Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-12
DEMAND FOR SENATE DESKS
Many Applications, but They Have Never
Been Granted.
Vice President Hamlin Obtained IN,
turc Not Priscd So Much.

The state OF Tennessee would like to havA
the desk which was occupied by senator
Harris for many years in the Senate. Tho
suggestion was made that II might be con-
demned and sold. so that the state might
bly, II, but this could not be done II isa
frequent thing for such applications to be
made.
There is always a demand for the desks
of men of distinction in the Senate after
their death. but there is no instance where
the wish has been gratified. The 6esks'
that were In the present Senate chamber
when It was first occupied are stIn there
A number have been added. the Senate
has enlarged. but none OF the old ones has
been replaced. Very determined efforts
have been made to get possession of the
desks which were Occupied by Webster.
Clay, Calhoun and jefferson Davis. Tho
efforts TO get the Davis desk were particu-
larry persistent. Now the identity OF all
those desks is kept a secret. TO save them
from being cut TO pieces by relic hunters.
W lille there Is a record made, so that the
desks of any historic interest may be iden-
titled If desirable, there are but two OF.
three individuals who are informed on the
subject, and. ia fact, the records not hav-
irg been written before the war ii IL had
not been for the watchfulncss OF the late
captain Bassett who Was In the Senate
from boyhood to trem bling old age their
identity would not now be known TO any
che. The interest in those articles OF fur
niture at the Capitol which are idei tiiied
with the great statesmen of the past dates
since the war. Prior to that association
seems not to have added anything 10 the
value TO the furniture and trimmings Of
the halls of legislation. Undoubtedly MANY
things which would now be highly priced
have gone into junk and been destroyed
Much of the old committee room furniture
has been scattered in this way.
As seats are vacated by retirement of
senators, charges OF position are made
from time to time by senators until they
get located just to suit them But though
the desks are alike. whe'. a SCI ator changes
his position on the floor of the Senate his
desk and chair moved with him SO
That he occupies the same desk from tho
time he enters the Senate until he retires
Vice President Hamlin's Chair.
While no one has succeeded in getting
one of the desks out OF the Senate cham
Der, one man was permitted to take his
chair on retiring from the body When
Hannibal Hamlin retired from the vice
presidency he asked to be permitted to re-
tain his chair. His request was not laid
before the Senate directly, as there was
no recognized form in which IL could bs
cone, but two or three committees which,
through controlling appropriations or d.
recting the disbursement of thu. contingent
expenses. might be regarded as having
jurisdiction In such a matter, considered
the request carefully and concurred in the
agreement that he might have the chair
This action excited a good deal of criticism
among senators, who held that il made a
pad precedent, 1t being proper that the
desks and chairs in the Senate should re-
main, their associations adding TO their
historic value, which should accrue TO thu
interest OF the building and its surround
lngs. Consequently there was an UNDER
standing that the thing should never be re-
peated.
1t is not known to any except the man
who has charge of the records who ocru-
before he laSl. laF,
by Senator Harris but IL is said to have
peen the desk of one of the very distin-
gulshed statesmen of a former generation
lt II were the Calhoun desk that might
account for Mr.. Harris fondness for IN
For the past twenty years, however the
desk was occupied by the senator from
Tennessee, and IL is for this association
only that 1t is coveted by the state of Ten
nessee.
Much more value is attached to things
ABOUT the Senate than to those about the
House of Representatives. The desks i'm
the House are not handsome, nor have any
OF them ever acquired any individuality
The drawing of seats at the beginning OF
each Congress DESTROYS the association
which would come from a man of long
service continuously occupying the same
seat for many years. on the Senate side
the furniture in better and the associations
are stronger.
Donation of senate Furniture.
Eighteen or twenty years ago there were
the Senate chamber and In the Hobbies. and
some unnecessary furniture Was moved
out. Among other things were some oddly
shaped three-coracred chairs and some
other things formerly handsome bur then
well worn out. which were nearly enough
unique in their character to identity Them
with the Senate. Altogether. there was a
great lot of sucn furniture packed away
In the store room, in the way. ard of no
value except for its association and its
possibility of revival OF former splcndor,
at cost greater than that of handsomer
and newer things There was a great de-
mand among the lovers Of the curious and
unique for articles of this furniture. and all
sorts of devices suggested by which
they could be secured. The three-cornered
chairs were particularly coveted, and very
large prices were offered for them There
was no authority'to sell nor to give them
away, and no law authorizing condemna-
uon. From the point OF view of utility the
furniture was no more than rubbish in the
inventory OF property of the government.
Finally, when MIR. Bright was sergeant-at-
arms the first time. a resolution was passed
through the Senate donating all this furni-
ture to a hospital the idea being tina; the
hospital could sell it to some of the per-
sons who were making eXtravagant bids
for 1T, and with the proceeds of the sale
purchase more suitable furniture for hos
pital purposes. A number of large wagon
loads Were shipped to the hospital by Col.
Bright, and short time afterwari he saw
some of those who had been particularly
liberal In their offers. and told them that
they might be able to make the purchases
from the hospital The three-cornered
chairs were the tnings most greatly valued
and two fashionable ladies of Washington
were prepared 10 bid against each other cor
them They were informed simultaneously
and hurried off to the hospital together.
ready to offer from thirty to fifty dollars
each for the old chair frames. In answer
to their breathless inquiries whether The
prizes had been sold yet, the hospital stew
ard told them that he had chopped them
up the day before for firewood