Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-21
LINCHEONS AND THE TARIFF.
a Spread I'm n Senate Committee Room
That Was Not Eaten

fhnt as NOT Eaten.
At about noon the corridors of the west
end of the basement of the Senate ground
floor were filled with an appetizing odor
such as might come from caviare, pate de
fois gras and good French wines. The
odors concentrated at the door of the com
mittee on Indian affairs which, when OPEN
ed occasionally and carefully shut quickly
by walters going in and out disclosed a
tempting luncheon spread within the
large committee room table. The luncheon
has not yet been eaten and it is likely that
it never will be.
Some four years ago a gentleman named
W. G. Knowles, from Wilmington, Del, was
nominated by President Harrison to be con-
sui to Bordeaux, France. Mr. Knowles
served his four years in France and acquired
considerable acquaintance with the wine eS
porters of Bordeaux, ana when he sue
cumbed to The AK of Josiah Quincy last
spring he improved his golden opportunities
IN France, and,before he sailed for America
he had become a credited agent and repre-
sentative of number of the largest wine
firms of that city.
When the Wilson tariff bill was under dis
cussion in the ways and means committee
OF the House there was some little difficulty
over the wine schedules and the committee
were very glad when the California growers
ana the New York importers, representing
the conflicting interests agreed upon COM
promise rate Of taxation, which was adopted
and made part Of the bill. These individu-
ais. however. had been greatly disturbed Ly
the appearance on the scene of Mr. Knowles
who has been Zealously endeavoring to Sc
cure from the committee of finance in the
Senate a revision of the wine schedule that
will place the Bordeaux product i'll a better
light
No Objections In the World.
The committee on Indian affairs in the
room of which the 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
tariff bill. Mr.. Knowles, who is of pleas
ant address and winning manners, recent
ly met MIR. Jones, and delicately suggested
that he would like to give a little luncheon
to him and mis- colleagues for the purpose
of showing some of the Bordeaux product
The Senator, his mind filled with tariff
facts and figures, did not hesitate n mo-
ment to grant the request, never thinking
of the possible construction that might be
put upon it. and SO the luncheon of today
was carefully and neatly spread in the COM
mittec room, and the Senator gave quiet
notice to his friends of the other house
where they could find delicate pate, a
choice norsel of caviare and a glass of
Bordeaux of the finest bouquet.
Meanwhile. however. the fact had leake
out to other ears who Mr.. Knowles was
and good friend generously informed the
Senator that luncheons in committee rooms
might be safe enough and innocent enough
under Ordinary circumstances but that
under existing circumstances, with the
tariff schedules under special and imme-
date consideration. committee room
lunches might prove very disastrous.
So the first tip about the luncheon was
followed soon after by a second one that
the luncheon was of. and it is said that
the clerks and messengers and walters this
afternoon at the Senate Toasted high on
rates and caviare, and that Mr. Knowles
express charges away from the Capitol
were almost as heavy as those on the other