The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-07


He and Indiana Were Young To-
gether.
Washington Letter in Chicago Times.
OF all the peculiar and picturesque fig
ures in congress none is more so than
Holman of Indiana. Mr. Holman is a
Hoosier by birth His cradle was rocked
In Dearborn county in 1922 He was a
pioneer baby. And he stayed right there
and grew up with Indiana. Holman and
Indiana were young at the same time
they were playmates; so no wonder they
think well of each other. The old watch
dog is now II years old. In looking over
his history it would seem as if Holman
was what one might term, subject to
otice-caug1t Office, in fact, like other
folks catch colds. He was made probate
Judge in 1643, when he was p. In 1S47 he
gave up the judgeship to become prose-
cutting attorney. At the close of his term,
1850, he went as a member of the consti-
tutioull convention of the state. In 1851.
having tinkered up the organic law, he
cOncluded to go to the legislature and
cor tinue the good work on the statutes
JUDGE AND CONGRESSMAN.
He abode in the legislature but briefly,
and in 1852 turned up as Judge of the
court of common pleas. He performed as
Judge for four years and then branched
out for congress. This wasin the misspent
DAYS of James Buchanan. Holman was
in congress during the first mutterings Of
coming civil war He was there when
the states seeded and armies held the
field His record shows him on the
House rolls during the Thirty-sixth,
Thirty-seventh, Thirty-eighth, Fortieth,
Forty-frst. Forty-second, F'orty-third,
Forty-fourth, Forty-seventh, Forty
eighth, Forty-ninth, Ffftieth, Eifty-first,
Fifty-second, and Fifty-third congresses.
Now and then as one scans his career
one finds a congress missing, like a broken
tooth, but he makes a great display.
When Holman finishes the present con-
gress he will have witnessed twenty
eight active years in the House, That
means heap of history.
STORIES OF HOLMAN.
They tell great many stories of Hol-
man. Once when Gov Thomas Clitten-
den was a member of the House he had a
bill to reduce the tolls on some canal
which cut across some bend and abbreVi-
ated the Mississippi somewhere. think,
on the storm-beaten shores of dOwa.
Critteuden wanted the tolls on this canal
let down a national peg or two. Holman
didn't. 1t would worry both of them
now to tell why in either case, but that's
the way they felt then. Crittenden felt
indignant at Holman's opposition to the
bill. He chung to theory that Holman
ought to confine his energies to Indiana
and not to lavish himself all over several
states and territories. He told Holman
so, but the watchdog spurned his narrow
ing view. No pent-up Utica for Holman
He would oppose the canal reduction
measure with tooth and claw. But when
-aiI a, 4
siderable OF fox himself. He was on
the pension committee. And be it
woefully written, Holman was always-is
stllI-more addicted 10 pension legislation
than any man in the House Of the 1877
towering millions of annual pensions I'M
der which the government now staggers
and stumbles, WATCHDOG Holman can Law
his paw on his breast aud say: Il did
more to pile that up than any five lien
VINO ever gave their party war-whOop in
the House of representatives. And at
the time Crittenden was a canaler Hol-
man was sticking in private pension bills
as one might feed grain to a thrasher.
So Crittenden began to plot. As fast as
one Of HOlman's bills was referred to the
committee CriJtenden would signify his
Willingness to look into it and it would be
referred TO him. No one objected, of
course. The rest were only too lazily
willing to see him do the work.
When he had collected enough of Hol-
mans pension bills to stuff a bedtick ne
sought that sagaCious HoOsier. They
spoke as follows:
rittenden-Holman, next suspension
day think I'll call up my canal bill
Holman with dark, suggestive shake
OF the head)--I'll have to oppose that bill,
Crittenden. That's a bad bill
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES no business to OPP
pose that bill, judge. It's 300 miles west
OF VOll-'NVa n ct
Now want you to keep your shovel out.
Holman (doggedly)-Can' do it, Crit
tenden
Crittenden-Let me tell you something,
Judge. I'm on the pension committee.
You've introduced at least forty pension
bills. I've made it my business to get
possession of every one of them. If YOU
dare to interfere with my canal measure
you can rest assured that not n single
pension bill of yours shall see the House
light.
Holman Cooking aghast)-Why, my
gracious! Crittenden, dear me! (The
Ola gentleman is always tamely plaintiye
right!
Crittenden-Tt would come as near be-
ing right as your getting In the way Of
my canal scheme
Holman after a lugubrious pause)-
Wen, Tom, lots Of times I'm not in the
mousse Wnen these bills come up.
Crlttenden-Y0u can suit yourself.
Judge, about beingin the House. But this
you can be sure Of; If you come Fostering
around that canal bill of mine you can
give 1t as the reason to the old soldiers OF
your district why they didn't get the
pensions you promised them the last time
Iney voted for you.
On suspension day, as one proposition
qqIJer another came tluttering from the
House traps to be banged at, hit or Minis,
as the case might prove, Holman uneasily
teJered up and down the aisle to and from
Ihe speakers desk. keeping watchful eye
On the speakers list of men who were TO
Ne recognized, so as TO know just when
Cflttenden would be reached. At last.
IIqst before the Missourian was recognized,
iloHnan scooted safely out ofth House TO
ms committee room. Here he kept him
ser quite busy for fifteen minutes. He
wanted 70 give the baleful Crittenden
pIenty OF time. At last he returned In
moment or so, and as il the thought had
y~sJ smote him, he called over to Critten-
Ctn In tones of anxiety: by the way,
OIIJIenaen, what was done with your
canal bill ?"
IL passed ten minutes ago"
~ dld ~ replied Holman as il panied
dilu amazed why I'm sorry about that;
wanted to oppose that bill"
HAD A LITTLE pTTI