The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-01
Senators Who Cannot Read Their
Mail--Reporting Speeches.

canard. The story was that the members
of the house Of representatives had held
meeting Co consider the challenge of the
members Of parliament and had solemnly
agreed 10 accept on condition that the
game was changed to American draw
poker.
As the story went this suggestion had
been duly communicated % the Britishers
and had created good deal of discussion,
hot 10 say CONSERVATION, among them.
Some of tho members OF parliament, who
had recently learned % play poker and
who thought they knew all about the
game, wcro for accepting tho American
choice Of weapons. Others, older and more
experienced some Of them dating back TO
the days Of Minister Schenck, warned
their fellows that If the game of poker
were chosen be English contestants might
as well be prepared for an overwhelming
defeat and possibly fOT loss of their money,
jewelry, clothing and everything else. This
story had u run ali over the world. ihquir-
les about IL have been received here by tele
graph from many countries. The yarn
had its origin in q joke. When the chess
proposition was first brought forward,
Congressman Dave Henderson of Iowa
said he would bo glad TO join If poker in
stead of chess were made the game.
The Postal Congress.
The international postal congress dele.
gates are about 70 leave the capital for
journey through the west. 1t must be ad.
mitted that the sitting Of this congress
has not been rs much OF a success as bad
been anticipated. In the first few days
tho momburs Of tho congress showed
remarkahlc~ inclination for quarreling
among themselves. or course these rows
were duly reported in the press, for the
American press does not stand upon its
dignity quite ai much as the foreign press
does and has r:Uch kccncr nose for news.
When tho foreign delegates saw their
squabbles dcs,ribcd in the papers, they
were indignant and took revenge by shut
ting Representative of the press out of
their meetings. From that day to this
the American people have lost interest in
the congress. The truth appears to be
that tho whole affair is big junketins
trip for postal officials and that it amounts
to very little in the way of promoting
postal progress
The congress has done one thing, and
that Is 20 bring together the largest mum
Der OF official representatives of other ma
tions ever seen nc this capital. / am in
formed Ey "a postal official that the night
President and Mrs. Mckinley gave their
reception to the postal congress there were
present In the parlors OF the executive
mansion the representatives Of 90 nations.
Only 30 nations are represented in the
diplomatic corps here. 1t was "A strange
coincidence that ut the presidents rccep.
ton the delegate from Hawaii should faint
within ten feet Of whore Mr.. and Mrs Nc
kinley wero Htanding. 1t was the Hawaii
an minister who died mt White House
reception one New Years day whilo Gen
eral Arthur was president
Busy Senators.
IL may surprise q great many Of my
readers who are in tho habit of writing
letters NJ their senators to know that q
number of senators get so many letters
they make no effort to read them. All
their mail is gone over by their private sec
retaries. If there arc any letters of special
importance or of peculiar interest To the
great men to whom they are addressed, the
private secretary lays them To one side. The
great majority Of communications sent TO
Republican sGnatn=SIn these busy days OF
Office seeking are attended TO by the young
gentlemen who draw 800 month each
from Uncle ;Sam for looking after tho pri.
yate business of the statesmen of the up.
per bpanch.
Since Dec. 1 last" sad western sen.
ator to me, II have received about 5000
letters from my constituents. DO you sup.
pose it is possible for me 60 answer all
tpsc communications mysclff Why,
could not even read them. If even made
"A hon urH al In uaI ittnAn fhrons,I than,
IL would take ali my time"
lt Is remarkable fact that IL one cares
TO do 80 he nay hear all the speeches de-
liverod in tho fenate and house Of repre-
sentativos without going Co the chamber
OF tho UPPER branch or the hall )f the low
er. IL ono Is so fond of congressional or
atory as 60 induce him TO take the trouble,
he may hear the speeches delivered twice,
but IL Is only a very hardy man that could
endure this sort Of amusement Suppose
you go 90 the gallery of the house while
Jerry simpson IL trying to make n speech
on the rules, or Mr.. james Hamilton
Lewis of the state of Washington is rat
Ting away at tho rate of nearly 800 words
per minute You listen 20 their remarks,
and 10 minutes later you are on your way
home. Down In the basement you are
oHN'iiiNu'u W oNNIHctT lnt very SlfnS
speeches again. You pause to listen. Can
W bc possible2 Yes, that IL Jerry's own
language. Those are Lewis very words.
The explanation Is a simple one. The Off
sial stCnugraphurs take their turns ON the
floor and then come down and talk the
speeches into Rraphophones instead of writ
ing them out or debating thcn.
"A Sensitive Senator.
Senator Spooncr, the elo4urnt and pop.
ular junior senator from Wisconsin, is n
sen-it4re iilan. Ever siBee tho ith of Murrir
until recently be has lccn permitting his
hair 10 grow. Ii heightened out luxuri-
antly till 10 fell half way To- his shoulders.
and was quito becoming to him too. ono
recent day DaycnpOrt, the Nryy York car.
tOouist, pGilishcl % picture of Spuoncr i'm
which long hair was tho discriminating
feature. The very next day Mr.. Spnoncr
visited tho barrier ana was shorn uf his
beautiful looas. NALTER WELLNAx