The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-31

Curious Rivalry in Congress over
the Accuracy of Watches.
From the New York Advertiser.

asnll8lons jan IA great rivalry
has sprung up in the House. Members are
eontending with each other. and there is
a deep interest in the contest.
1t is all over the little question Of time.
There never was a man owning watch
who did not believe it to be faithful and
Every man in the House of Representa-
tives carries a watch Of some sort. The
member. when first elected from a rural
district, may have an old time silver
watch, or even a Waterbury. His second
term is usually marked, however, by the
purchase Of a gold watch. Sometimes
after longer service the cheap gold watch
of first purchase is discarded for a more
expensive one. At present there are not
more than eight or ten silver watches and
two or three Waterburys in the House.
Each member preserving this instinct of
human nature. even in his hour of great
ness, relies upon his own timepiece.
swears by 1t, and questions either the sin
certify or the intelligence Of all other mem
bers who so by some other time. There
are two clocks in the hall of Representa-
tives, in plain view Of every one on the
floor. One of these is a very ornate time
piece over the entrance, and the other,
which hangs above the speakers desk,
is corrected by electric communication
with the observatory. But members al
most Invariably ignore these. and consult
their own watches. Some have been
known even to dispute the allotment of
time for speeches upon the ground that
by the record of their own watches their
minute or two minutes or five minutes
had not expired several seconds.
About year ago a chronOmeter was Dor
roWed from the coast survey and placed
In the lobby back of the speakers desk,
IN connection with the weather instru-
ments. which are objects of general in
terest Since then members have begun
comparing their watches at a certain hour
each day with this chronometer. At first
some Of the old-timers who had for many
years relied with utmost confidence on the
timepieces which were the pride of their
youth were disposed to question the &C
curacy of the chronometer when they
found variation of five or ten minutes a
week between this and their watches
rev of them abandoned the thermometer
altogether, but most of them, on discover
ing that this instrument had cost about
SOD, and was regarded the world over as
being as accurate as a timepiece could be
made, yielded the point, and continued TO
make daily comparisons and changes The
one point which none would yield is that
his watch could be improved upon. One
old member from the west whose Water
course of a week, reluctantly came to the
conclusion that he must buy a new watch,
ana mas recently appeared with one Of
gold. II is observed that the character of
the member Is TO a considerable extent de-
noted by his watch. The careless and in
dinerent man who has on his hands as a
burden all the time there is between roll
calls seldom keeps his watch right; while
the watches OF the systematic, precise and
actlVe members reflect their characters.
SO 1t happens that Tom Reeds watch
IS the most accurate in the House on
the start there was a lively contention
between Reed, Sibley of Pennsylvania
Hayes Of Iowa, and Turner of Georgia
as 10 the relative merits of their watches
X was demonstrated by the chronometer
that Reeds watch was superior to them
all, It Is a very plain hunting case gold
watch, considerably worn from the pock-
Ell, ana 1t does not vary more than about
two seconds IN a week. The watches of
the other three are Of about equal merit
as timekeepers. Sibley's is an open face
| gold STOP with black dial, which cost
him $40 in Geneva. Hatch of Missouri
has an old watch, the cases of which
are worn thin in which he has an abiding
faith. He bought 1t in IS, carried il
through the war, and has worn 1t ever
since. except when sent to the jewelers.
to be cleaned Repairs beyond cleaning
1t has had none. Bundy of Ohio who
is Forakers father-in-law, and one of the
most amiable old gentlemen in congress,
carries a big silver watch of unique con-
struction, which he values as an old
friend. 1t was his first watch when a
young man. Later in life, in the time
of prosperity. he discarded this watch for
a gold one. He gave the old watch to one
of his boys, and later another son, who
is in the ministry, fell heir to it. Years
afterward adversely fell upon the old
man, and he was compelled to part with
his gold watch and was without a time
piece. One day he found the old silver
watch of his youth tucked away among
discarded things in bureau drawer
Since then he has worn it, and no amount
of prosperity can induce him to part with
it.
A most eccentric watch is that worn by
Thomas Dunn English. 1t is a fine watch
and good timekeeper under favorable
conditions, but has this eccentricity: As
long as congress is in session and its
owner remains in Washington the watch
keeps excellent time, but as soon as he
takes it to New Jersey it begins to kick
up high jinks and cannot be relied on
for anything. A brief visit to New Jersey
will cause it to vary, and at the end of
a summer vacation it is in such condition
that it takes several weeks to restore
it to its Washington habit of good con-
duct and reliability,