The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-03-19

POLITICAL AND SOCIAL LIFE AT THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL

An Effort To Remove the Peanut Mer-
chants from the House Corridors-sena-
tor blair and His Educational BiIl-How
Ingalls, Got Ahead of the President "A
Variety OF Gossip.
ESPECIAL coRREsPosDEScR.l
Visitors at the national capital in
passing through the corridors OH the
House side of the Capitol building liken
the busy scene TO country fair on is
liveliest day. On every side are peanut
stands, cigar counters, card writer's, pic
ture galleries, typewriters and telegraph
and telephone oirices, TO say nothing of
the old apple woman in every nook and
corner. From stntuary hall TO the main
door of the House of Representatives
string of pie counters and show cases
block mp the passage ways until there is
hardly room for the sight-seers. Many
OF the old-timers in the lower house OF
the national Legislature are getting tired
of the everlasting turmoil and confusion
about the south wing, and are seriously
contemplating general clearing out. 1t
is said that the Speaker in seeking
about for new precedents to establish
has turned his attention to this
matter, and il now beh doves the old apple
women and pie peddlers to keep their
weather eye open. The Sen to wing o. the
Capitol, some years ago, was infeste with
these nuisances but they have long since
been turned out on the cold world, or
rather moved over on the opposite side.
An innocent piece of custard pie is
charged with the responsibility of this
radical move on the part of the Senate.
grave and dignited Senator, who prides
himself on his personal appearance and
solid craftsmanship, was walking hur-
riedly through the corridors, when he
happeue ed to step on the offending pie,
that had been thrown down with disgust
by some patron of the pie stand. The
dainty morsei was carried by the eminent
statesm man into the handsome chamber,
and few moments after stood forth in
bold relief on the beautiful green velvet
carpet THIS was too much for the Sen
ators, and resolution to clear the corri-
dors met with no opposition.
There is one instItutl on, however, that
will he hard to suppress. CLARA Morris"
is the name of an old gray haired woman
who runs large stand In the space be-
the rotuuda and statuary hall. she sells
all kinds of curiosties and "momentums"
to the humid eds of daily visitors. This
is great place for newly married couples
to ongregate, and old Clara is able to
spot them IN an instant, and the unlucky
bridegroom rarely gets away without
leaving goodly portion of the contents
of his often rather slender purse This
woman is undoubtedly of French extrac-
ton, and in her day must have been con-
sidered very handsome. Some traces of
beauty still lingeT in her wrinkled face.
Time has woven considerable of a ro-
nance about this old lady. The Oldest
member OF Congress cannot remember
the time when hers was not familiar
face about the corridors. She has a
daily habit of running around through
the passage ways dressed in an outland-
ish costume and dress short enough to
expose PAIR of rather dirty white stock
ings. Henry Clay is given credit for
discovering this now rather ancient Gus
toner, in his day young aud pretty. Ira
dtion has il about Washington that she
used to help him squander his wages, or
n considerable portion of them. Whether
this is true or not can only be judged
now from the stories that are handed
down to us in which the name of the IL
lustrious statesman and old CLARA are
min 1led. 1t is n noticeable fact. too,
that the older capital guides, in speaking
of the "old RI, always refer to the great
Henry in the same breath. Several at-
tempts have been made mt different times
to lear the corridor of this stand, but
always without success, and she will
probably remain there 10 the end OF her
days. She has managed to accumulate
no considerable amount from the profits
of her business.
The great Blair educational bill, which
has had the car of the Senate for the
past six or eight weeks. TO the exclusion
of all other matters, still hangs on. Sem
ator Blair can al least be given credit for
an immense amount OF perseverance in
pressing his pet measure, while the other
seuators are entitled TO still greater
praise for the patience they have dis
PLAYED in listening to the long and
tedious debats. The bill has twice
passed the Senate, and had the quest ion
come to a vote during the early part of
the session ii would not have failed tn 3
time. but the patience of a number of
Senators has been exhausted, and they
have decided to sit down squarely on
Mr.. Blair, and gave him 10 understand
that early in the debate. OF those who
have changed their attitude toward the
school bill, the most prominent are SEN
ators Spooner and Plumb. Both of
these gentlemen voted for the bill last
ses ion, but have both made speeches
against it during the past ten days.
The pet of the White House, Baby
Mckee, succeeded in creating no end of
excitement in Washington one night last
week. new fire-alarm had just bee N
placed in the White House, and about
! noon the youngster, in wandering about,
caught sight of the apparatus, and
began playing with it. All unconscious
" no gave the al rm, and in three
minutes the entire fire department had
surrounded the house, followed by an
immense concourse of people. The re-
port spread that the White House was on
fire, and it was not very long before hun
dreds of house-tops all over tho city
were covered by excited people. After
being closeted few minutes with Private
Sese airy Halford, the chief of the de-
partment gave it out to the public that
the whole affair had been arranged be-
forehand to try the machine.
No man hates to come ont second best
more than Senator ingalls,, and IL the
! truth is told he seldom does get entirely
, loft. The latest story out on him now is
how he came il over President Harrison.
| II is in connection with the organization
| of Oklahoma under a territorial form OF
| government The President and Secre-
taiy of the Interior bad given represent
atives from Oklahoma 10 understand that
he was going to select the principal Off
cara IF tho taw oOvei nmant from the