The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-12-14
TALK OF THE WEEK,

SOhs leSSiOudl uubleS laSU session was very nara
on some of the big business men, who got them
selves elected to Congress more as a diversion
than as a serious pursuit. Many of them at
tended at considerable personal sacrifice and
had to let their business take care of itself, or
go to the dogs. This was especially true of a
group of wealthy gentlemen who represent
Michigan constituencies but they obeyed the
mandate of their party's Car, and remained in
Washington to the end of the session. with one
exception. This exception was the Hon. Frank
W. Wheeler, of West Bay City, who represents
the Tenth Michigan District. Mr.. Wheeler is a
young man, not yet forty years of age, and is
the proprietor of extensive ship-building works
at West Bay City. He is a self-made man.
worth probably million dollars, and he has
made 1t all within the last ten years Twelve years
ago Mr.. Wheeler was sailor on the lakes, but
getting tired of the rough life he learned the
trade of ship carpenter, got into lumber
speculation, and in a very short time was build
ing vessels of his own. In this way he quickly
founded n handsome fortune and one of the
most prosperous ship-building businesses in the
country. He came to Congress mainly to see
what 1t was like, but evidently did not intend
to let it interfere with his private business
When the pressure came last session to compel
all Republicans to remain in their seats Mr.
Wheeler stood by his colleagues for while, but
along in August he broke away, went home to
look after his business and has not returned since
This made his colleagues who didn't have the
courage to Go likewise, very mad, and they arc
going to get even with him when he comes
back. They have formed a conspiracy against
Mr.. Wheeler, and when he reappears in the
House they are going to insist on regarding him
as an entirely new member and compel him to
be sworn in again They have their plans all
laid and will not give Mr.. Wheeler a chance to
escape. They will, however, present two alter
native propositions, and he will have to accept
one of them on very short notice These propo-
sitions are: First, that he give his solemn
promise to set up champagne and terrapin
supper for the whole Republican side of the
House, or, second Immediately appear before
the bar of the House and be sworn in again.
Mr.. Wheelers colleagues declare that they are
not going to let him have the laugh on them
While he has been at home making money in
his private business he has also been drawing the
Congressional salary regularly, and they declare
that he will have to divide up with them part of
the latter as penalty for his delinquency to his
public duties.
1t is very amusing and instructive to note the
difference which pervades the atmosphere of the
House compared with that of the Senate.
About the House end of the Capitol everything
is informal, easy-going, and democratic. The
members of the House, as a rule, the door
keepers, and other attendants are approachable.
good-natured, and not at all stiff in their deal
ings with the general public. They are very
anxious to accommodate all comers, and never
seem to find it any trouble to do almost any,
thing that is asked of them They will search
half an hour, if necessary, to find member
who is wanted, and in every other way are
thoroughly good fellows and unpretentious
American citizens, with no darn nonsense about
them But walk of two minutes to the other
end of the Capitol brings you into an entirely
different atmosphere About the Senate one
would almost think he was in the ante-cham-
bers OF the Grand Mogul or the Grand Llama of
Thibet. Even the humblest Of the Senate en-
pIoyes have generally about them a grave air
Of itv t,ot ic
freeze the blood of an ordinary citizen. They
speak in hushed tones as If afraid of waking a
sleeping invalid or disturbing the self-contem-
plation of some demi-god. You are compelled
to stand at respectful distance away from the
doors of the Senate; if YOU happen
to have cigar in your hand you are requested
to throw it away, and if your manners are not
entirely Chesterfieldian you are liable to be re-
buked by look if not by word. The attend
ants come and go with a soft, stately tread, they
open the doors softly, and put on as much cere-
| mony as if they were assistants in temple. To
get at Senator you are compelled to send in
your card and wait at least half an hour for
the dignifed attendants to find a fitting oppor-
tunity to approach the great man. Then if it is
the latters pleasure to grant you the favor of
an audience you are uShered into the luxuri-
ously-furnished marbleroom, where YOU are
| permitted to take a seat on an expensive sofa
and you are very lucky if you don't have to
wait more than another half hour before the
Senator appears. 1t seldom takes more than
onc NlniI w ccuatc Slue Ol Jue capitol TO
| convince the average American citizen that the
Senate ought to be abolished or at least COM
PEELED to be little more American in its sur
roundings
Representative Tillman, of South Carolina.
has some original ideas on the question of re-
apportionment. He is understood to have been
the only member of the Census Committee who
opposed the Frank bill, which the committee
has reported faVorably to the House and ex-
poets to get up for discussion this week When
the present apportionment of members was
made ten years ago it was thought that the
membership at $50 was too large, and that the
! increasing numbers of the body would soon
make it altogether too unweldy for the trans
! action Of business. But now Mr.. Franks bill
! proposes to increase the membership still
! further, to 1856 members. In discussing this
bill less is heard about the unwieldiness of such
number than was heard on the same subject
! ten years ago. Mr. Tillman, of South Caro-
lina however, desires a bill which will increase
| the membership of the House away beyond
what Mr.. Frank proposes. He made a speech
! before the Census Committee the other day in
! which he gave his ideas at length, and they had
! decided effect on those who heard them. Mr..
| 1illman declared that he would favor as bic an
! increase in the number of members as any
! other man. In fact, he thought he favored a
! larger number than any other man. He be-
! leved the House should be made up of not
| less than 600 members, about the mum
| Der of which the British House of Com
| mons consists
IL K h
In talking on the subject, Mr. TIIman gave
! the reason why he thought such a larger num-