Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-02-11
CLOSED DOORS.
Where the Honorable Senators
Relax Their Dignified Air.
In Webster and Choate's 1ime--Pres-
ident-eIect's Private Secretary.
Ihurber's Idea 81 His Duties and His Sad and
lamentable Failure.

senate is now holding some very interest
ing secret sessions for consideration Of the
general arbitration treaty. AS rule, the
newspaper correspondents manage to Sc
cure a fairly accurate report OF the debate,
but they do not gather any descriptions OF
the scenes which every executive session
presents. An old senator tells me some ex-
ceedingly good gossip about the secret ses-
sions "Just as soon as.the doors are
closed, :" he says, .'every man who smokes
pulls out u cigar and lights it. This is the
first evidence which a chance observer
would have of the delightful informality
which marks our executive sessions. But
he would not have long to wait for other
evidences. We feel as free and easy in these
sessions as men do sitting about in club,
or, perhaps, it is more like the meeting of
q board of directors where the members
are all old friends. Everything is done in
the most informal way. Often three or
four men will be talking at once. If
senator is making speech and some one
wants to ask him a question, he simply
yells it out. OF course there is the presid-
ing officer and some little attention is paid
to the rules and decorum of debate, but
not very much.
-r Like Schoolboys.
"The truth is" continued the senator,
"that we are more like lot of schoolboys.
Just as soon as the restraint of publicity is
removed by the closing of the doors we all
feel like boys who have been let out of the
classroom, or like the pupils in the room
when the teacher is suddenly called away.
We feel like cutting up and having good
time. have heard some pretty lively
stories told in these executive sessions.
IAN executive session is more like a clut
than anything else, though we do not
drink on the floor. There is a tradition,
however, that in the old days our forefa
theirs used to pull out bottles and jugs and
pass them around during the secret SEES
sions. If you were to gain access to one OF
our secret sessions of these days, you
would see a lot of men usually very digni
fled and careful in their department
lOunging about in any convenient OF
comfortable way-some with their arms
around the shoulders of others, some with
their feet upon their desks, some sitting
ON the sccretary's table and dangling theil
feet about like boys. There is nothing
really bad or improper about it all, except
that it looks deliciously naughty in con
trast with with the solemnity of the public
sessions"
The senator's reference to the old times
reminds Inc of n story of Daniel Webster
and Rufus Choate which heard the Other
day and which l think is new to the prints
Webster and Choate We're usually hard
pressed for cash, and, being fast friends,
they borrowed of one another whenever
either CHANGED to be in funds. One day
Choate hunted up Webster and said tC
him:
Daniel, must have IL couple hundred
dollars. Can't you help me out in somt
way!''
lam in just the same predicament my.
SELF" responded Webster II don't know
where on earth 1 could turn to get that
much money. But stay! / have an idea.
ChOate, give me your note for $500. III
indorse it, and we'll go down and see il
Mr.. COrcoran is in good humor today.
Maybe he will let us have the money, and
then we shall both DO happy"
Mr.. Choate made out his note Webster
Endorsed it, and the two great men walked
down to Mr.. Corcoran's bank. AS it hap
pened, the eminent banker was not in. The
cashier to whom the promissory note was
presented was quite overcome by the names
and the presence of two such distinguished
statesmen, and he promptly and with al.
proper politeness exclaimed through hi.
little window:
Certainly, Mr.. Webster How will yor
have it-gold or notes?''
A Promissory Note.
Mr. Webster was so overcome that for 6
moment he did not know what to say.
But Mr.. Choatc, who was standing right
behind him, gave him n nudge
by the way, Mr. Choate, - said Webster
in his grandest air, do you think $4O(
will be enough for you? You may us well
have plenty while you are at it. Sup
pose we make it,
"A thousand" said Choate.
"No, think you will need still more
than that. Make it 81 ,500-$1, 800, if you
please, Mr.. Cashier
The young man changed the figures il
the note and handed out the money Tel
minutes later Webster and Choate divided
their swag, with many chuckles as to how
they had got ahead of their friend the enc
my, Banker Corcoran, who had time anG
again refused to extend either their indi
vidual or collective credit. When Mr. Cor
coran reached his bank and found The
promissory note he held it up before The
eyes of the astonished cashier, a new mar
at the window, tore it into fragments ant
said:
"Young man, experience is goot
school. though costly one. Don't ever de
anything like that again"
A LamentabIe Failure.
All accounts agree that in J. Addison
Porter, the Hartford editor, Major Nc
Kinley has secured the services of frs
class man for his private secretary. Mr.
Porter is said to be affablc, tactful, stu
dent Of human nature, a sharp, shrewd maj
of affairs and a good fellow. Mr. Thurbel
is a good fellow all right enough, but HI
has been a lamentable failure as privat,
secretary SO far as the public is concerned
Mr.. Cleveland is said to be very well salts
fed with him, and Mr.. Thurber has Otter
said to me, II am working for the presi
dent, and not for the newspapers or tn,
dear public" took occasion to REMIND
Mr.. Thurber that it was the public tina,
paid him his salary, but it did not reform
him.
What a private secretary needs more thar
anything else is nerve. He is good dea
like the man who enters a matrimonial
concern. If he starts out as private, h,
will always be u private. fancy Mr.
Thurber must have been too much in aw,
OF Mr.. Cleveland FROM the first and wa,