Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-09-01

SENATOR WILSON'S EFFORTS IN 1866 TC
PREVENT LIQUOR SELLING IN
THE CAPITOL.
Just when the sale of liquor first
begun in these restaurants records
fail to show, but on the 11th day oi
April, 1866, Senator Henry Wilson, OF
Massachusetts,, afterwards Vice -Presi.
dent, introduced in the Senate con-
current resolution that "the sale OF
spurious liquors, wines and all kind,
Of Intoxicating drinks of any descrip-
tiOn whatever, be prohibited in the
Capitol and on the grounds, and that
the Commissioner of Public Buildings
and Grounds be instructed to imme-
diately remove and prevent the sale
of same" Senator Beverly Johnson,
of Maryland, asked il the proposed
resolution included the spirits in the
committee rooms, and Senator Wilson
replied that he wished it could include
and prevent their use. AT this in
stance, the record shows that Senator
James A. McDougall, OF California,
made an eloquent appeal for "person-
al liberty" Senator Wilson said he
knew there were Congressman who
could throw themselves OH the outside
of quart Of whisky, but he thought
it more becoming for them to do it
outside of the Capitol. He had even
been informed that pages aud messen-
gers were taxed to furnish whisky for
committee rooms. Senator Daniel
Clark, of New Hampshire, agreed
with Senator Wilson. In his opinion
there was too much liquor drunk in
the Capitol. Pages, mere boys, had
been seen too drunk to attend to their
duties. The sale of the stuff should
not be tolerated. 1t was a disgrace
in the eyes of the nation. Senators
Lyman Trumbull, of Illinois; Joseph
w. Grimes, Of Iowa; John C0nness,
of California, and others spoke favor
ing the resolution. The latter gentle
man said he thought it should be
made a penal offeDse to bring liquor
in the building. No disgrace was
greater than for drunken men to make
laws. The resolution was then adopt
ed by vote of 33 to 2. On March Is,
1876, year afterward, the House
agreed to the joint resolution, and
seven days later the contract with
William Smelt, keeper of the restau-
rant. was Cancelled and new bids asked
for. James Perry captured the prize,
but finally wanted to sell liquor. and,
seeing no chance, surrendered his
contract. On the 4th of December,
the same year a resolution permitting
Mr.. Perry to resume his surrendered
contract, "and be allowed to sell
small beer and malt liquors, 5000 to
be paid by him for the privilege"
was referred to the Committee on
Rules, and this committee reported IL
days later the following which was
agreed to:
"That the subject of leasing the
restaurant and prescribing the rules
under which it shall be kept, is hereby
committed to the Committee Oh Re-
visal and Unfinished Business, with
free power to make such regulations
as may to them seem expedient, and
all resolutions heretofore passed are
hereby repealed"
THE MATTER NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC BUILDINGS
AND GROUNDS.
This settled the question and grad
ually the fluid began to flow again.
Two years later the restaurant was
placed under charge of the Committee
on Public Buildings and Grounds with
the same powers. Since that time ii
has been the practice of this commit
tee to elect by . vote, Immediately
after its organization: the keeper OF
the restaurant, but no lease or con-
tract is made to or with such keeper,
nor is its action communicated to oi
ratified by the House. The present
Committees on Public Building and
Grounds consist of Senators Stanford
(Chairman), Morrill,, Quay, Squire,
Carey, Vest, Daniel, Pasco and Brice,
and Representatives Blankhead, Alb
bott, Lewis, Tarnsey, Warwick, Nc
Kalg, Newberry, Warner, Williams,
of North Carolina; Milliken, ShOnk.
Enochs, and Sweed. Both restaurants
are governed after the same manner
No licenses are taken out except a
United States revenue license. just
why this is it is difficult to understand,
but the District Commissioners who
have charge of licensing saloons In
Washington appear to be satisfied.
A FEW OF THE CONGRESSIONAL TIPPLERs,
Last year the scenes in the House
restaurant became so disgraceful that
Speaker Reed issued an order Trohib-
iting the serving of drinks except
with meals, but this was only adhered
to a short time, so that one day before
the late session of Congress adjourn
ed, when your correspondent took q
stroll through these places, he saw
numerous Senators and Representa-
tives taking their drinks the same al
in an ordinary barroom. Among ouI
law makers thus indulging were noted
Senator Carlisle, of Kentucky; Sena.
tors Harris and Bate, of Tennessee;
Senator Squire, of Washington, Sena-
tor Vance, of North Carolina; Senator
Irby, of South Carolina; Senator
Davis, of Minnesota; Senator Black,
burn, of Kentucky; and Representa-.
tiyes Amos j. Cummings, John r. Eel.
lows, Ashbel p. Fitch, w. Bonrks
Cochran, w. g. Stahinecker, of New
York; Allen c. Durborrow, of Illinois
IA. g. Caruth, of Kentucky; j. S
Henderson, of North Carolina; Over
Scott, of Illinois; Joseph McKenna, o
California; j. w. Owens, of Ohio; Setl
w. Milliken, of Maine; David b. Cul