The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-17
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Tribune Bureau,
SIS Fourteenth ST., N. W.,

bio tOuTteentH ST., ~. W.,
| Washington, Dec. 16.
The newspaper correspondents located in
Washington are in politics heels over head
at present. The standing committee or
correspondents, elected on Nov. 30 last
passed resolution excluding legislative
and executive clerks engaged In news
paper work from the press galleries.
Heretofore executive employees only were
excluded. This action was taken purely
as matter of protection to correspond
ents who make their living exclusively
by newspaper work. The committee on
rules of the senate promptly approved the
change In the gallery rules, and on Sat
urday Speaker Reed also approved 1t. The
new rule has naturally caused cOnsidera-
BILE adverse criticism among the corre-
spondents who, in addition to their reg
uar newspaper work, are on Uncle SANS
pay roll as clerks to committees and con-
gressmen. The large number of appli-
cants to the press galleries this year
prompted the action taken by the standing
committee of the correspondents. The
congressional directory has heretofore
contained the names of upward of 200
correspondents, but IL the new rule had
not been adopted the chances are that the
number would have been more than dou-
bled this year. The house press gallery,
the largest of the two galleries. has only
that the committee was wise In adopting
the new rule. 1t was a serious condition
and not theory that confronted the
correspondents. Congressional clerkships
have a tendency to lower salaries of regu-
lar newspaper workers, as the fellows
who are drawing down 800 or more per
month as clerks to members and commit
tees can afford to, and many Of them do.
work for less wages than they would
iplx NJ nj if M fo tba
ernment Jobs they hold. Another point
made against the clerk Is
that they are compelled to surrender their
independence to a more or less degree,
inasmuch as they are expected not to cri-
ticize the members who secured for them
the offices they hold. OF course the new
rule knocks out n few legitimate corre-
spOndents, but 1t more than makes up the
difference among the fellows who make
newspaper work secondary considera-
tion.
H " II
Hon. Charles ]. Boatner, the Louisiana
congressman. who has challenged Major
j. II. Hearsey, editor Of the Daily States,
of New Orleans, to a duel, is well known
In Washington. He has served several
terms in congress from the Bayon state.
He Is a man of average height. rather
heavy-set. weighs about 225 pounds, and
nef Is a mild-mannered man, and every
body who knows him would never suspect
him OF possessing belligerent spirit He
Is a man who has very little to say either
ON the floor of the house or on the streets. |
He attends to his own business In his own
quiet way. and his Washington friends
were greatly surprised when they learned
that he had embarked in the dueling busi-
ness.
H H
1t Is said that Senator John Sherman
has already realized over s15OOOO out of |
his book. Senator Sherman is reported 10
be very wealthy. He owns one Of the I'm. |
est residences In the fashionable north |
west section of Washington, in addition |
to large amount Of valuable unimproved |
real estate In various parts of the Dis |
trict of Columbia.
II H. i
Congressman Scranton has not taken /
n house for the winter. He lives at the |
Shoreham. the swell hotel built and owned |
by ex-vice President Morton. Mr.. Leisen- h
ring 10 living private at No. o31 Eighteenth J
street. N. W., . very fashionable portion ofd
the city. He II better fixed than bis coli
league. He employees two clerks In addil
tion 70 : stsnographsr and typswritsr}