The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-13
Gossip p at
the Capital
Special Correspondence of The Tribune.

Special Correspondence of The Tribune.
Washington, Uuly u.
On July 6 last Senator Pettus, OF Ala
bama was 7G years old. During President
Cleveland'S first term he was an appli-
cant for a seat on the United States Su-
preme bench to I'LL the vacancy caused
by the death of Associate Justice Key, of
Tennessee. He placed his candidacy in
the hands Cf General Pugh, then a send-
tor from Alabama. Pugh called on the
president and discussed General Pettus'
eligibility to the bench. President Cleve-
land made inquiry as to his ability and
age. He is too DID," said Mr.. Cleveland;
81 am not going to appoint man to the
bench who is SO near the age of retire
ment."
Senator Pugh, who had not been lying
awake nights over the success OF Pettus,
was rather glad the president took that
stand, as he had another candidate whom
he preferred to see on the bench. He al
once wrote a letter to a friends in Ala
bama, stating that "Pettus was too old
to be appointed"
General Pcttus heard of Pughs re-
mark, and, packing his gripsack, started
for Washington to see him and also the
president. When he arrived here he Went
direct to Senator Pugh's residence. He
was mad all over, and when ushered into
the presence of the Alabama senator he
demanded to know what he (Push) meant
by him (Pettus) being too Old.
Senator Pugh endeavored to explain
ssat it was not him, but President Cleve-
land, who said "he (Pettus) was too old"
General Pettus refused to accept Pughs
explanation, and upon leaving the latter,
he said:
Il am not too old to succeed you in the
United States senate"
General Pettus returned to Alabama
nt,1 a tot tf1t Gt1 al 10
for the senate, which he finally succeed
ed in doing.
Senator Harris, whose death occurred
on Thursday last. died from "inflamma-
tion of the stomach" Probably no man.
in public or private life, had less regard
for his stomach than Senator Harris,
He paid no attention whatever to the sort
of food he ate. He always had a good
appetite and ate anything he liked re-
gardless of results. His favorite lunch,
which he ate at the senate restaurant
when congress was IN session, was pie
and beer He rarely, If ever, sat down at
a table to eat his MONDAY meal He in
variab.y stood up at the counter with
the employees of the senate and ate his
lunch, which, nine times out of ten. con-
sisted of two bottles of beer and two or
three pieces Of pie.
The senator was never very particular
what kind of pie he ate, either. His fa-
vorite seemed to be custard, but when
that variety was not on the bill of fare he
would take "any old kind"-peach, apple,
mince or berry pie. His friends remon-
strated with him about his diet, but his
answers We're usually as short as the
crust of the pie he ate. 1t is said that pie
was favorite dish with Senator Harris
at all meals; and beer, instead of milk,
his favorite beverage while eating. Still,
he lived to ripe old age, despite the al
legged death dealing qualities Of pie.
Few people are aware that most vege.
tables they eat are of foreign extraction.
1t is true that it does not often happen
that the vegetables themselves are
| brought from without the country, but
| in a majority of cases the seed from
which they are raised were imported
from France, Germany, England or Den
| mark.
Nearly all the asparagus seeds sold in
| this country come from France Beet
seeds are generally from France and Ger
| many. Half the cabbage seeds come from
| France and the other half from Germany.
| All the best caulifiower seed comes from
| Denmark. Half the celery seeds on the
market are from France. France and
Germany furnish about all of the carrot,
tress endide kales, parsnips, parsley,
| radish, rhubarb satisfy spinach and tul-
nip seeds. The United States is able to
furnish the market with seed for beans,
| about half the cabbage seed, the chief
varieties of cauliflower some celery, all
the sweet corn, cucumber, eggplant, leek,
lettuce, musk melon, watermelon, onion
pumpkin, squash, tomato, tobacco and
seed for field crops. Nearly all the flower
seed sold in this country is imported
The Importation of vegetable and flower
seed is chiefly for the reason that they
can be brought into the country cheaper
than they can be raised here, though In
some cases It is claimed that the foreign
seed give better results than those raised
| here
| 1t is likely in the future that more OF
the seed used In the country will be
raised at home. as the pending tariff bill
contemplates a duty of 40 per cent ad
yalorem on all garden seeds imported
| Previously the duty has been but 10 pei