The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-22
WASHINGTON LETTER.
How Caucuses Arc Conducted In
the National Capital.
The Tobacco Tiend at Ills worst-Liquor
Flows freely Despite a Congressional
u R'he Which Nobody Seems
sS or Cares TO Observe.
Especial washington Lettcr.I

lSpeCl1l w uSn1nTtOn lLetterl
Tho architect of the capitol has evil
IDENTITY intended that the senators and
representatives shall have all things
ready for them when congress convencs
December q Scrubbing brushes and
cleaning compounds have been used
1ayishly and with no regard for ccono-
my, until both the senate chamber and
the house of representatives arc spicll
and span clean and new. The final act
of the speakership contest will occur
when the democratic caucus meets in
representative hall on Saturday night.
When they enter that magnificent
chamber, it will be as the entrance of
pigmies into a fairy palace; but oh what
a difference in the morning. There has
been a liberal application of paint here
and there to freshen up the soiled walls
and doors; the great green carpet has
been cleaned by men who pa, AIDED over
its surface on their knees, using scrub
bing brushes with some patent soapy
compound. After thoroughly drying
on the floor the carpet has been
steamed, aired, dried and replaced, look
ing really prettier than when new. There
is brand new carpet i'll the lobby of
the house and the steps approaching
the desk of the speaker have been
newly carpcted also, as n matter of ne
cessity, because last years carpet was
worn almost threadbarc by the feet of
the dancing little Pucl1s of pages who
rushed back and forth to serve the vari-
Gus members of the house when called
upon.
When the caucus assemblies it will be
an aggregation of gentlemen many of
whom love and use tobacco in all its
forms Mr.. Holman, of Indiana, will
be there, and so will Mr.. Bland, of Mis-
souri,. These gentlemen are seldom
known to smoke tobacco, but they are
champions among the chewers of the
house, all other tobacco masticators be-
ing merely satellites of these great
orbs. 1t is singular fact that ma
jority of the members of the house of
representatives would rather soil car
pet than use n cuspidor. Nine out of
ten statesmen would rather scatter the
ashes from their cigars and pipes upon
this brand new carpet than empty them
in the fireplace. Knowing the habits
of the gentlemen of the house as well
as do, the statement is made with no
hesitancy whatever that when the eau
Gus adjourns Saturday night the hall
of representatives will need the brushes
and brooms of the entire working force
under the doorkceper to make it pre-
sentable again for Monday morning
These statements are not intended as
reflections upon the intelligence of tho
gentlemen who represent great con-
stituencies in the various states; but
they are merely made in order that the
reader may understand that these great
men have weaknesses which are pain
fully palpable to cultured eyes and
ears.
One of the causes of the carelessness
of the commoucrs who will assemble
on Saturday night is to be found on the
ground floor of the house wing of the
capitol 1t is matter of record that
for many years past joint resolution
of the senate and house has abolished
the buying and selling and use of alco.
holic liquor in the capitol. This, how
ever, is fiction which the dear people
may believe or not believe, as they
choose Unless my vision is remarlla-
bly, defective and given to distorting
and magnifying things in common use,
I have seen all kinds of liquor sold over
the bar of the house restaurant, and
gentlemen in whose judgment and dis
elimination / have confidence inform
me that this same disregard of the joint
resolution continues at present. That
being the case, in the event of strug-
gle, wrangle or extended argument in
the house caucus it may be anticipated
that few of the honorable gentlemen