The times., 1897-07-14
INTRIGUE At THE CAPITOL
Restaurateur Page in Great
Trouble for a While.
CASHIER TRIED TO GUST HIM
During His Absence in Maine the
Man Made Himself Solid With
face Returned He Found His
Tenure Shaky Firm Hold Again.

Capt. Thomas L. Page, the proprietor If
the Senate restaurant, mas had trouble
over the privilege whioh he has enjoyed for
the last twelve years.
HIam r. Tappan. who halls from the
Eastern Shore of Mar yland, is an aspirant
OF the Senatorial epicures. Hehas forILcily
been in the employ of Capt. Page as
cashier, but now ne has III hand a petition
for his employers removal.
II viii be remembered that the privilege
Of running the. enate restaurant is granted
by the Committee on Rules and is not TO he
purchased. IL is Il favor, pure ant simple.
For the last twelve years Capt Page has
held this privilege, which was accorded
htul during President Cleveland :; f.rSU Ad-
ministiation Capt. Page also runs a
l,ticl in thus city, and that, too, is fTe-
qurnIed by many CongreSSaen. Away up
in Maine. the home State of the great
white car. there is summer hosiery
which is presided over also by Mr. Page.
1t Lecanic quite necessary, recently, for
the restaurant proprietor To leave Washing
of his Maine resort. This to look after the
eIeat IufIux OF patrons. He selected Mr..
Tappan To take charge OF tie Senate res
taurant in his absence 1t is said lie
cautioned his cashier TO Ee particularly
mindful OF the welfare of the guests, and
to uphold the reputation Of the restaurant
in that direction or course, Mr.. Page 5
interests were 70 be incidental. Everything
was to be run ih behalf of the patrons.
IL seems that Mr.. Tappan as perfectly
o.edient in this direction. AT any rate,
he made many friends III his new posi-
ton The ScnatSrs seemed TO flock about
him and dwell Iongin gly on MS virtues.
lie aaims that while the Senators were
in this loving mood they decided 10 tEen
amd there throw over the absent fricnc-
They We're ready and willing to hc led
to the table by the new proprietor.
la shorJ. there was SO much of this talk
that MI Tappan Immediately repaired 10
the public typewriter who dwells in the
Seaa,c coTndpr she was induced TO pre-
pare in proper terms petition. Somehow
this began to circulate about the Senate
chamber OF course, IL was addressed %
the Committee on Rules. of which Mr.
| Aldrich is chairman, hut that gentleman has
been TOO busy N the conference committee
to think about petitioners, frogs legs or
welsh rareHt.
There were others, however, and their
names weru readily appended 10 The paper
requesting tbe removal of Capt. Page and
The appointment Of Mr.. Tappan as the rro-
prietor OF the Senate restaurant. one man
| approached Capt. Page yesterday, saying:
why, sec you are tack. heard you
ere not going to return; that you had
! given up tie restaurant"
II know nothing of it, responded mine
| hos,
Well. l signed a retition for Tappan
| under that impression, was the answer.
You see how 1t las been" said Capt.
Page to The Times representative. "Sone,
one has been going aroand telling that |
! had gone away and given up the privilege.
! That was the scheme to get signers." At
this ruiRt the trends Of Mr.. Tappan an
nounced that his name would lie with
drawn.
From what can be learned Mr.. Page ar
| rived in the city Monday morning. 1t was
| then that he first heard of the plan. He
went to the Capitol and reproached Mr..
! Tappan for his action. The cashier did
| not deny certain things. He admitted tie
petition, but claimed he was induced TO do
it by certain dissatisfied Senators. Mr.
| Page instantly discharged his cashier, and
| they endeavored to effect d settlement.
1t was apparent that they could not
come to an agreement and this was EN-
| phasized when Mr.. Tappan positively de
cliDed 10 give up the keys to the Testau
rant. Capt. Page remon strated, but in
-ain He was compelled TO appeal 10 .ine
of the Capitol police and the latter''
request for tile KEYS was instantly com
piled with by Mr.. Tappan.
Senator Teller was the only member 81
the Committee on Rules who was accesS
bic yesterday, and he said he had not ever
heard that an attempt was being Rad,
TO change the management Of the Senat,
| restaurant.