The Washington times., 1894-07-30
CLOAK ROOM AND GALLERY.

81 once had an experience" said an ole
nights ago, "with the late Senator Vance
which shall never forget. It was during
Crisp's first contest for the Speakership, and
as you all probably remember, every news.
paper man in town was hustling for inside
news. The sources Of this, as usual In such
cases, were very few, and Senator Vance, who
was acting in the capacity of an advisor to
the nominating caucus, ha1 to spend most ol
his time lodging journalists.
$50 wary did he become that he discon-
tinued taking his lunch In the Senate restau-
rant and had IL served in a committee-room.
One day, however. l caught glimpse Of him
passing through one Of the lower corridors
on the House side. Determined not to let
him escape me at once hastened forward
and In the most innocent manner possible be-
gan to ask him about his health, which was
rather bad at the time. He answered all OF
my questions in the kindest manner possible,
and was about to leave when said
'''Oh, by the way, Senator, who do you think
will get the nomination.
"I don't know exactly he replied, but
they will have to fight If they want to win.'
"Certain now of my information began to
see the letter 1 was going to receive from the
home office, after they had published my big
scoop, telling me in the most flattering terms
that the paper had decided to raise my salary
on account OF my good work.
(which side Senator asked, almost In a
whisper for fear some one would be lurking
In the dark recesses and hear the reply which
was to make me the most noted hustler for
news in the ranks of journalism.
both Sides he replied, as he disappeared
in the door of coommittee-room.
"And the letter that looked for never
came.''
Is or is not Mr.. Cleveland pleased with the
beautiful remarks on the virtues Of his char
acter made by his great and good friend, Mr..
Villas, In the Senate? Some people say that
the little scene, in which Mr.. Villas played the
leading.character. was in a general way re-
hearsed in the White House. But now an
other story is going about. 1t is that the
President is deeply wounded by the fiattering
remarks. 1t is related that he has said that
their deliverance in the United States Senate
would lead any one to suppose that he needed
defender. In fact, Mr.. Cleveland is quoted
as saying that Mr.. Villas talked as il he was
defending a criminal whom he wanted TO set
right before the jury The only way to satisfy
historians rs to whether the President was
pleased or displeased will be to watch the list
OF nominations sent TO the Senate. The Presi-
dent has the reputation of looking after his
friends. II Mr.. Villas gets an especially good
next two weeks this subject may be consid-
cred as settled.
Assistant Secretary OF Agriculture Dabney
was on Saturday acting as Secretary OF Agri-
culture In all things in his department
during the absence of Mr.. Morton he is
supreme-really the head of the department.
But he found Saturday that there was one
function Of his high office which he could not
perform. He went to the Capitol to see Mr..
Hatch. chairman OF the Committee on Agri-
culture. Mr.. Hatch invited him TO go on the
floor of the House. but when he proceeded to
do this the watchful doorkeeper objected.
Mr.. Hatch said that his caller was acting
Secretary of Agriculture. but the. doorkeeper
answered by showing the Congressman and
his visitor the rules posted at the entrance 10
the lobby. They distinctly said that "heads
OF department." would be permitted to go on
the floor, and said nothing about assistant
secretaries temporarily occupying such a
place. This rule has always been interpreted
as meaning only the Secretary, so that Mr..
Hatch and the acting secretary were obliged
to stand in the corridor to indulge in little
conversation.