Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-04
attic gallery. having practically nothing
Upper House Ltberality.


The House really makes itself uncomfort.
able by small economies. while the Senate
throws money around broadcast. All en-
ployes Of the upper house get an extra
months pay nearly every session. Nobod.
has ever explained why. This largesse has
been made to include the whole OF the Cap
itol police, numbering twenty-seven police
men and watchmen. The watchmen at $50
per ennum and the policemen At SLIGO, b:
the way, do exactly the same work. Will
such important House committees as thosc
mentioned have no servants. the captaii
of the Capitol police has an assistant a
sl,loO to make out his reports. There ar
great many anomalies in the natiOna.
legislative affairs Of which those referrec
to afford only bare suggestion.
The committee room sideboard as dis
pensary of liquid refreshments mey be r.
garded as a thing of the past Ten year
ago nearly every committee room at n p
Senate end of the Capitol had Its provisloi
Of liquors. which were purchased by IN d
chairman or by a member who had reputa b.
ton as a connoisseur. Some committees
were known for the particularly excellent ~ :
or bourbon or brandy which they kept or
hand. These committee room sideboardi
were furnished to some extent by distillers
who had personal friends in the committee
uruyue; pcrn.r. ,c.y -.-i.-- S.----
the favor of Senators. inasmuch as the
was no telling when they might want a.
bonded period extended or some other favor
able legislative action
In those Jays IL was part OF the duty r.
a messenger to know how TO compour
mixed drinks. Senator Thurman had a ma
TO whom he had only to say Make me al
other OF those things" and an ideal cockta
Was at once submitted. But In the cour:
OF time IL came about that a good man
Senators gave up buying liquors for Their
selves, preferring to depend upon those fu;
nlshed In the committee rooms. That pla
was cheaper for them and more satisfactor
F-.-- ~
the members who did the dispensing q,
tired of supplying the whole OF the uppe
mouse with stimulants and at length the
gave IL up. So now the private demiioh.
mas taken the place Of the sideboard.
Stanford and His Wines
There never was another Senator p
sponged upon as was Leland Stanford. T.
was the most generous of men, and he use
TO import whole car loads Of wines an
oranges from California for distribution
among his friends. lie was particular
proud OF the wines produced by his ow.
vineyards. and he would send cases @
quarts to Senators who said that they like
them. A fellow legislator would say: "'B
Jove Stanford that, wine you gave me &
the finest / ever tasted. Where can 1 bu,
some of it?''
You can't buy It here" Stanford woulc
say. That was special brand from Ger
tain very choice grapes of my own. But !
will send you around another case With my
compliments"
That was what the applicant was after, OF
course and with a little tact the scheme
might be worked again and again. The Sen
ate pages had reason TO be soryy when Stan
ford lied. He used TO give q gold piece e
each OF them every Christmas. II more dig
nifty attaches TO Senator than TO a Repre-
sentative the Senate page considers himself
pToportionately superior TO the House page.
Pages of the Senate get 81 10 a day, and the
places are much sought Senator German
was once a page Of the Senate. Old Capt
Bassett doorkeeper OF the upper house was
appointed page by Daniel Webster Decem-
Der T. 1881. This is his sixty-third year Of
service.
Capt Bassett has charge Of the senatorial
srCn box. He sits by the side OF the vi
Presidents desk. Below and close -
there is niche in the wall in 49,, IN. nm
snuh box is placed. He takes N.ich ehe
SNUFF occasionally himself nm, laseh ~.
sen snc use Il The Is sUhe su GI Ssf
snuff-taking da~- co-nng down from the
the Senate The last snutf taker in
ried Thurman. who always car
-. 'andanna handkerchiefs-one 70
uow nv nose and the other to administer
''-s ~ al polish RENE BACHE.