Evening journal., 1894-02-26
OUR HORACE'S LATEST
Ex-Consul Knowles as an
Agent for Fine Wines.
HE TRIED TO SERVE FREE LUNCH

But the COngressioqai Committeeman.
mwhom He Was Tempting with His
"Bordeaux" and other French Makes,
Decided That CommIttee-Room Lunches
Would Prove Disastrous.
The Washington Evening Star, in its
washington's birthday issue, said
eat about noon the corridors of the west
erd of the basement of the Senate ground
floor was filed with an appetizing odor,
such as might come from caviars, pate dc
fols gras and ggood French wines. The
odors concentrated at the door Of the
Committee on Indian Affairs, which, when
opened occasionally and carefully shut
quickly by walters going in and out, dis-
closed tempting luncheon spresd within
on the large committee room table. The
luncheon has not yet been eaten. and II
is likely that It never will be.
"Some four years ago agentlemsn named
b. G. Knowles, from Wilmington, Del
was nominated by President Harrison to
be consul to Bordeaux, France Mr..
Knowles served his four years in France
and acquired considerable acquaintance
with the wine exporters Of Bordeaux,
and when he succumbed to the ak Of
josiah Quincy last spring he improved
his golden opportunities in France, and,
before he sailed for America, he had be-
come a credited agent and representative
of number of the largest wine firms Of
that city.
when the Wilson tariff bill was under
discussion in the Ways and Means Com
mittee of the House there was some little
difficulty over the wine schedules and the
committee we're very glad when the Cal
ifornia growers and the New York i'm
porters, representing the conflicting in
terests agreed upon compromise rate
Of taxation, which was adopted and made
part of the bill. These individuals,
however, had been greatly disturbed by
the appearance on the scene of Mr..
Knowles, who has been zeslously endeav
oring to secure from the Committee Of
Finance In the Senate a revision of the
wine schedule that will place the Bor.
degux product in better light.
No Objections in the World.
"The Committee on Indian Affairs, in
the room Of which lunch was spread, is
headed by Senator Jones, of Arkansas,
who Is also chairman of the subcommittee
Of the Finance Committee.in charge Of the
tarig bill. Mr. Knowles, who is OF
pleasant address and winning manners,
recently met Mr.. Jones, and delicately
suggested that he would like to give a
little luncheon to him and his colleagues
for the purpose Of showing some Of the
Bordeaux product.
The Senator. his mind filed with
tariff facts and figures, did not hesitate
n moment to grant the request, never
thinking Of the possible construction
that might be put upon It, and so the
luncheon of to day WAS carefully and
neatly spread in the committee room, and
the Senator gave quiet notice TO hii
| friends of the other house where they
could find delicate pate, choice morse
OF caviare and a glass of Bordeaux Of the
finest bouquet.
Meanwhile, however, the fact haC
leaked out to other ears who Mr. Knowles
was, and a good friend generously in
formed the Senator that luncheons IL
committee rooms might be safe enough
aud innocent enough under ordinary
circumstances, but that under existing
circumstances, with the tariff schedules
under special and immediate considera
tion, committee room lunches nigh
prove very disastrous.
80 the first tip about the luncheon
was followed soon after by a second one
chat the luncheon WAS of. and II is saiC
tho clerks and messengers and waiter
this afternoon at the Senate feastei
high pates and caviare, and that Mr
Knowles's express charges away fror
the capitol were almost as heavy a
those on the other route