The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-02
Special to the Scranton Tribune.

All new congresses are. Not only the
residents of Washington but the coun.
try at large await the coming together
Of both branches OF the National leg
islature with more or less uneasiness
and anxiety. Without congress In ses-
SION Washington Is the dullest city In
America. Hotel keepers and business
men say the past seven months have
been the dullest period In Washington
since the war. There are more ito let
signs In the city at present than there
have been In years. Many Of the hotels
are closed--some probably for ever
Speaking Of hotels, 1t can be said
without fear Of contradiction that there
rooms, etc., In Washington than any
other city Of its size in the Tilted States.
1t has always been a wonder to me how
they all exist; also how the patrons Of
some of the cheaper grade Of hotels
and boarding houses manage to live
and thrive on the bill-of-fare put up at
the majority Of the so-called boarding
houses. Dyspeptic institutes would be
q more fitting name for them. The
cuisine department of these hash
houses" is simply awful. I have never
had much experience with them, but
! have had friends who have run the
gauntlet. They entered them healthy.
robust men-full Of vigor and ambition.
but, after q short while, they have
either died or become confirmed dys-
peptics. 1t makes me sad when think
Of the many good fellows who have
fallen victims Of Washington boarding
houses.
The uptown hotels are all right. They
give you the best the market affords,
mi. OF mn tn obi
and ten dollars per day will get you
good, comfortable quarters, and first
class, anti-dyspeptic food, hut when
you 30 below those figures I will not
guarantee health and happiness.
The Fifty-fourth congress will be
conspicuous for one thing at least-the
absence of many old and familiar faces
faces that have shown radiantly, in
the lower house particularly, for a
quarter of q century II not longer. !
will mention few of the old MEM
bars who will appear on the roster of
the coming congress. First of all and
probably the best known member
of the house who was left at home by
a worn out and weary constituency Is
the Hon. William S. Holman, of the
Fourth Indiana district. He has been
All SoutIeSS lOT years. ne WAS
first elected to the Thirty-sixth con-
gress and with the exception of the
Thirty-ninth, Forty-fifth and Forty
sixth congresses he has served as a
member Of the lower house ever since.
For many years he has borne the SOU
briquet of watch Dog of the Treas
ury.' IL any man ever deserved the
name Of watch Dog that man Is Mr..
Holman. He always kept n close watch
upon the expenditure Of the public
moneys. He has served from almost
time immemorial upon the house appro-
priations committee. Mr.. Holman
probably knows more about the inside
workings of the government than any
other man, living or dead. He is per-
fectly familiar with all the offices and
salaries paid. He can tell you off f-hand
Just how much salary Is paid every per-
son on the pay roll of Uncle Sam, from
president down to the spittoon cleaners
Judging from the intense interest
which he has always taken In the dis
tribution OF pubic moneys one would
naturally suppose that he was a great
financier. He may have saved mill
ions for Uncle Sam, but he never saved
dollar out Of the $3.50, 900 he has drawn
down In salary during his thirty years
III congress. Mr.. Holman is now 73
long service in congress and the many
opportunities he must have had to be-
come rich he left the house a poorer
man than when he entered II thirty-six
years ago. There would not be such q
hole In the treasury surplus II there
were more men Of Mr.. Holman's stripe
In congress.
Richard Parks Bland, who has repre-
sented the Eighth Missouri district
IN congress for the past twenty-five
years, is another old and familiar face
that Will be found missing in the next
house. He Is the father OF the BLAND
Silver Dollar" and has been the leader
OF the silver forces In the house ever
since the white metal became an is
sue. The trouble with Bland was that
he rode his hobby to death. Even his
constituents grew weary Of his silver
songs and last November declined to
return him to congress. II the silver
ties nave nerve enough to put a presi-
Dental ticket in the field next year old
silver Dollar" Bland will probably
elther mead 1t or act as tail to the kite.
Judge James e. Cobb, Of Georgia.
wh0 became famous for his where am
at" speech In the Fifty-second con-
gress. was lost in the shuttle last fall
He wasn't In congress long-only eight
years-but since that memorable speech
ne has been one of the rbest-known men
an the house. Visitors Invariably asked
guides to point out to them where
Am At Cobb. The Judge Is a good
natured man, never shows any anger
when his famous speech is referred to
10y fellows who are inclined to ridicule
him.
Colonel William c. p. Breckenridge,
OF Kentucky, who represents the Sew
enth district OF that state for ten years.
was defeated for denomination by a dis
gusted constituency a year ago.. 1t was
after his famous trial for breach OF
promises I'm which Madeline Pollard
figured as prosecutor. 1t was q des-
perate hight, and one that will always
be remembered In Kentucky. Colonel
was known as the "Sil-
Orator" He Is one of the
finest and most entertaining takers
that has occupied seat in the lower
house Of congress for years. He was
q man OF considerable influence among
his fellow-members until the scandal
with Miss Pollard. Even then he re-
fained quite a number Of his old
friends, and had he been reelected to
congress he would today occupy a
prominent position among the great
statesmen Of the county. His political
race Is run. however, and he may never
be heard Of again in the political world.
But he has brains and as lawyer and
platform speaker he Will no doubt figure
more or less In the future. He Is a
man OF striking appearance. He has
Z wealth OF silvery hair which he wears
long. and with a well-kept beard of pure
white he Is a man who will attract at
Achtion among thousands.
ssss
Timothy J. Campbell, OF the Ninth
New York district, 10 a character that
will hot be seen In the next house. Tim
was first elected to the Forty-ninth
congress to fill the seat of Samuel B.
Cox, who resigned to accept the minis
tershlp to Turkey during President
Clevelahds' first term. He was re-