The Washington times., 1894-07-20
CLOAK ROOM AND GALLERY.

Clifton r. Breckinridge, OF Arkansas, sat by
the weather instruments in the House lobby.
It was an almost uncomfortable day, and it
was evident even to casual observer that
Mr.. Breckinridge was not very much inter-
ested in the copy OF the rules OF the House,
which he held in his hands.
A friend strolled by and Breckinridge hailed
him. He was a Pennsylvanian. "Do you
know Emery Smith2" was the query OF the
Arkansas member. ''Yes, very WELL" was
the response; ''and a fine fellow he is, too" )"
"Let's see,r mused Mr.. Breckinridge; she
was minister to Russia, wasn't he? How did
he like it?" ''First rate" answered the
Pennsyvanian. sits a pleasant port, 1ne
fan, "its coolr 81 have been reading up on
Russia, continued Mr.. Breckinridge. ''and
am very much interested in the subject.
should like to go there some time"
Yesterday came the sequel OF the story,
when at the head Of the yellow tissue paper
list of presidential nominations there appeared
the name OF Clifton II. Breckinridge as en-
voy extraordinary and minister plenipo-
tentiary to st. Petersburg.
The nomination was an exceedingly gratify-
ing one to the many friends of the Arkansas
member in the House. His services TO his
party have been very many and his rewards
equipped men in the House on tariff matters,
he was somewhat late in getting on the Ways
and Means Committee, and so his name was
too far down the list to be included in the
honors, in the shape Of membership on the
committee on conference. He has, neverthe-
less, been Mr.. Wilson's right-hand man
during the whole tariff fight, and, as is
known, took his place for time on the con-
ference committee when the chairman's
health prevented his devoting the close atten-
ton that the matter required.
Mr.. Breckinridge's failure to secure re-
nomination this year, due very largely to his
attitude on the silver repeal and the tariff,
has also made the appointment peculiarly
gratifying one to Mr. BreckiDridge and his
friends. Instead of taking back seat in the
political world he is called up higher. and at
the end OF the administration will be in a
position. no doubt, to extend his public career
II he so desires.
Although the nomination Of Mr.. Breckin-
ridge was only sent in yesterday, his friends
had known of it for some time before. A
group of members We're sitting in the House
yesterday morning before the session began
discussing the selection. II hear" began
Judge Culberson, ''tha. Clifton Breckenridge
is going to ST. Petersburg" rs hep" said
Champ Clark in surprise. why. I'd like
to go there myself" 1.-The good father at the
White House takes good care OF his children. "
commented Mark Smith, who was sitting near
by. "Why." said Judge Culberson, "a father
who would not look after his own family first
Is no better than the heathsn." "Well. /
wouldn't mind belonging 10 the family my
self, ;" broke in Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee,
who came hustling up to his desk to sort out
some District bills and was just in time to
catch the remark. Then the Speakers gavel
fell and the conversation terminated.
Senator Smith had his stateroom engaged,
and he was expecting to start yesterday for
Europe for six weeks or two months vaca-
ton. but was obliged to cancel his engage
ment and try again for a week from next
Saturday. Before he goes IL is hoped that the
New Jersey Federal nomination, over which
there has been such tangle. will be finally
agreed upon. Tine two New Jersey Senators
are not exactly at war, said member of the
New Jersey delegation in the House yestar-
day. "but it is certainly an armed neutrality
on all appointments SO far"
Colonel Breckenridge. OF Kentucky, made
himself unusually offensive yesterday by try
ing to make capital out of Mr.. Wilson's
prominence. He kept In his seat behind the
chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.
badgering him most persistently with the
very evident object of attracting the attention
OF the crowds In the gallery TO himself. Mr..
Wilson was polite enough not to show any
marked signs of being bored. although it was
apparent that he was. Other members, who
occasionally strolled up TO Mr.. Wilson's seat
for few minutes chat. were much more visi-
bly, annoyed, and in several cases snubbed
the Kentucky Lothario by absolutely ignor-
ing his remarks and attempts TO force himself
into the conversation.
The opinion was expressed at the Capitol
yesterday that the advocacy of free coal in
President Clevelands letter TO Mr. Wilson
will have the effect OF alternating West Viz
ginia from Democratic views to such an ex-
tent as to result in throwing the entire West
Virginia delegation in the House out of Con-
gress The four members are Wilson, Cope
hart. Anderson and Pendleton. Wilson is
the dean of the delegation, having entered
in the Forty-eighth Congress. Anderson
came in in the Fifty-first, and Pendleton
was elected to the same Congress, but
unseated. Copehart entered the House in the
Fitty-second Congress.
1t is reported that special fight will be
made against Mr.. Wilson, and on precedent it
is not unlikely that he will meet the fate
which overlook Mckinley. In that case, it is
rumored that 3Ir. Wilson, who is a fine lawyer,
will get good judicial appointment, or some
thing equally as good At any rate il is IN
derstood that he is not to suffer for his
uniinching allegiance TO tariff reform. and
that like others who have stood by the Presi-
dent on a matter OF principle, he will be
'called up higher"
1t was noteworthy fact that Senators Villas
and LindsaY-two strong administration Sem
ators--were present in the House yesterday
during the proceedings of the disagreement
report. and seemed to be present with special
instructions to watch the proceedings and in
particular study the temper of the House on
the various propositions advanced in the
Presidents letter.
Senator Hansbrough will not succeed in
getting his appropriation of 81 900, 900 for the
destruction of the Russian thistle enacted into
law after all. There are stories afoat that
the House conferees on the agricultural ap-
preparation bill. to which it was appended as
an amendment. are bitterly opposed to the
increase and regard it rs useless as well as
an improper expenditure. This is the largest
addition to an appropriation bill in the shape
Of an amendment. and the fact that it was put
through Unexpectedly and by ruse will not
help it when it comes to the final settlement
OF the question.
Ex-senator Hansbrough, however, is a very
shrewd diplomatist, although one of the
youngest men in the Senate, and there are
some men who are ready to take even money
that the thistle bill goes through after all.
Chairman Wilson left the Capitol as soon as
the tariff debate in the House was finished
yesterday afternoon and took the train for
his home in West Virginia. to get a few days
OF complete rest before resumfng the work of |
the conference. 1t is not expected that it |
would be possible to get to work anyway |
hiatt IL,