The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-08
PATIENT AT THE OLD-TI3IE
SLOWNESS,
NEW GENERATION OF SENATOR'S.
Departure of Sherman, Pugh. Call,
Voorhees, and Others Leaves
n Blank.

At that time, and for years previous
ly, the capitol corridors had been dingy,
and they gradually became disgrace
fully dirty. The unkempt condition of
the splendid building was so shame
fully apparent that newspaper man
last summer wrote a vigorous descrip-
ton of the place; and the article caus-
ed considerable comment in Washing
ton.
But nobody today can say that the
capitol is not clean. 1t is spick-span,
brand-new, and it makes one feel proud
of his country to see it. All Of the
walls and ceilings of the main floor
have been scraped, scrubbed, busted
and artisticaIly painted. This cleanly
condition is especially noticeable in the
senate wing of the capitol, where paint
ers and decorators are still at work
Moreover, a new elevator is being put
in, and that is an Improvement which
has long been needed. Nevertheless,
to those who know the senate and have
acquaintance with senator's, there is
something startling in the announce
ment that there is to be a fast elevator
in the senate wing of the capitol.
1t is almost as startling as it would
be to say that they are going to have
new rules and practices in the senate.
1t is an innovation upon the timehOn-
ored sIowness of things senatorial.
The elevator to be replaced has been
in use for many years. 1t was the first
put in the capitol and is the one de-
signed exclusively for senator's; and
during the sessions of the senate none
but senators and newspaper CORE
spOndents use it. 1t has been slower
than justice in equity; even slower
than the senate in legislation. In all
these years it has never been improved
upon because its slowness suited the
senate. 1t corresponded with the tenn
permanent Of the dignified statesmen
who have been raised by it deliberate
iy from one floor to another It's re-
moval marks an epoch in the history Of
the senate-the punctuation point to
close a period.
The new life and virility which the
new states have sent to the senate are
thus disclosed. A quicker circulation
of the blood, q hastier step, a more
energetic purpose, impatient Of delay
is awakened by the appearance of new
men, and by the passing of those old
and sedate senators who have hereto
fore given a peculiar character to that
body. The departure of such men as
Sherman, Pugh, Call, Voorhees,, Cam
eron, Villas and, most of all, Harris,
has had a marked effect upon the char
acter of the senate. Still more is the
senate effected by the presence of men
like Foraker, Mason, Tillman, Hanna,
Butler, Wellington and Mantle.
For many years the slow elevator
suited. 1t now suits no longer. The
influence of the young and active is
overcoming that of the old and sedate.
At the elevator door is a good place
to study the senatorial character. The
old-fashioned senator does not like to
be hurried. Still less does he like to
seem to be hurried. The difference be-
tween the master and the servant is
that one Is master Of his time and
movements, and the other must take
commands and show his servility by
his expedition and promptness. Year
after year, as new men, fresh from ac-
tive life, have come into the senate
the complaints Of this slow method of
getting from one floor to another have
multiplied, but offended dignity has
always checked the suggestion Of
change.
An old-time statesman would admit
that the elevator was slOW-extremely
slow-in coming in response to his call.
but would declare that it moved fast
enough when he got on it. What he
wanted was vehicle which would an
pear at once, with a bound from be-
low or a sudden fall from the floor
above, the instant he touched the but
ton; but which, as soon as he was safe
ly on, would move away deliberately
and with easy motion in the desired
direction.
The first step towards accommodate
ing the more energetic men was to put
IN another part of the building a public
elevator which would move somewhat
faster This unfortunately compelled
senators who wanted to hurry to take
their chances with the crowd of DIain
citizens with the possibility of having
to wait. The annoyance of this render
ed an improvement in the old elevator
inevitable.
Happily, the inventive genius Of
America is equal even to the eccentric
requirements of our senators. The new
elevator will respond to a whim. Rv
touching one electric button. it can be
made to go slow enough to rival it's
predecessor. By touching another if
can be made to tumble or to jump at
the rate of 250 feet per minute. A
dream will be realized. When a senator
in the basement sounds a call, the ele-
vator may drop instantly from the
gallery and land gently at his feet, like
hawk tumbling from the clouds upon
it's prey. Then it can hoist him as
slowly and deliberately as his fancy
directs. The only trouble will arise
when a slow senator and a fast SEN
ator get on together, or when a slow
senator happens to be on board when
hurry-up call is sounded on another
floor These things may lead to some
confusion and a little irritation
Thinking of the peculiar whimsical
ness of senators recalls an incident IN
which the late Senator Harris figured.
He was one of the most sensitive.
punctilious and dictatOrial of men. He
would bristle up like a pOrcupine in a
minute. An offense to his dignity was
next to an offense against his honor.
One day he went to the chief officer
of the senate in white heat of passion.
In the most picturesque language he
demanded the Immediate dismissal of
one of the guardians of the lobby
1.-THE fellow has insulted me-" he
said 81 demand his immediate dis
charge"
Surely, if he has insulted you. SEN
ator, he shall be put off the force at
once. was the prompt reply. May I ask
in what way he has insulted your
HE ordered me to take off my hat"
He ordered you to take off your hat?
Is that possible?"
The senator hesitated a minute, with
his jaw set tight.
ITO be exact" he replied, che did not