Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-27

CAPT. ISAAC BAssETr.
ut doesn't seem TO me-" said the captain,
"that have spent fifty-nine years of my life in
the United States Senate. Once in while /
feel as though it was but little while since
la youngster of twelve years-tirst en-
tered the Senate. Do you know l was the Sec
ond page the Senate ever employed? The first
one was Grafton Hanson, who is STILL living in
the city. holding position of prominence in
one of the departments Hanson LETT the SEN
ate soon after / arrived; he was too big for the
place, and page is not acceptable when he
commences to grow rapidly. My appointment
came through Daniel Webster; 1t took big
man to secure such appointment, for there
We but two pages then. When 1 entered upon
nv duties found Hanson wearing a suit of
blue cloth adorned with brass buttons. My
new suit WAS precisely similar, and for
time it looked though blue and brass
would be necessary parts OF a pages uni
form. The habit OF wearing such cloth
ing died very soon, and since then tho
youngsters have worn almost any kind OF
garments they liked best. 1t seems to me
that the pages of that time had more to do
than their SUCCESSORS have now. We never had
much idle time while the Senate was i'm ses-
sion. We two boys had to file all the bills.
doing ono side while my companion did the
other. That was q good deal OF job. although
the Senate was much smaller thon than now.
duty Of considerable Importance that the
pages o. today are not conversant with was
that OF seeing that each Senator was supplied
VIII u gum peu 4lcEe were no stect
pens then and we had to get supply OF tho
quilts and distribute them on the desks. We
had nothing to do with the pen making or
meuding; that was ali done by gentleman
named Clnb. then in charge CT the stationery
room. We had to be careful in the distrbu-
non. for certain Senators insisted on having
certain kinds Of quill; some bread niboed, some
6ae.
SENATOR'S AND PAGES.
''The relations between Senators and pages
were just about the anne in the thirties as they
are now. The biggest of the Senators used to
laugh and talk with us when they were not
busy; they always treated us very WELL OF
course there were some Senators that thought
more of the pages than did others. was Web
sters favoriIe. Many n time has that great
Statesman set me on his knee. was his ap-
pointee and he always had a more than ordl-
nary affection for me.
chow long Was apage2 From December 5,
1881. up to 1887, when was appointed mes
senger. II was while serving IN tine latter ca
pacity-in 1874 or 'i5-that began TO announce
TO the Senate the arrival of messages from the
President OF the United States and from the
House Of Representatives. / did so because
the assistant doorkeeper, whose duty it was was
frequently sick and was invariably called
upon to take his place"
TURNING BACK TIE CLOCK.
''Who was tho irst man to officially lengthen
time by turning back the hands of the Senate
ciockE querled the reporter.
That was myself" said the captain. ''The
Senate. then in what il nov the Supreme Court
room (It was on March 4, IS44). was consider
ing and voting upon nn preparation bill.
when II became evident that the dill could not
become q law before the hour of noon. Some
one suggested TO the President pro tempore
(Senator Wiley p. NEngum Of North Carolina)
that the hands of the clock might be so maHipu-
lated as to lengthen the official day. / was
sent for ard was ordered by Mr.. Mangum to
put the hands back ten minutes. The Senate
clock then the tall one which stands ont
side, almost opposite the main entrance to the
nocr, and remember very distinctly climbing
Up 20 its face. The time thus manufactured
was sufficient and the bill became law Only
on rare occasions was there any meddling with
the clock mp to within the past twenty years
Since then the hands have been turned back at
least once IN every Congress.
What was the extreme backward motion Of
the hands! oh. not much. never moved the
hands moro than ten minutes az one time until
last Congress, when / commenced with five
minutes, put the silt indicators back twelve
minutes and then made total OF twen.y-seyen
minutes by running the hands backward ten
minutes more. Usually ten or fifteen minutes
- ample, and only the one time mentioned
have broken my rule to move the hands bu.
ten minutes.
ELECTRICITY AS A MESSENGER
"No, responded the captain to a remark BY
the reporter, 1.-The boys don't work as hard
now g We were accustomed TO. The pages.
mp TO . comparatively recent date, had to rush
around like headless chickens Whenever there
was yea and nav vote. They had TO visit
each Of the committee rooms ana announce
the fact that vote was being taken. Today
press upon an electric button, or upon more
than one, as the case may require, and a
myriad OF little bells all over this wing OF the
Capitol ring IN accordance with q code which
IL pretty well understood. Electricity il more
prompt even than the boys.
Yes. was a messenger for more than four
teen years, but in 1861 was appointed to the
place / still occupy. In all tho time that has
elapsed since 1885 have been absent less than
thirty days during sessions of the Senate.
have not quite recovered yet from my last spell
OF sickness; that kept me away two weeks. Do
you know that 1t worries ME TO be away while
the Senate Is in session? NV recent sickn mess
kept ms indoors. and in spite OF AL my endeav.
ors 10 the contrary felt miserable because
vas compelled 10 keep away from the chamber
The idea that the Senate Nas in session and
unable 70 be present was really awful You can
ncdse that feeling, though when you re-
member how long / have been attending the
SESSIONS.
about my book, I've got all be material
stored away--an immense quantity Of notes
and when complete my six,ie,h year OF service
in the Senate the book will be published. An
j going 70 print ali know about the dead ant
gone Senstorsl No; my relations were and ar,
largely confidential, but there is a great deal O
interesting matter that has never been printed
and to which no exception can be taken; that
Nil pa. In my book"
NIB DUTIES.
The hour for the conyenins Of tho Senat,
VIA close at hand and the captain left Ii.
scribe - attend 70 business He u chargst