Wichita eagle., 1890-01-31

The richest man in the house and the poor
est are from New York city, that community
of extremes. Roswell P Flower probably
could clean upmore money than any of his fel
low members He is a Wall street man. but not
stock gambler. His money has been largely
made in western railroads and in the sale of
railway securities His interests are princi-
palv in the west-in the Rock Island road
the Chicago and Eastern Illinois and Indiana
coal roads He is said to be worth about
eight millions of dollars, though there is
necessarily some guess work about things Of
this sort Though the richest man in tie
house, Flower is one of the most unassuming
and genial. 1t is a race between him and
Billy Mason, of Illinois, for the honor of be-
ing the best natured man in congress
Flower rs always smiling and laughing al.
ways joking, always putting his neishbors
in good humor. His rotund form continual
~ shakes with those light ripples of laughter
on which a man grows fat and young
Flower looks like prosperous and coneented
old farmer. He dresses plainly, wears
flower in his buttonhoIe carries a cigar
lighted or unlighped. in his mouth, puts his
hands III his trousers pockets and talks faster
and more to the point than nine-tsnths of the
the house. He is fond of giving dinners, and
there is no board in ali Washington which
lovers Of good eating and good times would
rather stick their legs under.
There are so many poor men in the house,
50 many who couldn't go home for the hoh-
days because Silcott ran OF with their sala-
ries, so many that are forced to live in
cheap boarding houses in order to save
enough out of their salaries to pay election
expenses with, that it is not easy to select the
poorest; but if any OF them is poorer than
Turner, the ice man. of New York CITY he
is to be sympathized with George Post
now promising lawyer in New York but
who few years ago was the youngest man
IN the house. and himself as poor as g church
mouse, says Turner had just two dollars and
half IN the world the day he was nominated
Roswell Flower, with his usual generosity.
sent Turner check for $500 10 pay his cam.
palgn expenses with, and the man who car
r1ed the ice tongs around with him rs a cam
paign argument now sits proudly in the house
OF commons.
L should be accused OF partialitv for Mr.
Flower If / were TO put him down as tbs
richest, most generous, most popular aud
best natured man III the house Tat is too
much, even f"r posy hike Roswell p So
we shall have to give Mason first place
among good natured men One Of the trials
of Masons life is found In the fact that. a.
lawyer trying case or orator delivering ar
address, he can't sake people believe he is
serious. His smile Is famous Even in tire
heat ot debate rheE &c issaylns the ''sessies.''
things he knows how about his oppchents,
the telltale smile fingers about his mouth.
AaSons antithesis Is Nj McClaIrrny, OF
North Carolina, who Is, however, az esti-
mahle gentleman aud good conSre.sn,an, as
hs was good soldier and farmer
" ben one comes 10 write of tie hautfsouo-
est AID the ugliest men in the house he has
delicate task before him. There are q good
many aspiranss for tie beauty honers, and
10 one that wants 70 be set down as belong
ing to the other extreme. But on this pom,
We shah have to take the dictum of the ladies
IN the gallery. and the verdict of the fair
Jury Is that S:shlneckc-. Of View York, and
e5tsson- Of MARYLAND. ars tke ha9-5sone s.stes.