The Washington times., 1894-07-23
CLOAK ROOM AND GALLERY.

1
were in the majority IN Congress. says he ha.
not yet given up hopes Of getting some action
on q new Government Printing Office site
this session. He will try and make an effort tt
have n subcommittee Of three appointed from
the Senate and House Public Buildings and
Grounds Committees. who will try to agree
in advance on some location. 1t was In this
way that the new postoffice site on Pennsyl
vania avenue WAS finally selected after six
years OF delays and obstruction, and accord.
ing to Mr.. Miliken's mind that is the proper
course. to pursue In the present difficulty.
Senator wolcott, OF Colorado, has now beer
absent from the Senate for six months and II
is not expected that he will be back this ses-
sion. While he Is not well man, he is under
stood to have made material gains In his
health during his sojourn over the sea.
When Mr.. Reed was Speaker he had to turn
down great many requests by members that
a day be assigned them for the consideration
Of bill. but he made point Of giving full
opportunity to any member on either side OF
the House whom he thought was sufficiently
energetic and earnest to accomplish some re-
suits il he had the chance.
On one occasion ho was approached by Mr..
| William Z. Simonds, of Connecticut, who was
then the Congressman from the district which
Mr.. Sperry now occupies and late Commis-
sioner Of Patents, and asked for a day for the
international copyright bill, In which he was
| deeply interested. Mr.. Reed was reluctant to
grant the request. Simonds was a new man,
| wholly untried. The only thing In his favor,
so far as Mr.. Reed was concerned, was the
fact that he WAS persistent fighter and had
one strong quality, an ability to answer hos
tile queries in very good-natured way.
Finally, on Mr.. Simonds' becoming insstent,
Mr.. Reed asked him whether he could handle
the bill. Mr. Simonds thought he could.
''Were you a country boy?" asked Reed, with
a nalf smile. ''Yes;" answered Mr.. Simonds.
Thoroughly accustomed to roughing 1t in
your youth?" MIR. Simonds again answered in
the affirmative. Ever drive COWS to pas
ture and ride horses bareback" Mr. Simonds
admitted this, too, but with considerable
amazement at the Maine statesmans line OF
questions. Ever been tossed by a bull?'
asked Mr.. Reed finally. NO." was the en-
phatic reply OF Mr.. Simonds, who by this
time was pretty well aroused. "Well, I'll
give you day." said the Speaker. with a
laugh, "and you can try your hand"
Simonds did so and got his bill passed.
Not along ago there was q hearing before a
certain House committee on the question pro-
| posed by the American Architectural League
of requiring the designs for new public build
| ings to be selected by award on general COM
petition. Tim Campbell, Of New York, who
was present, listened for long time in silence
while the arguments were mado. Almost
| every one was being slowly convinced that
there was merit In the suggestion and the rep
resentatives Of the league were very well
| pleased.
Just as tho hearing was breaking up Tim
| Campbell looked up in a Disguised way and
was heard to say, "I'll be hanged If believe
that's the roight way to get plans. I'd get
aVA tharr thn,,, Iar kaa
bonds to furnish the best designs. That's the
way to do it"
Two people don't always have the same
view on the merits of aspeech. This was well
emplifled one day last week when there was
great row over an amendment to an appro-
priation bill in the Senate which Senator
Squire, OF Washington. was insisting on with
considerable fire and determination, much to
the discontinue Of Senator Cockrell who was
in charge of the bill. A stranger came into one
OF the galleries and quietly took seat near
one OF the oldest inhabitants OF the gallery,
who happens TO como from Missouri and to be
a great admirer of Cockrell.
The Missouri Senator was Just going of
into one OF his paroxyisms of excitement over
an amendment. Now there is nothing that
really provokes Mr.. Cockrell half as much as
an amendment does. AT times it makes him
fairly furious. and II 1t happen that the
amendment provides for the appropriation
OF n small additional sum for any use, or at
tempts to repudiate the action of his pet Com
mittee on Appropriations, Mr.. Cockrell is
simply implacabie.
He was just entering one OF these outbursts
OF fury and was shouting and gesticulating
in very nervous way, which was perhaps in
tensiaed by the fact that there appeared to
be some danger that the amendment might
carry.
During the storm which Mr.. Cockrell
was raising the stranger began to look very
much worried, and finally he got up and
started ont, saying to the Missouri man as he
left, II really can't stand this; such noise is
too hard on my nerves" The Missourian
was aroused as only Missourisn can be-
way that's eloquence." Then he added
with tone of sadness, stranger, where wuz
yer edercated."
The other day when Mr.. Reed was teasing
the Democrats over their conferences report on
the diplomatic and consular appropriation
bill. but in that quizzical way OF his. which a
man of the most acute intellect would not
fully appreciate. Tim Campbell, Of New York,
sat quietly in his seat in the House Studying,
with deep interest, every gesture and word
which the Maine statesman employed. Then
with a alook of halfway amusement and feigned
satisfaction, Mr.. Campbell got up, and as he
to tine member who was sitting next to him:
81 don't exactly eaten on to what Tom Reed is
doin', but suppose he must be a-kiddln' US,
again."
Chairman Heard, of Missouri. OF the House
District Committee. has been looking out for
his constituents the past few days, and
among other things has secured the favorable
report of the War Department on two pro-
posed bridges. Mr. Heard was for doing the
think up quickly, and so he got the depart
ment to have the report telegraphed instead
of sent by mail This will advance the bills
on the calendar and help their chances for
passage.
All Of which enterprise on the part OF Mr..
Heard speaks well for the executive capacity
developed by being the chairman of Dis
trict of Columbia committee.
Anent the numerous uncertain reports to
the effect that Senator Hill is to be married, !
reports which have clustered about his name
ever since he came into prominence, a recent
incident tends to show that there may be more
truth than poetry in them. In conversation
with a friend some days ago, Senator Hill
said that he ha l located at the Normandie for
various polite reasons. but that ne had been
looking about for a long time for a suitable
residence, and that he intended to keep house
next Spring.
The last phrase is the significant one Bear
ing in mind the frequent stories about Senator
Hills alleged tendency to the matrimonial
state, this may mean a great deal.
n moi -sU