The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-09
Stumbling Blocks in the Way
in the Senate.
eoRMAN IS PLAYING A GAME
If the Pacific Railroad Question Gets
Well Launched in the Senate the
Session May Last Till Late
in August.
News and Observer Bureau,
Metronolitan Hotel,
Washington. d. c., May s.

than there is here as. to the date OF ssd-
iou,nment of Congress. For instance,
German said the other day that 1t was
all fol-de-rol, this matter about ms
keeping Congress in session; that ne
had already told Mr.. Allison that as
far as he knew anything about It, the
Democrats would leave the whole mat
fer with the Republicans. But against
this. Mr.. German, on the floor OF the
Senate, has significantly said several
times, with that little satanic dimple
in his cheek, that there was no palu-
cular hurry about adJournlng Con-
oress-there was plenty of time. And
# is undoubtedly the fact that when
he started that queer speech on -5he
battleships in the Naval bill, his in
tention seemed to involve the letting
loose of the forces of delay, such as
PETER. Allen and others. And on the
heels of it. now comes a disagreement
from the House, which insists on four
battIeships: and doubtless there will
be some more talk about this COM
paratiyely small incident. The PETER
resolution has been disposed of much
sooner than was expected. People
thought that was going to lead to
many DAYS of debate. Now, another
ghost of delay arises, in the shape of
a probable discussion of the Pacific
railroads feature. If that question
gets well launched in the Senate, it is
not improbable that Mr.. Tillman's pre-
diction will be verified, namely, that
Congress viii be here till August. Put
ting all things together. the early adj
iournment people should be prepared
for surprises. 1t does look as if Mr..
German had some kind of a card up his
sleeve, with all his professions Of in
genuousness. / do not belle q all
things considered. that Congress will
adjourn before July /; and the weight
OF circumstances would seem to put
it to later date And yet, in a kind
of a spasm, the adjournment people
may take the bit in their teeth any
day, and get away from here before the
end of the month.
Leonidas Livingston, from Georgia,
a member of the House, used to wear
a long goatee, and looked like Uncle
Sam. He has a shrewd benevolent,
American face. and rough and tumble
American ways. At the time that
Venezuela became interested in him,
when he thereby became national
incident, he was wearing the same
goatee. But the old man gets kind of
drowsy when he takes TO the BARRIERS
chair. And so, one day, having said
simply that he wanted a shave, he
went to sleep in the chair, and commit
ted his soul and body TO the keeping
of the tonsorial artist. When he woke
up. his whiskers were gone. Strange
TO say, he did not get angry in telling
of the mishap to some friends, but
simply said: "Tll never go to that
barber again" Then there comes the
pathetic side. The people of yene-
zuela, believing in the thorough good
ness and greatness of Col. Livingston,
have, it is said. had a marble present
ment of him chiseled by one of the
worlds finest sculptors. Now, when
Col. Livingston goes to Venezuela,
probably at the unwilling, unless ne
lets his whiskers grow again, he will
no doubt be denounced as an impostOr
standing clean-faced as; he is before a
marble statue Of himself with his
whiskers.
The sense Of diplomacy is strong
among politicians in Washington.
Especially is this true of those who
seek support for various interests in
Congress. This new feature Of diplo-
macy is not manifested always BY soft
and insinuating speech; it's essence is
sometimes embodied in the hard
Presidential campaign button. This
new manifestation of an old art was
discovered when the friends Of Speaker
Reed, Senators, Allison and Quay, and
Governors Mckinley and Morton, no.
hat xxrha
by certain Congressman, he wore the
button of their fayorite candidate. TO
their amazement, he was seen APP
preaching the various cadidates and
their friends changing each time the
button in the lapel Of his coat He
had an assortment of these buttons
in his vest pocket and he is reported
to have gotten more bills through Con-
gress than any other member Of that
body.
Speaking OF Major Jack Hayes, and
the probability Of his going to Cuba
with Gen. Fitz Lee. recalls his pres
ence here a few days ago. Major
HAYES stood much of the time in the
lobby of the Senate, next to the Mar
BILE Room, and was the centre during
the day of many interesting groups.
During an interim, he dropped into q
reminiscence of Senator Vest, with
whom he had just been talking. Major
Hayes was in charge of the escort that
accompanied President Arthur and
his party through Yellowstone Park.
Senator Vest was of the party. Both
he and President Arthur were great
fishermen. The Major said it was
nip and tuck between the Sem
afaVs and president IN
who could catch the more fish.
President Arthur disdained to use
anything else except the most APP
Iroved fly. while Senator Vest said:
"Thp old-fashioned worm is good
enough for me-" And so the Senator
put on a cowboy hat with brass
band around il, tied his handkerchief
around his throat, dangled his legs
over the bank, and shot out his Demo-
cratic worm againt the aristocratic