The Washington times., 1894-08-02
CLOAK ROOM AND GALLERY.

History repeats itself most remarkably al
times, and one Of the most interesting In.
stances OF this fact Is contained In curious
old letter, yellow with age, but easily deciph.
cradle be,auss Of its clear chirography, al.
though written In 1882, which the clerk Of the
House, Mr.. Kerr, exhibited to group ol
Congressman In the House lobby yesterday
1t was q chronicling of how the sugar peo-
pie had ''held up" the British Parliament In
that year and how their attempt to secure i'm
mediate privileges resulted In making sugal
free The very fact inspired in numerous
open-mouthed Congressman yesterday. who
read the letter, a belief that they might secure
the Same result again. The letter was sent to
Mr.. Kerr by a friend in Philadelphia, who
| prizes 1t as great treasure.
| 1t was dated In London, in the Rolls build
| ing, May 20, 1882, and was written by Fred
erick John Paris, a member OF the House oi
Lords, to q Pennsylvania colonist. The
events are SO nearly similar to those that have
happened In this tariff fight that the follow
ing transcription is exceedingly amusing:
"The sugar BILL" says Paris, has, after
being passed by the Commons against the
votes and arguments Of every merchant and
trader in that house, been second time laid
aside by the House Of Lords, and been at
tended with most tedious, troublesome, and
| expensive opposition for about four months.
l have examined some. but not quarter
| part Of our witnesses at the bar OF the House
| of Lords, but should fail in doing Mr.. Abram
| Taylor justice if 1 did not acquaint you that
| though very greatly Obliged to, he gave not
only evidence, but by far the best evidence
that was given against the bill, both before
| the Commons and Lords, $50
"The Sugar Islanders are again disap-
pointed and hope will nevermore attempt to
hurt the northern colonies. II they do shall
agsin oppose them. The late bill was Of such
u nature and depended so long in Parliament
that 1t drew the attention OF the public In
most remarkable manner. and became the
subject of all conversation.
The similarity Of the experiences OF 1882
with those OF the present time, especially '.the
most tedious, troublesome and ipensive OPP
position for about four months" ought to
carry II warning to the sugar trust and the
unhappy results that followed this ancient
bit OF sugar influence" may be repeated in
1894
Senator Harris was about to take the eleva-
tor from the Senate gallery floor yesterday
and rs he did so. passed the open door OF the
Committee on Commerce, OF which Senator
Ransom is chairman.
Nudl gong on III tncrcl A cOuitrcuCcf
asked the Tennessee Senator with interest, OF
the messenger seated at the door.
''Yes, Senator" was the reply, sits con-
ference on the river and harDor BILL
well, replied Senator Harris. with a
quizzical look, very amusing for gentleman
OF nearly eighty years of age, you 20 in and
tell Ransom that if he cuts down our appro-
priation I'll murder him." Then, with a
quiet smile, he went to the Senate restaurant
10 eat ha rd -halad avpe
The House could not swallow the Russian
thistle scheme to take cold million of
dollars, and probably will not consent to
that vicious piece OF extravaganza at ALL
The peculiar fact about this thistle scheme is
that the weed is supposed TO extend in n more
or less scattered condition over something
like 70.000 square miles. or "A, 10000 acres.
This allows 81 cents an acre to cut it down
and kill 1t. which nobody supposes can be
done. Therefore. the inadequacy OF the ap-
preparation would make it absurd enough,
even II 1t were legitimate.
"The next thing" said disgusted mem
Der of Congress yesterday, will be bill TO
kill potato bugs, or the mosquitoes of our
salt marshes"
Senator Morgan said yesterday that he
hoped now to get the Chinese treaty up
within a week and that there were no de-
velopments in the tangle between China and
Japan which would prevent action on it at
once.
When Mr.. Springer was campaigning in
the House for additional signatures 10 his
caucus call yesterday he ran across Tom
johnson, of Ohio, in the lobby. Mr.. johnson
saw Mr., Springer coming and took the az
gressive In an instant. why didn't you
bring that old paper of yours up to me to
sign, Springer" he said, coming forward as
il to meet the Illinois member. Then he
added as he shook hands and walked by: Il
suppose it was because you knew / wouldn't t
sign the darned thing" Then as smile came
over the face of the Ohioan he sent this part
ing thrust: Il suppose you are satisfied now
you've got your 1876 per cent. ad valorem on
barbed wire, or whatever it is, and want US
all to surrender in q hurry, eh?"
When the printing house amendment to the
sundry civil bill was up yesterday. providing
for the appropriation of $3.50, 600 for the pur-
chase Of the Malone lot. Senator Quay was
active in his lobbying for the bill. He moved
from Senator to Senator and from cloakroom
to cloakroom. A few words here. a story
there, did their work, and nobody who had
kept an eye en- the keen Pennsylvania was
surprised to have everything go of SO
smoothly.
Speaking OF Mr.. Quay, he and Mr.. Vest are the
closest Of friends for men in hostile camps and
a scheme of one usually gets the support Of the
other by system of comfy which prevails
in higher politics. Both are good story-tell-
ers and have quiet droll way of putting
things that carries point with little difficulty.
Mr.. Quay's "little amendments" and "brief re-
marks" are by-word now on the Democratic
side but the Pennsylvania Senator knows
how to use them in a way to get what he
wants. II succeeding makes success, Mr.. Quay
fills the programme nicely.
'There is nothing like the extremities to
which people will go to secure post-offlce
appointment or to retain it when they are
afraid oflosing it, +" said Representative Fielder
yesterday, speaking of a postmastership fight
In his district which has caused him good
deal Of trouble, ''but l think 1t has fallen to
my lot to run across one OF the most amusing
cases Of the kind on record. There is small
post-office in my district at present held by
woman--the widow of the former postmaster.
The report comes to me that she has already
married a second time and Is keeping it dark.
hoping, first, to keep the postmastership, but
If that tails to have young man who is her
prospective son-in-law appointed in her place,
and then get him to appoint her reputed sec
ond husband an assistant to this young man,
who is his prospective stepson-in-law. 1t is
the merriest matrimonial tanSle of the kind
have run across in my Congressional career,
and think quite beats the record as a scheme
for keeping the revenues of that post-ofice in
the lady's family"
Crank Calls On Cleveland. -
The White House was visited by a crank
Yesterday who Wanted to discuss .'matters of