The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-29
PAGES
9 to IL.

group gathers around AilIson-.Aldrieh
os Rhode Island. perhaps Hale or Maine.
Lodge or Massachusetts anL Quay OF
Pennsylvania. Hanna may join them.
or Foraker or Fairbanks but these
newer members Interfere very littlo
with the policy OF the party in smaller
things unless they are PERSONAL, in
terested. After time the groups break
up. Allison leaves his seat and walks
mp the middle aisle of the senate Gos-
man joins him. They stand together fof
a minute exchanging few words.
Then German goes back into the cloak
room and Allison leaves the chamhsr
TO go TO his committee room and at
tend hearing there. Some matter over
which the house would grow turgid has
been settled in few words. and the
business of the senate goes smoothly on.
They say the senate wastes time be-
cause it gives unlimited opportunity for
debats. In fact. IL Is a better businsos
body tnan the house. IL takes an iron
handed speaker 90 control the frantic
house, and the Gays are wasted there
debating and voting on questions OF pol
icy. The senate seldom disputes any
question, and i;s president has nothing
10 do but put tine formal motions anI re-
rules and customs. So monotonous. In
fact, is the duty OF the vice prcx;dsnt
that most OF Mr.. Hobart's predecessors
have shirlSed the greater part Of II. He
is the first vice president in rnsny years
TO give his time unrsservedly TO presid-
ing over the senate.
German is one OF the men who speak
seldom, who are heard from very little
i'm interviews or published statements
of any kind and who believe in working
quietly by personal contact. Flatt of
New York is another. You WI seldom
hear his voice in debate. He introduces
few bills and petitions. He seldom ad-
dresses the presiding officer. III he has
an object To gain. he makes no attempt
to get votes by speechmaking. He goes
quietly from one senator TO another, ex-
changes a few words with each and
knows where he stands before taking
any action. IL he moves the considera-
ton OF a bill. he knows i'm advance that
il viii have votes enough To pass IL.
He doesn't give much OF his time 10
petty personal legislation. He is more
interested in the great party questions
which come before the senate and in
patronage. How little times have
changed since Platt and Conkling left
the senate! They resigned because their
wishes were ignored by the president
when he distributed the patronage Of
New York. Today Plat is the patron
age distributor of his state, and his in
fluence In his party is largely i'm the
presidents recognition OF him as the
Republican leader i'm New York
Roger @. Mills lies on his back i'm an
Office chair and studies a pamphlet.
"A IN hn hs Il, tc -
normal proportions. yet he manages to
balance himself with his legs out
stretched and his spine following. the
horizontal lines OF n chair seat. Mr..
Mills unconventional attitude recalls
the performance of the late Senator
George. who used to sit on one chair
with his feet extended on another. ana
on one occasion his red socks were thus
displayed without q covering. That
performance was as remarkable as S7n-
ator Calls shoeless exhibition OF n few
years ago, but IL will not live 90 long
in senate tradition because Senator
George was not ashamed OF displaying
his socks, while Mr. Call made the sem
ate chamber -resnund-Iu dc enuncia--
tions of the story of his own lnisde-
meanor. Curious contrasts the senate
affords. Across the chamber sits SEN
ator Morrill, of Vermont. He wears .he
conventional long black coat. low cut
vest and black silk tie. His silvery
hair is arranged with exactness, and
every feature suggests dignity and re-
finement. He is an old school states
man who believes that something of
respect i'm manner is due to the senate
and to himself. Just behind him are
Hale of Maine. always fashionsby
dressed, and Allison, who looks invari-
ably as though he had just come from
the hands of an accomplished valet.
Germans cutaway suit is neat and his
cravat well tied. Wolcott has on one
OF the 365 well tailored suits which he
is reputed TO own. Teller is in a long
skirted coat of black broadcloth. And
here. by way of contrast, is Quay Of
Pennsylvania i'm a one buttoned coat
of gray which looks as If it had come
off the shelf OF a Harrisburg clothing
shop.
There are all kinds or men in the sem
ate, but no kind that is not interests /;
ing in its way TO the man in the sal-
lery. GEORGE GRANTHAM Balm.