The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-30
RICH MEN IN THE SENATE
THE TITLE "MILLIoNAIRES' CLUE
NOT NOW SUITED TO THAT BODY.
A Congressman's Lament Over the De-
cline of n Noble Game-Air. Adee's
Destructive IrritabiIity.
speeIal to the indianapolis Journal.

WASHINGTON, May 29.-The Senate is
losing it's standing as a millionaire club
There are only two or three very rich men
in that body and probably not more than
a dozen whose wealth is above $l,000.o0O In
point of fact a great majority are poor
men, and have little or nothing beyond
their mere salaries, or at most possess
only moderate competence. Senator Per-
kins, of California, is probably the richest
man in the Senate. He may be wogth $20,-
10000 Senators Marcus A. Hanna and
Stephen B. EIkins are supposed to be worth
anywhere from IS, 900. 600 TO 600 apiece
Senator Mcmillan of Michigan, Senator
Davis of Minnesota, Senator Proctor of
Vermont, Senator Sewel of New Jersey,
and Senator Wetmore OF Rhode Island, are
commonly rated at 81, 100000 and better Sen
ator Hale of Maine, is a millionaire, he
having married daughter of the late
Senator Zach" Chandler.
Senator Aldrich Senator German, Sen
ator Penrose, Senator Shoup and Senator
Fairbanks are rich, being worth anywhere
from 5000 600 to $100000O each. Senator
Lodge, of Massachusetts. is also worth con-
siderable more than a million. What Sena-
tor John P. Jones. of Nevada, is worth no
one but he can tell. He is thought to be
worth $1,000 000, but that is mere
lecture. Senator Thomas C. Plat may
be a very rich man and he may possess
only a fortune of few hundred thousand
dollars. He is at the head of one of the
great express companies of the country,
but that does not signify that he is the
main owner of the property. The names
above enumerated take in practically all
the rich men of the Senate. The most
active and influential senators and those
who have served longest in that body are
comparatively poor in this worlds goods.
Senator Morrill, is not worth as much as
when he retired from mercantile pursuits
with 100000 forty-one years ago and en-
tered public life. Senator Allison would
not have an income from his fixed invest
ments as large as he now draws from the
government if he should retire tomorrow.
Senator William e. Chandler may be
worth $l5O,0OO or 100000; Senators
Cullom of Illinois, Daniel of Virginia,
Harris of Tennessee, Pasco of Flor
Ida, Allen of Nebraska, and Cockrell of
Missouri Jones of Arkansas, and Gear of
Iowa, have nothing but their salaries. Sen
ators Thurston of Nebraska, Tillman of
South Carolina, Wilson of Washington,
Frye of Maine, Foraker of Ohio, Morgan
of Alabama, Platt of Connecticut, Spooner
of Wisconsin, Turpie of Indiana, and Vest
of Missouri may have $4,000 each. Senator
Stewart, of Nevada, was a millionaire five
times over few years ago, but he now
calls himself poor man. Senator Mitchell
of Wisconsin, is still rich, but not nearly
as wealthy as he was for the first few
years after his father, the canny Scotch
banker, Alexander Mitchell died leaving an
estate of five millions. Senator Teller. of
Colorado, may be worth 100000. Senator
Wolcott his colleague has very large in
come from legal practice, but is probably
not worth a great deal He is a daring
Spectator and has his ups and downs SEN
ator Quay is like Wolcott in the latter
particular. Senator Cannon, of Utah is
only well-to-do. When his father the
great Mormon leader, dies he will be worth
millions None of the senators from all that
section south of Mason and Dixon's line
can be classed as even moderately rich.
In fact, the millionaires of the Senate are
in decided minority A roll call would
disclose large majority who do not pos
sess property worth $4,000 each.
With every change of administration the
number of parliamentary attorneys" and
claim agents in Washington sharply in
creases. Officials who are turned out into
the cold world start in to prosecute claims
against the government, usually making a
Speciality Of business with which they have
become familiar while in the public serv-
ice. 1t may strike supersensitive persons,
or those Of stern morals, that it is not
strictly honorable for men to take pay from
the United States for getting an education
as to the best means of securing the pay
ment of claims against the people who are
paying them their wages The practice seems
a.
Washington, and many reputable men en-
gage in it. There are to-day not less than
half dozen ex-Cabnet officers who make
a livelihood in practice before the depart
ments over which they formerly presided
1t is a common thing for patent attorneys
to receive their professional education i'm
the Patent Office, and for those who have
filled clerical positions of greater or less
responsibility in the various departments
to enter the employ of persons or corpora
tons who have relations with these de-
partments and whose interests can be ad-
vanced by having on their pay rolls men
who are familiar with the inner practice
and workings of the government establish
ment. $50
The dome of the Capitol sprung a leak
the other day during a terrific rainstorm
and a stream of water poured down the
walls. Uncle Joe" Cannon, who happened
to be passing through the rotunda, looked
at the deluge and despairingly calculated:
Seventy million dollars for the river ard
jobbers bill, and our darned old Capitol
leakingr'
Representative Hartman, of Montana. is
preparing a speech which he says he in
tends to deliver soon in defense of Speaker
Reed against cloakroom attacks. Mr. Hart
man was formerly a Republican, but he is
now in that unhappy position of owing al
legiance TO no organization. He therefore.
feels free to publicly deplore the fact that
in the cloakrooms and committee rooms he
IS obliged to hear many Republicans bewail
the alleged tyranny of the speaker and
swear soimenly that they are going to re-
volt; yet, when it comes to a test he finds
them voting as the leaders suggest and act
ing together with the discipline of old SOL
diers, never murmuring and making no
complaint. Mr.. Hartman says he is going
to have some fun at the expense of the
gentlemen who do their firing at long range
and are docile as lambs when the time for
action arrives.
A distinguished Southern congressman
who has been addicted to the noble game
of draw poker since the antebellum DAYS
when the rich nlapterS nlax,ed s.aro,,,,, :