The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-02-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
No Low Handle Bars In tho CapitaI-A
Historic Senate Desk-Senator
Morgan as Doorkeeper
Especial Correspondence.l

Tho Washington courts have decided
that low handle bars on bicycles, when
they exceed drop Of four inches below
the seat, are dangerous TO tho public
welfare and have sustained the District
commissioners i'll enforcing regulations
that prohibit their use. The court held
i'll deciding this question that the police
authority invested in tho commissioners
was sufficient to justify them in taking
all precautions they considered neces-
sary for the protection of bicycle riders
and pedestrians. In the test case that
was brought to determine the legality
OF these regulations the testimony of
expert wheelmen as we'll as that of ply
slcians was taken. 1t was their unani.
NOUS Judgment that low handles caused
contraction of tho chest and crowded
the internal organs out of their normal
position, to the serious detriment of the
rider; also that the vision of man rid
ing with his head down was limited to
18 and 20 feet III advance of his wheel.
and that distance was not sufficient to
enable him to rido safely at any speed.
The Injurious Low Handle Bar.
DIR. w. w. Alleger, chairman of tho
committee of regulations of the League
OF American Whcelmen, testified that
he had drafted the regulation in cues
ton, which is as follows: ono cvcle
shall be ridden upon tho streets within
the city limits with tho lower end of
tho handle bar Oh plane lower than
four inches below the top of the saddle
ut its center, and the rider shall at all
times keep his head i'll such position
as 20 command 4 view of not less than
200 feet ahcad.'
Tho secretary of tho local branch Of
the Leagno of American Wheclmen,
however, testified that DR.. Alleger had
no authority to speak for the league OIL
this proposition and that his action had
been that Of an individual and not an
official. However, low handle bars will
no longer be permitted in Washington
A Historic Senate Desk.
The desk i'll the senate now occupied
by Mr.. Gear of Iowa has IL most inter
esting history. 1t used to he tho desk of
Senator Conkling. 1t is situated OH tho
eastern Sido of the center aisle, next to
the front row. When, in the exciting
days of the Conkling- Garfield trouble
MIR. Conkling and Mr.. Platt wired their
designations to tho Now York legisla-
turc, Mr.. Conkling was absolutely GER
tain OF speedy return. So certain was
he OF prompt reelection that he asked
Senator Cameron of Wisconsin to hold
his seat for couple of days" rs he
remarked, and then he went to Albany.
AS Is well known, he did not return
and Mr.. Cameron continued to occupy
the desk
Mr.. Cameron and Mr. Dawes of Mas.
sachusetts We're west together on an In
dian inspection trip when Mr.. Cameron
contided to his colleague the fact that
he did not intend to stand for re-elec-
ton.
"'Thcn l can have your desk" sait.
Dawes.
Certainly, said Cameron.
Mr.. Dawes at once telegraphcd to
Captain Bassctt, who was then alive.
and filed his claim. When Mr.. Cameron
went out of the senate Mr.. Dawes
moved over to his desk. Other changes
followed and finally Mr.. Dubois Of Ida
no became the occupant.
a Story OF Vest.
On tho day that Senators Teller and
Dubois walked out of the national Re.
publican convention ut st. Louis Scna-
tor Gear remarked that Mr.. Dubois
political career was ended. and immedi,
ately telegraphed to tho scrpeant-at-
arms of the senate, reserving Mr.. Du-
bois' seat. He was good prophet After
tho memorable campaign of 1896 Mr..
Heitfeld came as Mr.. Dubois successor.
Many good stories could thus be told
of the alertness which senators display
i'll securing well placed desks, but tho
experience of Mr.. Vest is especially
worth relating. When in 1852 the civil
service law was being discussed, Mr..
PendletOn, all Ohio Democrat, and Mr..
Dawes had presented bills BY II shrcwd
bit Of politics the Republicans aban-
doned their support of tho Dawes bill
and voted for Mr.. Pendleton's measure.
their votes, together with the votes of
the Democrats favorlbl to the measure.
being sufficient TO pass it. The Wash
lngton Post declares that as tho bill was
about to bo voted on Mr.. CocLrell
moved that Its title be changed so as to
read, "A bill to retain Republicans in
office. As soon rs it passed Nh Vest
filed Il claim for Mr.. Pendlctons seat.
Tho author of such IL bill :" said he.
will never como back to the senate. -
Mr. Vest was right, and ut the begin
ming OF the next congress nc moved into