The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1894-11-09

hat the absent members could be found
n 1.-The saloons all over the city" Very
CIV members of congress are habitually
Thinking men. The spirit Of temper
ance is abroad in the land, and states
men are strongly influenced by the ex-
istence of that spirit and sentiment.
Mr.. Talbert knows this fact as well as
anybody. He knew that he was mis-
representing his fellow members when
he made that speech. 1t may make the
readers in his district believe that their
congressman is a strong temperance
man, and always on duty in the house,
but it is unfair for congressman TO
build himself up ut home by wholesale
misrepresentation Of his colleagues on
the floor of the house.
The Friday night sessions are not
alone in their remarkable absenteeism.
Certain afternoons are set apart, by
order of the house, for the delivery OF
eulogies on the life, character and pub
lie services Of deceased congressman.
On such afternoons the hall Of the
house is deserted. Not even solitary
listener remains In the galleries. On
the floor are to be seen only the orators
who extol the deceased, the congress-
men from the state In which the dead
man formerly resided, and the steno-
graphers who take down the speeches
Senator Blackburn stated that he
had thoroughly investigated this case
and that his remarks were made with
q full knowledge of facts ascertained
by patient investigation, and the read
ing Of many qulres and reams Of tes-
timony on the subject. He believed
that the so-called board of children's
guardians should be abolished. The
matter was referred back to the COM
mittee on appropriations. The ssate-
ments made by the senator indicate In
O forceful manner how schemes are
worked for the purpose of
securing appropriations from congress
under the guise of charity and the pub
lie welfare, whereas individuals who
are unworthy reap the entire benefit
of the public moneys which are thus
appropriated.
A series of debates are carried ON at
the capitol from da.r to day which are
never reported In the Congressional
Record, and of which the general pub
lee could know nothing except as
chronicled by the press. On the great
marble steps at the south front of the
capitol, a crowd Of negro laborers con-
gregate every afternoon about one
O'Clock, and engage In discussions on
politics, theology and morality. They
are employees Of the house Of repre-
and appear to have nothing
to do but to draw their salaries. Their
friends. who appear to be loafers or
Migrants, gather there also and par
ticipate in their discussions. They also
indulge in a great deal Of wrestling,
boxing and obnoxious horse play; car
rying on their diurnal diversions for
two or three hours. They block the
south entrance to the capitol, and by
their use Of chewing tobacco make the
place unfit for any gentleman to enter;
while certainly no lady would want to
enter the capitol building at that point.
They are sometimes so numerous as to
bar the doorway, and are utterly In
different to the rights of others even
when edmonished to step aside and let
people enter. All of this questionable
procedure is carried on beneath the
windows of the private room of the
speaker of the house of representa-
tives, but nobody seems to have called
public attention to the fact; and the
Of the peace, although
open and fragrant, is unchecked and
unquestioned.
SMITH ID. FRY.