The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-02
McAdoo and O'Neill Made Game
Of the Hoosier's Economic
Propensities.
The Geological BILL Had Been Passed
Proctor Knott Goes Fishing-Con-
gressional Wags and Jokers.

ana Il tQOuSAuO Ln0r0, anu AG tAlucS AAuCA-
ing out appropriations that run into the
hundred thousands and even millions. He
is usually on the qui vive, but once IN
a while he is caught mapping.
The other day, while there was lull in
legislation, he went down to the postofhce.
Some constituent buttonholed him in the
corridor and detained him for quarter of
an hour or more. While he was away the
house went into committee of the whole on
the geological park bill. II had been re-
ported back to the open house and the pre-
vious question had been ordered when the
judge re-entered the chamber. Turning to
Mr.. McAdo0, who sits near him, he said:
What's this, what's this, eh2 Tell me,
tell me-
.'It's the monkey park bill," Mr.. Nc
'.Oh! my, myr' exclaimed the Judge;
"that won't do; that won't do. No, no. this
won't do. Mr.. Speaker, Mr.. Speakerv' he
shouted.
For what purpose does the gentleman
from Indiana rise?" drawled Tom Reed, in
his broad Yankee tone.
Il make the point Of ,order,' the judge
replied. 'that this bill, under the rules,
should be considered in committee of the
whole.''
| Speaker Reed looked at the Watchdog in
in committee of the WHOLE he finally said,
"and is now about to be put upon its final
At this the Judge turned his auid, squirted
rye straws to the right and left, and sat
down. Then he turned to Hon. Joseph H.
O'Neill, of Boston, who is considerable of a
wag, and said:
my, my, but this shouldn't be. No, no,
it shouldn't be. It's a great shame. How
much was x.,.ie,, the 3, appropriations Were you
Joe OF Neill winked hard at McAdoo and
Il remember one item. It was fifty thous-
and dollars for housing and feeding the
monkeys"
GOOD heavens!'' exclaimed the Judge,
| twirling his eyeglasses with amazing
rapidity. my, my, what extravagancer'
Eyes" broke in Mr.. MeAdoo, "and that's
not all. There was $4,000 for buffalo
wallow.''
"A buffalo wallow,'' replied the judge.
'Why, big hole filled with water for the
buffaloes to roll in,'' replied the JERSEY City
"0h! this won't do at all. No, it won't
do" murmered the judge. "Move to re-
commit the bill. It must be recommitted.
Yes, yes, it must be DONE"
Hold on" interrupted O'Neil. Come
for tank for seals and sea-lions." !.
judge. ..My goodness, this is downright
robberyv' He again got his feet and
shouted: "Mr. Speaker!'' twice. But the
confusion was so great that Tom Reed
failed to hear him.
McAdoo seized Mr.. Holman by the arm.
1T is robbery pure and simple. But you
havn't heard the worst, judge he said.
''They got in ansaitem of $4,000 for an
aviary for seagullst and one of $4,000 for a
bear!pit.'' Eea
At this the Judge shot into air.
"Mr. Speaker" he cried, "a parliamentary
The speaker recognized him. 1.-THE gen.
tleman from Indiana rises to parliament
ary inquiry he said HE will state it,
Would it be in order now," the judge
inquired, "to move to recommit the bill
with instructions?"
'To what bill does the gentleman from
Indiana refer?" the speaker asked.
'"Ihe geological park bill," the judge re-
piled.
1.-The geological park bill, the speaker re-
peated, as though Thunderstorm. ''That
bill is no longer before the house. It has
just been passed. The bill now under con-
sideration is the senate bill providing for
the erection of public building at Wap-
wallopy, Pa"
This ended the matter. The Judge re-
sumed his seat. He opened his rubber
pouch and took a fresh chew of tobacco.
He then defeated the Wapwallopy bill
great and small, that was before the house
that day.
Such was the story as told upon the tor.
pedo boat. Both McAdoo and O'Neil were
present, and, as neither denied it, it fair to
assume that it has some foundation. At all
events, it was well told and created much
amusement. Secretaries Tracy and Proctor
were among the listeners. They preserved
becoming gravity az long as possible, and
then gave way, like Mississippi leyees be-
fore flood.
Many stories are told about Proctor
Knott's career in the house. He was un-
doubtedly one of the brightest men who
evlr came to congress from Kentucky. His
Ifaluth speech reads almost like an inspira-
tion. He is as ready with his pencil as with
| his tongue. He is born artist as well as
born orator. The light and shade of his
drawings equal the light and shade in his
speeches. In long and Wearisome debates
he amused himself by stretching his arms
over his desk and sketching scenes in the
house. He could take pen and ink photo
graph in three minutes that would be rec
ognized by every member on the floor.
In the forty fourth congress he had the
we'll known jim Mckenzie as a colleague.
Jim is full as bright as Proctor Knott, but
lacks Knott's artistic gift with the pencil.
One day in dull debate Knott sketched a
little pond surrounded by q fence. The
pond was filled with ducks. He drew a
jackass whose head was stretched over the
fence looking at the ducks.
| He had hardly finished the sketch when
little page came down the aisle. The boy
caught glimpse of the picture. The pages
were always eager to secure Mr.. Knots
drawings.
"Oh please, Mr.. Knott,'' said this lad,
| 'smay have that sketch?''
"Yes, my boy" the kentucky congress-
man replied. "you're welcome to il"
The boy thanked Mr.. Knott and rushed
down the aisle with the sketch in his hand.
| As he neared its mouth Jim Mckenzie
caught his arm and said:
"Here! what's that? Let's see what you've
got.''
The boy passed him the sketch. He Razed
at it and smiled. Then he wrote beneath
the picture:
|
| PRocToR KNOTT FISHING FOR DUCKS.
...' -. 80. ....'s.
The page seemed hnrt. He ran back "a
/ the author Of The sketch and, with team n