The Helena independent., 1893-12-28
Visitor Excluded From a Commit
tee Room Because a Senator
Was Asleep.
Tho Way Sons Newspaper Men
Arc Bothered by Some Great
Statesm IN.
Rights Of Senators and Privileges OF the
Frsss-yast Dignity of Ex-senator
Ingalls,
Especial Correspondence.1

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WASHINGTON, Dec. iS.-There has been a
great deal of complaint Of late concerning
senatorial exclusiveness For two or three
weeks habitucs Of the capitol have noticed
n messenger or watchman seated comforta-
bly, in chair In the middle of corridor
that leads to one OF the senate elevators. 1t
is his duty to stop visitors who are ap-
preaching the elevator and bid them turn
back and make the ascent in some other
way. Naturally American citizens do not
like this sort Of thing. They think 1t an
imposition upon them and deprivation of
their rights which cannot be tolerated
When the average American citizen comes
to the capitol he wears an air Of ownership.
He cannot get out OF his mind the thought
that this great building and all it contains
its wealth OF marbles, Of decorations. OF
magnificent furniture, of works OF art--is
his BY virtue of his sovereignty as mem
ber of the great army Of sovereigns. There
fore the watchman who sits in the center
OF the corridor and stops people from going
to the elevator, as he is required to do about
e hundred times day, has very difficult
job. He has to stop and explain, which he
does with considerable dignity and polite
ness, but to him it must be an old and a sad
sort of tale. 1t is particularly embarrass-
ing to him when American citizens exercise
another Of their prerogatives, as they fire.
quently do, that Of cursing the American
senate and all its customs, rules, priggish-
ness, exclusiveness and agents and instru-
ments thereof.
Tho People Must Walk.
The watchman cannot help it. His duty
is to obey orders II he should fail therein,
he would lose his place. And while the
new rule gives rise to a great deal of pro-
family and ruffles many spirits the senate is
not wholly to blame. The American citi-
zen who flies into passion over such sim
pie matter should not forget that the sem
ate has some rights in the end of the capi-
tol devoted to its use This new rule about
using the elevator is a product indirectly of
the great silver debate of last summer and
autumn. That debate and the exciting in
cidents which attended it drew to the capi-
tol every day large crowds of citizens. At
the night sessions particularly the throngs
were dense. They were not always savory
crowds. ..
While many Of the finest sort of people had
curiosity to see what the senate was doing
and the greatest statesmen were saying, the
majority were of that class known as ''the
great unwashed." They were of both col.
ors and of all conditions of previous servi.
tude in the thraldom of personal unclean.
liness. They may be honest folk enough
and deserving. but not just the sort of peo
pie one would choose to associate with
These people crowded the elevator At first
they would walk up and down, as was good
for them, but as soon as they had discov
cred there was an elevator near by and that
riding in it was free to all comers you
couldn't have hired one of these chaps tc
walk up or down those two flights of gor
geous stairs. They would wait for Is min
utes to get a chance to ride. They filled the
elevator car with their bodies and theil
odors and thoroughly enjoyed themselves
no matter what other people thought OF
smelled.
Naturally the senators did not like this
Whatever else may be said about our grave
and reverend seigniors, whatever may be
their mental and moral condition and tend
encies, they are with very few exceptions
fine examples of personal cleanliness. III
was not pleasant for high toned senators tc
be compelled to mix with the common herd
in going up or down the elevator. for one
don't blame them bit for trying to keep
at least one elevator as free as possible fol
their own use. ,7z5r .ar a@