Morning journal and courier., 1894-03-08
oorrEcrIour IN CONGRESS.

reopOndent-SenatO Platt as the 1 Senior Senator-Genial Joe Hawley -short Pen Sketches of Representa- tives DoForest, Pigott, Russell and Sperry.
 lFrom Our Washington Correspondent.l
 WAsH1NaToN, March 4.-While up un- Ter the big dome one day last week idly vatching tho visitors to the nations grand 'apitol, noticed striding along at rapid pace, in the direction of the senate end of | he building, tall, thin, dignified looking man of some sixty-seven years of age.
 As he passed me noticed that 1t was United States Senator Orville H. Platt, the senior senator from Connecticut, and I followed, as he rapidly proceeded to- wards the senate, to sec him suddenly lost to sight behind the swinging doors of the chamber occupied by that digniied body, the higher branch of our national congress.
 When reached the press gallery, Sena- tor Platt was in his seat, No. 6, in the front row, on the eastern side of the cham ber, and one of tho best seats on the floor, intensely interested in the debate on the Hawaiian question. On his face. how ever, was that worn and tired look of 8 man who had recently passed through some trying ordeal, and 1t seemed to your correspondent ss If the senator had aged some ten years during the past few months, and since the death of Mrs. Plstt.
 Senator Platt Is native of Litchfisld, Conn. In that beautiful little town nest ling among the hills of Litchfeld county,
 your state, he first saw the light of day on
 July 19, 1897. He received an academic
 education and studied law in Lttch6eld,
 and in 1S49 was admitted to the bar, when
 he moved to Meriden, his present home,
 and entered upon the practice. of his chosen
 profession. -.-.- His innate. love for politics and his
 ability to make friends led him into the
 latter field, where so many enter and so
 few succeed, which resulted in his being
 clerk of your state senate in 1855 and
 1856.
 Becoming imbued with the spirit of the
 life there, he entered the racs for secretary
 of state, which office he held in 1857. In
 1881 and '62 he was a member of the state
 senate, and in 1864 he was one of the lead
 CTS in the lower house of your general as-
 sembly, trying 1t again in 1s69,. when he
 was speaker of that body. Ten years later,
 on March IS, 1879, ss republican and 8
 good one, he took Q seat in the United
 States senate, to succeed the late William
 H. Barnnm, being re elected in 1885 and
 1890, his present term thus expiring in
 1897, three years hence. Senator Piatt is
 a stsunch republican. and ably cares for
 constituents, he being often on the floor
 taking an active part in the debates con-
 cerning the vital questions of the day.
 He is very approachable man and al
 ways glad to see you, uniformly kind and
 sympathetic, and never taking unfair ad- vantage of an adversary.
 Senator Platt also shows himself in the
 light of bsing somewhat non-partizan, ss during the controversy over the appoint ment of justice of the supreme court, had Judge Baldwin's name been sent to the senate, it would have received his earnest support, and had President Cleveland seen fit to ask Senator Platt about Judge Bald
 win, the latter would have been given the highest possible endorsement. In the way of recommendations for of fee, Senator Platt is very careful and has the reputation of never endorsing a con. fill the office desired, and. unless he is con fdent that the candidate would bs good appointee for the place.
  OF YOUR STATE, GENERAL JOSEPH R HAwLEY.
 While earnestly watching your senior senator my attention was attracted by thu melodious laughter coming from the south
 eastern corner of the chamber, and glanc l ing in that direction I discovered Senator Joseph R. Hawley, in seat 53, laughing with his brother senator, Joseph M. Carey over some witty remsrk of the spsakel l then occupying the floor.
 Senator Hawley, or Joe HawIey ss he fl | addressed by his more intimate friends and 80 called in fact by all who know him | took his seat in the senate some two yeari | after Senator Platt, but with an experienc, ! of three terms in the house of representa- tives, which the latter senator did no have.
 He is also 8 staunch republican witt 6 reputation ss 8 fighter for wha he thinks is right, and when h. enters the fray it Is generally to win. H, has 8 pleasant voice and ia good talker but even in the midst of a heated debate ! of him, and he Is always ready to laugh a a good joke. Unlike Senator Platt, he fl ! fond of good clothes and always sppeari In the senate attired in the prevailing styl, of the day, generally dressing in black. H.
 Is also fond of society, and while living ] quietly on I street in the fashionablt Northwest, he is generally to be seen al the best receptions and dinners during the season.
 Like his brother senator from the silver city, he is one of the most appro achable oi men, and very few appeal to him for 6 favor in vain. A North Carolinian by birth, he has that southern air of hospital ! ity so frequently found among the people here, he having been born at Stewartsville in Richmond county, the latter state, on October 31, 1926. In 1S47 he graduated al Hamilton college, New York, and was ad mitted to the Connecticut bar in 1850 al Hartford, which place he has since made his home.
 After practicing law some half dozen years he drifted into the newspaper arena ! and became editor of the Hsstford Even | ing Press, which consolidated with you1 | esfesned contemporary, the Hartford Oourant, of which he became editor in 1867.
 In 1861 he enlisted in the army as lieutenant and in 1866 was brigadier and brevet jor-Reneral, and was mustered out January 15, 1866 to become governo, of the Nutmeg state the following April. During this time, both while practicinp law and editing his paper, had taken an active interest in national questions, and spurred on as he was by his hosts of friends, he decided to enter the field of politics and was a delegate to the free soil national convention of '52, presidential elector in '68 and delegate to the repub. lican national conventions of '68, '72 ,'7t and 80.
 In November, 1872, he was elected rep resentstivs in the Forty second congress reelected to the Forty-third and again tc the Forty sixth, and to the senate in 1881 '87 and '93, and has six more years to serve.
 Outside of his political honors Senate, Hawley has also received the degree of IL. D. from Hamilton college and Yale uni. vsrsity. The senator was strong supporter of MT. Hornblower for justice of the supreme court, 1t Is understood, but in other mat. ters he is strong partisan and a true be- liever in republican doctrines. AMONG OUR CoNeRKssMEN AT THE OTHER END OF THE Bu1LD1Na-REPREsENTA D'FoREsr.
 In seat No. S2, in the southeastern part of the house, and five rows back from the speakers desk at any time during the daily sessions can be seen a slightly-built man, of some fifty years, with silver-gray
 hair and thoughtful face, gazing intently
 at the speaker and not losing word of
 the debate. He Is Congressman Robert E. DeForest (democrat) of Bridgeport, the acknowledged leader of the Connections representatives in the house, although not