The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-28
sENATOR GoRMAE.

and you wonder at the modesty of his de-
sires, until you come to your senses sud-
denly after it is all over and discover that
he has in reality got everything that is
worth while and lett the pickings TO you.
The incident to which l refer is little
one. but it shows the lines upon which
be operates. | don't think l ever saw a
man turned and tortured more pitilessly
than Joe Cannon was on this occasion. II
was in the conference committee. over the
appropriation bills in the last congress.
German was one of the conferees for the
Senate and Cannon, of course, for the
House. You know what sort OF a thing a
conference committee is in the closing
days of q session. Items of appropriation
are slashed and altered remorselessly, and
there is constant, continual sparring be-
tween the representatives of the two
branches as TO what shall go out and what
shall stay. Toward the last time always
comes when nothing goes, unless some
member OF the conference is person.
ally interested in it, and it has
been the custom time out of mind
for every member TO respect the
personal wishes of the rest. Joe Cannon,
as you know, isn't troubled about observ-
ing the amenities of life. He slashes right
along and doesn't always wait to see who
is in the way. 1t is a habit that is very
apt to trip a fellow up. 1t happened in this
instance that the lighthouse appropriation
was up. The committee had requested the
lighthouse board to grade their recon-
mendations for appropriations as indis-
pensable, necessary and desirable The
result OF this arrangement with the trim
ming and pruning that goes on at the close
of session is that the only appropriations
that go through are those marked in
dispensable.' Cannon was wading through
the bill in conference with a big blue
pencil in his hand, cutting out here and
there in his bull-h eaded way. There was
an item for Improvements on little light
house off the Maryland coast in which
German was personally interested, and
which he was very anxious to put
through. 1t was marked, desirable. how
ever, and when Cannon came to it he
dashed his pencil through it brusquely
without turning TO German for informa-
ton, hurting out that he guessed desir-
able things would have TO make way at
this stage Of the session. German didn't
say word, and apparently was unaware
of what was going on. Senator Allison,
who was presiding, however ventured q
mild objection. But you forget. Mr.. Can
non,' he said, that this IS in Senator Cor
mans state
i beg OF you, Mr.. Senator quickly in
terp0sed German, glanclng quietly up,
not 10 make any changes in the bill on
my account. That is something | should
never think of asking the committee, and
if the item is included shall have to de-
cline signing the report | wish / could
describe to you exactly the manner in
which he made this simple remark 1t
was cold, incisive and perfectly even. with
an indescribable infection that stabbed
Cannon like knife. He turned red and
and wheeled uncomfortably IN his chair.
fumbled his pencil and tried to look I'M
concerned. He could see that every men,
Der of the committee synpathized
with German, and every men,
Der looked upon him as playing
the part of a boor. He turned TO
German, and said he thought if Mr.. Cor
man desired it the item had better stay.
but the Marylander again declined with
significant poiiteness, and the item went
out OF the bill. German could not have
placed himself III q more favorable posi-
ton With the committee or Cannon in a
more unenviabie. And now for the SEQUEL.
The committee continued in session the
next day, ana Il clause appropriating $l0,-
600 Tor certain public work came UP. Il
want 70 say, gentlemen said Cannon,
that there are very important reasons
known 10 me alone why this item should
stay in the Hlll. / cannot explain them
10 you, and | must ask Won TO
take my word for it, but it would be a
great personal favor To me if it should STAY
IN There WAS luil for a second, and
then German, scarcely raising his ewes,
said in his quietest and iciesl tone; Mr..
Chairman, | shall toe obliged 10 interpose
an objection. do not think we should
be Justified in putting any item in a gov
eminent appropriation bill the reason for
the presence OF which we cannot explain. ,
The shot went home. never saw a man
so completely taken back and covered with
embarrassment IS Cannon. There was
not word that he could say. The Mary
lander by two simple sentences, uttered as
no man but German could utter them, had
completely routed him.
Every American likes 4 man of grit and
persistence, and for that reason if no
other Benton McM}lliu, VINO will have a
principal part u pay IL the present con-