Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-11


the case of Shankland and Bassett it should
be said that the Senate when in executive
session Is far different from that body when
the doors are opened. Every form of pro-
ceeding, save the bare rules of parlia-
mentary order. changessas soon as the doors
are securely locked AND the galleries are
cleared. In trice The air becomes laden
Win Win the . smoke eu OF many cigars lighted as
calls the session to order
Senator's Mt Their Ease.
The diction Of debate is altered almost
at once from the stilted form of indirect
allusion, with the presiding officer always
the medium Of communication, to the direct
ness of ordinary conversation. Instead Of
the Senator from New York" 1t is "Mr
Hill' or "you." And the courtesies of the
open session are abandoned when the ten
sion tightens and the debate grows personal
and at times exciting. Scenes in omen ses-
colorless insignifcance in, comparison with
some of the alterations over nomina lions to
Office.
Stories are told that are not vermane To
the subject in hand. If the pressure of bust
ness be not too great the statesmen fall in
TO reminiscent mood and chat as over the
courses of a good dinner. Occasionally a
good story told in secret session drifts ont
into the open, and becomes public Droper.y
indicating in faint measure the cordial
spirit that once IN while intervenes to re-
leFe the strain OF intense hostility
1t was under these peculiar circumstances
mat these two men remained sphynx-like
With rare discrimination, they knew lust
what could be properly told, and beyond
w Una, tney never yer went. They were rule
Whatever. Mr.. Shankland had imnorfa nj
duties to perform inside of the Chamber
When the doors were closed that kept him
u ousy throughout the executive session His
sllght figure became very familiar as he
hurried through the corridors to the door of
the chamber with his large portfolio rnder
ms ms arm, at the sound of the three bell calls
c c.a. ih oaca me commencement of a
ciosed session To approach him as he
passed to and fro during the executive nro-
ceed1ngs In pursuance Of his business wa
as 1ru1tiess as to ask of the lamp post in
and comings Of the President. He. seemed
to be In a constant state of complete ignor-
ance, and therein lay his great talent for
the place he held. "
All Knew CDR" Hickman.
Ihere was one more man whose death
occurred during the past summer who
served the Senate for many years in that
same faithful manner that characterized
the careers of Bassett and Shankland. His
was a more humble station, less well re-
var more mental yet, in measure, it
session of many interesting, and at times
valuable secrets of personal and noljtice !
nature This was DIR" Hickman a
oia I'M oid colored man, who had charge
% tne retlring room at the western end Of
the senate chambec, adjoining the room NJ
me committee on appropriations. since 1891
,s ms room has always been a sort OF
tIeaoqu .h for the Steering commit
i'arty or the other that then chances To ho
IN a majority. In 1t are neld conferences
., sne most Weighty nature. The fate of
sanea,,r,, ,easures or national Importance is
settled ",
l"eeh TWO or three leaders The cbief
men OF the two parties often meet hero
anu IA Few words Outline the program for
the day or the week Aii Aoi
Or. Hickman was a1wavs nm how'd
.eIo 10 the wants Of Senators, to nreysnt
interruptions to preserve the senatorial at
mosphere at all times, and to p1ard tbasa
rass, from invasion. He was sincerely
isspecteu py the statesmen whom he serv
ed, and there were many deem reprets M,
II was learned, at the opening of Congress-
!ast december, that the old man dnrins,
lhe previous summer, had succumbet to his
many years and would no longer be IN
nand to bow in his, old-fashioned stvie r.
tne members Of the upper house.
ms oio man, as conscientious in the dis
charse OF MS petty duty as either Bassett
OF ohankland in their more important func
ions, was Kept because he knew lust what
70 90. did 1t we'll, and never talked To at
tempt to interview DR.. Hickman was a
waste OF time. He would assume an DIR ~
vague misunderstanding, and would ex.
Miolt most distressing tendency to miss
the point of every question 1t NAV have
peeh hative stupidity, but it is more than
prompted his dullness.
Their Successors in Office.
And now this remarkable trio is gone.
me plae es of two of them have been filled,
while tfat Of the third awaits a new in
cumbert. In Capt. Bassett's chair sits Mr..
~
been with the Senate a long time, having
been page some years ago, and who had
come TO be regarded as Capt. Bassett's
natural successor. He has for some ses-
SONS performed the more active duties
that formerly fell to the older man, and
Is OF great service to many Senators who
find him active and intelligent, as well as
discreet. At DR.. Hickman's post stands
a younger colored man, Beverly Hudnell,
who bids fair to succeed to the old guard
ian's popularity Hudnell has been the
Senate barber since 1870, and his promo
ton Is in the line of civil service reform.
But Mr. Shankland's place Is not yet filled.
His death occurred only recently, and the
Senate seldom acts in a hurry in some of
these matters. Meantime Col. Morrow the
second or the executive clerks, who has
forming the duties.
Just now the veteran of the Senate is Mr..
AMI Smith, who has been in the service
OF the Senate since 1863. and who is in
MS way the most remarkable man In
the public service. He is in charge
OF the document room, and it Is said that
should he ever attempt to sever his con-
nection with the Senate he would be inn
mediately served with a writ of Injunction
10 prevent his going. Many are the stor-
les told about AMI Smiths almost miracu-
lous memory. 1t is no exaggeration to
state that he can tell Of nearly every pub
lie document that was ever issued, and is
walking index Of all the acts of Com
gress since the legislative mill first began
70 grind Senators who have tried to test
MS memory by asking for the most obscure
OF data, which they knew not themselves.
nave been astounded to have the informa-
tlon given without hesitation.
Capt. Bassett and His Book.
But AMI Smith Is a whole story by him
SELF, and II he ever talks at length about
MS experiences and his associations it will
make one of the most entertaining tales of
this end Of the century. He is modest.
however, and is little disposed to speak of
himself and his work.
Ihis Is one of the peculiarities about these
veterans OF the Senate. They will not talk
1or publication. Capt Bassett might have
been fountain filed with delight had he
peen disposed to chat about his early career.
but whether he refrained from prudential
reasons or had convenient memory that
obifterated the past nearly as soon as it
ceased to be the present, the fact remains
O a 1rIl<