The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-20

A good anecdote is told OF Leopold
Morse while member OF the Committee
on Naval Affairs. A circle of his friends
had gathered around him in the room and
he distributed a few choice Havanas. He
was detailing an alluring "reminiscences
when the door opened and tail constitu-
ant of Uncle Sam beard greeted the gen.
ial Boston Congressman. Mr.. Morse shook
hands with him. And the constituent OPP
ened his budget. He was evidently a man
with past. He began with a 'discnssive
review of life and it's attendant miseries.
Some of his children were suffering with
diphtheria and he detailed the prescrip-
tons of the physician. He had had bad
luck in business and had suffered - the
Endorsement Of a note to accommodate
friend. He was engaged in a lawsuit with
an insurance company, with a fair pros
pect of losing the suit. Morse took him
aside and listened patiently for 20 minutes,
while his friends pulled their cigars and
passed the wink. They were anxiously
awaiting the renewal of Morses reminis-
cence and Morse was as anxiously await
ing an opportunity to resume its recital.
There seemed TO be no end to the consd-
tuant's tale of woe. 1t was dreary and
weary The Congressmans face lost its
smile and grew stern. He had evidently
lost all patience. Throwing back the lapel
of his coat and showing his hands into the
lowest depths of his trousers pockets, he
exclaimed:
Thunder and lightning. COR wods 10
this effect) Come to the point. What do
you want me to do? Out with it. If I can
aid you 1 will"
The constituent wa. dazed, but his face
showed no humiliation. He continued his
story. and had just entered upon a new
era Of domestic affection when Morse, in
tuitively devining his object as he thought,
pulled out a $40 note and handed 1t to
him saying, God bless you" 1t was the
solving of the enigma. Morse shook the
man warmly by the hand and theconstitu-
ent bowed himself out. The social circle
burst into laughter, and the Leopold con-
tinued the alluring Renaissance. II turn
ed out that the constituent was a rural
friend of Leverett Saltonstall. who was
looking over a place under the Cleveland
administration.
A Good story Is also told Of the Hon.
Robert r. Hit, of Illinois, now chairman
of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and
one of the American commissioners sent
to Hawaii. He was the stenographer who
reported so accurately the great debate be-
tween Douglas and Lincoln on the plains
of Illinois. Afterwards he became Secre-
tary of the American Legation at Paris.
Returning to the United States, he was
elected 10 the Forty-Seventh Congress to
fill a vacancy. taking his seat at the be-
vel of mental activity, and eagerly await
ed an opportunity for work. Speaker
Keifer made him a member of the Com
mittee on Railways and Canals of which
the Hon. Amos Townsend, of Ohio, was
chairman. Receiving the usual notice for
a meeting of the committee Mr.. Hit was
there on time He introduced himself to
the chairman, who in turn presented him
to his colleagues on the committee. With
impressive dignity Mr.. Townsend called
the meeting to order, and surprised young
Hit by saying:
Gentlemen, there Is only one bill be-
fore the committee; It is of minor import
snce and can stand a postponement until
the next Congress. In relieving the COM
mittee of its arduous duty, I cannot allow
you to depart without token Of my fond
est remembrance. l have here a box Of
the choicest subblimes, which I will open
for your inspection and qualification
Thereupon he took the box from his
drawer, opened it and passed it around.
In three minutes the atmosphere became
cerulean, and the committee was hard at
work storytelling. The stories were good
but the action of the committee had a
dampening effectupon Mr.. HIT and gave
him a new view OF the important duties
devolving upon him by his election to Con-
gress.
The Hon. John Morrissey's tendencies
Were somewhat different from those of .ne
accomplished Mr.. Hit. When he took
the oath and was sworn in he awaited
the Developments with much nervousness.
He did not seek a place on an important
committee. He was evidently spplehen-
sive that he would be out Of place on the
he sought Speaker Colfax, saying: - am
about to ask 4 personal favor of You, Sn1
l sincerely trust that you will grant tt
what is it?'' the Speaker asked.
AZ want you to assign NE TO the CON-
mittee where there is the least work"
Mr.. Morrissey replied.
The Speaker was somewhat taken
aback. He assured the New York states