Evening star., 1897-08-16
SENATE ELEVATOR
New One to Replace the Relic Of a
Bygone Age.
INNOVATION upon SENATORIAL CUSTOM
Passing Of the Grave and Sedate
From the Stage.
THE YOUNGER ELEMENT

There is something almost startling In
the announcement. which has been made i'm
The Star, that there is to be a new fast
elevator in the Senate wing of the Capitol.
1t is almost as startling it would be to
say that they are going to have new rules
and practices in the Senate. 1t is an inno-
walton upon the time -honored slowness of
things senatorial.
The elevator to be replaced has been in
Use many years. 1t was the first put in tie
Capitol, and is the one designed exclusively
for senator's, and during the sessions of
the Senate none but senators and news
paper correspondents use it. 1t is slower
tlan justice in equity, the Senate in leg
islation- In all these years it has never
been improved upon, because its slowness
suited the Senate. 1t corresponds to the
temperament of the dignified statesmen
who have been raised by it deliberately
from one floor to another. Its removal
marks an epoch in the history of the Sem
ate-the punctuation point to close pc
riod.
The New Order of Affairs.
The new character that is coming upon
the Senate is first disclosed in this. a
quicker circulation of the blood, a hastier
step, more energetic purpose which is i'm
patient of delay, is being awakened by the
apTearance of new men, and by the pass
ing of those old, sedate senators who
gave peculiar character to the body. The
departure of such men as Sherman, Pal
II er, Pugh, Call, voorhees,, Cameron, Villas.
and most of all. Harris. has marked eff
rect upon the character of the Senate.
Still more than by their absence is the
Senate affected by the presence of men
IKE FORAKER, Warren, Mason, Clark Ba-
con, Turner. Hanna. Marion. Butler, Cam
non, Wellington, Mantle and Tillman some
representing youth and nervous energy,
sc me business directness of method, and
others disregard for formalities
Fer these may years the Senate elevator
suited 1t now suits no longer and in
another year or so, still less would il do.
The influence of the young and active is
overcoming that of the OLD and sedate and
this is the first act of their domina ton
AT the elevator door is good place to
study the senatorial character. The old
las hicl ed senator does not like to be hur-
ried. Still less does he like TO seem TO be
hurried. The difference between the mas
ter and the servant is that one is master of
MS time and movements. and the other
must take commands and show his servil-
ty by his expedition and promptness. This
has rendered the elevator problem a very
delicate one fer the Senate. Year after
year, as new men fresh from active life
have come into the Senate, the complaints
of this slow method of getting from one
moor to another have multiplied, but Of
Tended dignity has always. until now,
checked the suggestion of change.
Old-Fashioned Senator'S.
An old-fashioned statesman would admit
that the elevator was slow-extremely
slow-in coming in response to his call. but
would declare that it moved quite fast
enough when he got on it. What he want
ed was vehicle which would appear at
once, with bound from below or a sud-
den fall from the floor above the instant
he touched the button, but which, as soon
as he was safely on, would move away de-
lterately and with easy motion in the
direction desired.
The first step toward accommodating the
mere energetic men was to put in another
part OF the building a public elevator
Whlch would move somewhat faster than
.ne other. This unfortunately compelled
senator's who wanted to hurry to take
their chances with the crowd of plain citi-
zens, with the possibility of having to wait
Inc annoyance Of this rendered an inn
p'oNeiheh. IN the Old elevator inevitable
Genius Equal to the Task.
Happily, the inventive genius of America
is equal even to the eccentric requirements
Of senator. The new elevator which is
to be put in will respond to a whim. Rv
touching one electric button it can be made
to go slow enough to rival its predecessor.
BY touching another it can be made to
tumble or to jump at the rate of 30 feet
In minute. dream will be realized
When senator in the basement sounds a
call the elevator may drop instantly from
the gallery and land gently at his feet,
like a hawk tumblng from the clouds unon
its prey. Then 1t can hoist him as slowly
and deliberately as his fancy directs. The
only trouble will arise when a slow senator
and fast senator get on together or when
a SLOW senator happens to be on board
when the hurry-up call is sounded on an
other floor. These things may lead to some
confusion and little irritation.
Ia. Iii. Nf
of senators recalls an incident in which the
late Senator Harris figured. AS every one
knows, he was one of the most sensitive
punctilious and dictatorial men in the SEN
ate. He would bristle up like a porcupine
in a minute, and his capacity for swearing
is thing of official record. An offense to
his dignity was next to an offense against
his honor.
senator Harris Complaint.
One day he went to one of the chief Off
GERS of the Senate in white heat of passion
In the most picturesque language he de-
manded the immediate dismissal of one of
the guardians of the lobby.
''The fellow has insulted me-" he said.
Il demand his immediate discharge"
Surely, II he has insulted you, senator
he shall be put off the force at once" was
the prompt reply. May 1 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, "he did not
order me to take my hat off, but told me
that had my hat on"
WAS he respectful in his manner" the
official asked.
why, of course, sir, he was respectful"
Then, senator, he was only doing his
duty. He is placed In the ladies' reception
room to see that the proprieties are OBJ
served
The senator looked very hard at the OFF,
cial for a minute, and then said, with great
calmness and suavity:
please come with me. I spoke harshly
to that man."
Leading the way, the senator went into
the reception room and called the Offend
ing servitor up to him. Then looking over
the people assembled in the room. he
picked out all he could identify as having
been there when he abused the man. and
called them to him.
Now, SIR" he said, addressing the man,
81 acted like blackguard to you a few
minutes ago, because you were doing your
duty. 1 want to apologize to you in the
presence of these people, and say that am
ashamed of my conduct"
With that he turned on his heel and went