Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-06-24

do, for the ways of legislation were
not beaten tracks and Senators had
not served a long apprenticeship in
statecraft. Constituents were less
troublesome then than now. Iele-
grams were an unknown trial. the inn
perfect postal facilities made letters
infrequent, and personal visits we're
few and far between. A journey Of a
few hundred miles to the seat Of gov
eminent meant more in the closing
/ days of the eighteenth century than
1 trip TO Europe does in these fin de
I steele times. Under these conditions,
1 like the good housewives Of the period,
I the Senators managed TO ..do their
own work for forty years. until Jack
1 ron took the reins of government He
made things lively for them, and as
office making and Office giving became
4 the rage OF the hour they created the
Z position of page in the Senate.
I Grafton ID. Hanson was the first page
I appointed in December, 1929. His
grandfather, Gen. Montjoy Bayley,
who was then sergeant-at-arins was
his sponsor. Mr.. Hanson is still resi-
dent of Washington, having held the
position of chief clerk in the Office of
the Paymaster-Ge at the War De-
partment for a period of thirty-one
wears he Is a man of scholarly at
tainments. fine sociable position and
the affable manner Of the old hooL
Few men in these days have such rare
"reminiscences Of their boyhoDd-
John c. Calhoun was president Of
the Senate when he resolved his APP
pointment. Daniel Webster was es-
pecially kind to him and his CHEEKY
manner always made II a pleasure TO
L .H~~4ss
weave little fun into his commands.
Here, my lad, take this one to the
reprobates" would be his order with
documents 10 be delivered TO the Cham
, Der Of Referees and a kindly caress
would accompany II.
Mr.. Hanson's youthful mind drank
in the eloquenec of Henry Clay and
| William c. Preston of South Carolina
! whose silvery tones and wonderful
oratory so charmed his hearers that
they were 30 enraptured in listen
( ing TO his speeches that they could
not take them down.
. Senator Arthur z. German Of Mary
! land was one Of Capt. Bassetts boys
5 He was appointed page in the Senate
by Stephen A. Douglas. when he was
: but IL years old. During the fourteen
! wears he remained in the service of tn,
/ Senate he held every subordinate posi-
I ton except that Of sergeant-at-arns
l finally attaining 10 the dignity Of post
. master. In 1850 he was appointed
r Collector Of Internal Revenue ia Mary
: land. and subsequently represented BIZ
county in both Houses of the Stat'
Legislature. When he was 81 years q
age he returned. as Senator from Mary
land to the halls where in his boyhooS
he had served as page.
Senator German is considered one o
the most astute parliamentarians o
the dav. There is not a detail of par
liamentary law which Is not perfect!
familiar TO him. His experience o
fourteen years in the Senate at tn
most critical period of the nations his
tory and when the greatest men o
the country were discussing prof9nn'
questions OF government was a rar
school of political discipline. Doubt
less he largely owes to Il the develop
nent of his conspicuous abilities, whicl
have placed him in the foremost ranl
Of leading men.
Other past pages" who are fillinl
promising and prominent positions II
The world are three Bailey brothers
4 one Of whom, under the nom de plum
:, Of Edward Alton. is making a name il
i the field of literature. The other tw'
y are in the United States Navy. TIT
y United States Consul at Tahiti, MT
= Jacob Doty, was once bright page
!, Mr.. Stuart Robson, the comedian
!. learned few of his tricks in the Sen
: ate chamber when he was a page there
II The corps of pages at present doinl
- duty in the Senate has swelled I
\ eighteen members. They are brigh
= lot of boys. with ready wit TO seize tn
4 many opportunities afforded them 10
\ picking up bits of wisdom.
AT $50 every morning they are n
ouired to report in the Senate chamber
When the Senate does not eonven
until midday they find many moment
4, of the morning hour available 4