Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1895-03-19
THE NATIONS SHAME.
DisgracefuI Scenes Witnessed in the
Closing Hours of the 53rd
Congress.

The Washington correspondent of
the New York Voice writes as follows
of the closing hours of the 53rd Dem
ocratic) Congress
The closing hours of Congress were
characterized by the wanton destruc-
ton of great thirst. The debauch
did not reach its accustomed proper
tions until the session of Sunday and
Sunday night. On Saturday the con-
gressmen, particularly the Representa-
tives, began drinking heavily, and on
Sunday the onslaughts ON the bar
under the House of Representatives
became so ardent and so prolonged
that placards were posted in the corri-
doris and on the walls bearing the
legend, FOR members only" In or
der to prevent any one but congress
men from breaking the Sunday law,
policemen were stationed at the doors
of the saloon to keep out the jam.
Walters working night and day in re-
lays of from 10 to % each frantically
endeavored to keep up with the de-
mands made upon them, and two
cashiers were kept drumming on their
cash registers in type writer fashion
till the sweat streamed from their
faces.
The congressional thirst ragged with
such fierceness that Sunday afternoon
several were disabled and taken from
the field of battle. Great care was
taken not to permit congressman to
get too far gone Whenever he be-
came too garrulous he was quietly
hustled to a committeeman and kept
on diet of ice water and settler I'M
til himself again.
Sunday evening Congressman 10
seph \. Scranton, of Scranton, Pa,
managed to break loose from the inc
briates and reached the floor of the
House and in maudlin fashion began
to object to private bill being called
up by De Almond, of Missouri.
"Mr. Speaker, I'd like to know if
member as drunk as that has right
to object?" shouted De Almond.
The drunken Scranton then began
to abuse De Almond until he was ia
ken out by the sergeant-at arms by di-
rection of the speaker.
The drinking became so excessive
that the chief of police detailed ten
extra policemen and three detectives
to prevent the general disorder from
becoming an open riot
Late Sunday evening some women
became intoxicated and taking pos
session of vault under tho House.
danced can can for the edification of
crowd of men until dispersed by the
police.
The saloon under the Senate also
ran full blast all night Saturday night,
all day Sunday, and all night Sunday
night, but managed to keep up a better
pretense of decorum. The lobby and
the rabble were here permitted to
drink as we'll as the senators, with
no policeman to make them afraid.
On being asked Monday the pro-
ceeds Of his Sundays sales for Sunday,
the cashier OF the HOuSe saloon said
to "a Voice representative that they
had not had time to check up the cash,
but said it was enough to require more
than $500 expense for extra help alone.
These saloons in the Capitol are per-
mitted to run upon the theory that
Congress has exclusive cQptrol over
the building and grounds. The saloon
keeper pays no license whatever,
simply making the proper applica-
ton" The House saloon is under the
control of the speaker and the com
mittee on rules, consisting of Speaker
Charles +. Crisp, L. G. Catchings, j. H.
Cultivate, t. B. Reed aad JIG. Cannon.
The Senate saloon is run by permits
sion of Vice-President Adlai e. Steven
son, j. G.. S. Blackburn. |. G.. Harris, A.
P. German, n. W. Aldrich and c. f.