claims. A careless growl
has left many a soldiers widow il penury.
An consderate snarl has left many help
les veteran unpensioned. The dogs all
mean well. but the new ones do not always
act int true interests of the people.
The best known of the pack is the Hon
William Steele Holman, OF Indiana. He
has all the characteristics Of bloOded
nas.iY His sense Of intelligence is high,
and lie is as trusty as the best conblpaL on
lock He rever bays at the moor. Loud
and clear Is his lark. Courageous a. a
lion. be is as sagaci US as an elephant. He
bolts no seductive dOg-buttous, for he is
t.taly beyond the reach Of temptat on.
Uncle Sau's barnyard reSOuads tn his
defiant u te ances. He is tiraiess and aD-
tarently sleepless. You Will always find
him at his post. lie lies in wait for Jobs OF
all k d. The words Il object have made
him famous. No matter how great the din
and confusion, his ears are ever cooked.
No e.i,lguon can be doe ultil he under
.tauds Is object. Ii wrong, he kills it
que lr, but efectually, and then lies down
aud Hicks his paw.
Judge Holman is chairman Of the com
mitt4e on public lands He as saved mil
lions Of acre, from the clutches Of railroad
corporations. But for his efforts there
would be hardly an acre of the public do
main left for the actual settler to-day.
Tie judge is over 66 years old He looks
N re youthful He is a native Hoosier.
and has been twenty-four years a mem or
Of the House. 1t mas not, however, been a
continuous term OF service. At first he
served six years, ard dropped out for two
terms He next served ten years, and
again fell off two terms. Since then he has
beenegnt years a member He was re-
elected last fall The jud Je has round
shoulders and a spare frame, bat is really
more vigorous than he appears. He has
bulglng perceptiYe faculties, thin hair. deep
blue eyes, high cheek bones, and a smooth
upper lip. He carries a tuft Of Florida
moss on his chin. He dresses in conven-
tlolal black, and wears turnover collar
He uses Eyeglasses and utilities them in ges-
tiCuat,Ou. Holman can neither be coaxel
nor driven from what he conceives to be
his duty Not long ago a southwestern
member oesought him not to object to the
consideration of a bill for the relief of a
vel known federal official. Holman ex-
pressed SONS doubt as to the business Of the
caim. his augered his confrere. lie
testify iquired whether the Judaism
arr gated To- himself all the integrity Of the
/ use Every hair on the atchdog was
uu ia minute. "l on insolent jlckauapes,"
he replied, how dare you talk to me in
this wayN
I4e uau from the southwest told him
tina bis remarks were offensive, and in
snua:ed that L.s gray hairs alone protected
Tin from c1astise ue.t.
waive my age the judge answered,
and invite you to do the same Come
cut INFO the lobby, you couoeited ass. aud
" mop he floor with you"
lac Invitation was not accepted, Few
louot the ability Of the judge TO do as he
promised, although his antag mist was
'Eeuty years younger than himself.
jAere Is no fictitious dignity about Hol-
man. lie ears no jewel Y and assumes
o airs Not even silver tobacco bax does
he affect, preferrlug to draw his chexs from
al Old leather pouch He usually sits tn
pel bAeS in his chair, either twi Ii z al,
Eyeglasses Or toying with his Jack knife.
ana ming all tie cuspidors in his vicinity
- Holman Is neither an easy nor a grace
iu speaker His voice is piping. but not
'u,ng. Tho speeches, however. are meaty
4I1 inll OF flavor, He can probably say
11,''e 10 FEWER words than any man in the
nyu'e Easy TO approach and kindly in
.'p9l 10 ,, he takes great pleasure in Civ.
Tue benefit of his experience to now
members. the accuracy OF his Judgment
/ universally recognized, Members al a
10y !n voting frequently say, "Well, II!
t. right Quiz W
another well-ssasoned and magnificent
T1'eu1oe on behalf OF public interests is
es H. Blount Of Georgia, and he is as
lu" as the pronunciation of his name
lie M both broad-shouldered and broaJ-
3"Iel' In looks aud DISPOSE On there is
much Of the bull dog ab ut linn, He ba.
"onesU uArk-Oue that attracts the atteu-
. .o1 OF the House. Up TO all tho tricks and
~ 'fs oi legislation, be is never misleading
- us cry. lie winds Il lob Us il by iutui.
r '1' ms suspicion Onc5 aroused. he
p."h I'y shows his teeth When his fangs
las0ened upon the corrupt measure. he
EVER "eaSens his hold uutil ae has shaken
~, ue cut " it. lie fights without fear
IAVor. Tho warmest personal friends
H. S"erVe him from the line Of duty
H.. Huguenot may coax and tho Puritan
4,s'u'oA Alm, but the brave old dog will bav
-'-''e TO both. Mr. Blount has tuick
n'tf ana a smooth shqveu face. HIS
'"N'eaLes true Geurgia grit He il
p t h corn, and he has Georgia manners.
,.,. s'a cent, aud Georgia ideas HIS !
Ws 'Iue, and hs face full and m.
nj, 70 sallowaes5. Hs speaks deliher.
rs' Nuu WIN some what tAlckened suun.
''''H lie wears no cuffs and ,,ay.- ~.