The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-12
GOING OUT OF CONGRESS,
49, -
Several Notable Solons Who Will
Retire on the Fourth Of
March Next.
Some Of Picturesque Appearance,
Others OF Sterling Worth
in Congress.
The Drawcrless Dandy from Quaker Town
Chandler and Banks-Ths I'm
printable Cannon-Payson.

printable Cannon-P1yson.
Especial Correspondence OF THE INpEpEsDzsr.1
WARRINGTON, Jan. 7.--The stranger who
finds his way to the gallery of the house
eyinces much interest In its members. II
no has Captain Kennedy, the king OF the
guides, ut his side, he will bombard him
with questions and receive pi, .turesque re-
plies. Eat he must use his ears and eyes.
The most picturesque man upon tho floor
Ia undoubtedly the Hon. Richard Vaux.
He IN magnificent specimen OF
fully-ripened American manhood. Il WAS
while he was secretary of the Amer
lean legation Mt London under the
Hon. Andrew Stevenson, of Virginia. once
speaker OF the house of representatives.,
that Vaux danced with Queen Victoria.
John Van Buren, ID said to have charmed
her majesty but she WAS absolutely enrap-
tured with Vaux. He is said to have danced
with far more grace and ease than Prince
John. His natural independence is 70
great that no bids defiance to the elements.
He ayows that he never wore an overcoat.
He wears black broadcloth trousers
and no drawers. He regards them
in a red fannel shirt, winter and
summer. In fact, as far as underwear goes,
Vaux is clothed very much as the country
boy a half century aRo who attended dis
trict school. where the teacher boarded
round Outwardly he resembles statesmen
of the time OF Louis the Sixteenth. lie has
long curling locks, powdered by seventy
four winters. The yellow tIDge, however, is
distinct. lie is MS vigorous in voice and
limb as a man of 40 years. When thor
<,,.b}u N vopon lac .nnn, <h. -. - r..-A
OF the speakers desk, shaking his tawny
leonine locks and awakening the echoe Of
the house. lie reflects honor upon the
great city that sent him to congress. and
has brains enough to distribute among q
dozen ordinary congressman.
The next man to attract the strangers at
tention would probably be the Hon. John
W. Gambler of Massachusetts. He has the
appearance and the graces of n French mar
qnis OF the olden time. Among them are
with the rudy hue of health, bushy gray
hair, and n neatly-trimmed beard and
maustache. Broad-chested, dignifed, deep
toned and extremely gracious in manner,
as he addresses the house he looks like a
bishop in q diocesan convention. Nor does
he talk in vain. His speeches are freighted
with logic and adorned with the streamers
of e~loquence. His dress Is perfection in
cut, fit and n%eatness. A diamond of the
first water sparkles upon his snowy shirt
TTOHC. Inc OlO Day BLhLo never uau n more
attractive representative. He is the chair
man of the Worlds Fair committee, and as |
such recently visited Chicago. There he
threw Roswell =. Flower in the shade, and
produced q profound impression. Further
more he materially assisted in unravelinR
the snarl in which the board of managers
had become involved.
Away off to Gamblers right the stranger
will see another veteran sitting with arms
folded, rs straight as an arrow. He also
has thick gray hair and abristling nous
tache. His eyes are blue, and his face
white and scanned with age. He wears a
close buttoned frock coat, and pays strict
attention to the proceedings in the house.
This veteran was speaker of the house over
thirty-fve years ago: There is no
Der when he presided. The picture
of this ex-speaker hangs in the lobby
outside. His dark hair, black moustache,
stern features and commanding nose indi-
cate the manner in which he bore himself
during and after the fierce struggle that
General Nathaniel L. Banks. In this house
General Banks voice has rarely been heard.
His years make him pensive, but he is ex-
tremely obseryant.
1t seems to require some pension bill for
che benefit of an old army comrade to bring
him to his feet. When he does speak, mem
bers crowd around him to hear him. He
stands with his head well up. and enun-
ciates his sentences in II clear tone of voice,
urging his points upon the attention of his
Banks is nearly seventy-fye years old. De-
spite his age, he seldom fails to attend the
meetings of his committees. He is d ia
isiiiar figure upon Pennsylvania avenue,
Arm-in-arm with his cheery-faced wife, he
frequently walks to the foot of Capitol Hill
md returns after the house has adjourned.
Mr.. Springer of Illinois. some months ago,
introduced a bill giving the general an
ample pension. That bill still sleeps in
committee. If it could be placed upon the
and brought before the house IN
the regular order OF business. there is little
doubt that it would be passed. The integ-
rity, patriotism and services of the general
have never been questioned. His income is
small and the time is short i'll which the
nation can show its gratitude for his ser
vices.
While looking at Con. Banks the eyes of
The stranger may wander to u striking fig
are near him. He has a rudy complexion.
regular features and turquoise eyes. Locks
of iron gray hair curl upon his forehead
and a short curling beard covers his chin.
This gentleman is broad shouldered, has
thick hard muscles, and is inclined to port :
.iness. He is Lewis T.. Payson. of
Pontiac, ILL.,. one of the orators of
the house. The Congressional Record con-
fains hundreds. If not thousands of columns !
of his 81 eeches. He speaks fuently and up !
on almost any given subject without prepa- !
ration. He is a great reader and a thinker =
as we'll. He is chairman Of the committee :
o n public lands Serving his tenth wear in =
congress, no man better understands rail-
road grants and what is due the govern 1
from the companies who received ;
them. He was n strong opponent of the +
copyright bill. His personality was felt in a
lhe fight for free coinage. He spoke for it, 5
but did not vote for it. Ono OF the most /,
entertaining scenes in the house in the last
session WAS that in which Judge Turner, of =
ieorgia. chilled Judge Payson to account for :
straddling the silver question. With all |
adroitness and exquisite parry and :
thrust. the Illinois member did not escape. o
His fight excited the admiration of the =
but the Georgian drew blood. |
Many-a-time-and-oft. however, has Judge !
Payson crossed rapiers with the best de- "
OH the floor. and been victorious. He !
is n man loved by his friends, and feared by ]
his enemies. :,
II the stranger remains in the gallery long j
enough. he will sec r brawny gentleman n
with blue eyes, thin, light hair, and n griz- !.
lied beard take the floor. This is sure to |
if an appropriation bill is under =
consideration. He wears no moustache. His +
voice ia resonant and his gestures tsem- 4
llous and eccentric. He wears n turn down !.
collar, n black tie and plain clothes. There |
a no uougeuae ahout him He faItu M :