Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-31

Copyright, 1899, by Amos ]. Cum
mings.)
Washington. d. c., Dec. Sole
was an exCongressman. With round
shoulders and gray head. He
mad been appointed United States
Judge in Oklahoma. the Indian Terri
tory. Alaska. or soi-le other place, and
his time had run out. Political emer-
gencies prccluded his reappointmcnt,
although he was personally acceptable
10 the administration. What his polit-
ical enemies wanted were the minor
places within the gift of the judge.
Ihere were over hundred of these
and several thousand applications. The
Judge was recalling scenes and incl
dents iii his Congressional career. He
was IN The elevator on his way 10 the
nail of the House of Representatives.
Somebody commented on the relative
speed OF the elevators In the two wings
oi The Capitol. Tie Serate lifts as
cehd with CELEBRITY and dispatch, while
those of the House are tortuisc-likc in
movement. It is the difference be-
tween an express train and an old
Concord coach.
Il came here said the veteran ex
member. when elevators were nm
known Not long afterward they made
tneir appearance in several OF the large
cues. Iney We're considered an cXpen-
s!Ne luxury. and nobody dreamed of
placing: them IN the Capitol. Singular
as 1t may seem, the first man TO pro-
pose ana advocate their Introduction
was n member from Texas lie was
the heaviest man in the House. and
represented the San Antonio district.
i5!S name was Glis;aVe Schlcichar and
lie was born in Germany. Beyond his
Size lie attracted little attention in the
Rouse until his introduction OF n reso
luton providing for an elevator in the
south Wing. Watchdog Holman was
chairman of the Committee on Appro-
pr!atiols He fought the resolution
.o"Sh ana mail, on the score OF ccono-
my lie regarded it as the acme of ex-
traVaSanec. Schiclcher, however. wns
persistent. He fought Holman To
standstill. and WAS finally beaten bv
me strategy so characteristic of the
lloosier statesman. Even the city
members voted against the resolution
The big German, however had strnck
his gait. He had attracted the atten-
tlon OF the whole country This pleas
ed ms constituents. and he was re-
elected. He came back to the Forty
NTH Congress and continued the agi-
tation for an elevator He died near
inc close Of the third session much re-
GREETED
In the Forty sixth Congress Robert
Nlotz. OF AIauch Chunk, a pennsylva
ma outchman, championcd Schleich-
ier S hobby. lie was SO persistent in
advocating 1t that one of his collea CUES
sad to him one day. You want TO he
nolsted to your seat, do you? We'll,
the people will hoist you ncXt fall. You
VIII get all the hosting you want then
INC prediction failed. Mr.. Klotz
was returned to Congress, after he had
succeeded in securing an appropriation
Tor an elevator. 1t was made in tho
forty-siXth Congress in the sundry
civil Dill. Holman was no longer chair
man of the Committee on NpproprIa
IONS. Ills successor was the Hon. John
re Witt Clinton Atkins. of Tennessee.
lie TACT remains. however, that The
introduction of the elevators in rho
Capiiol was due 10 the efforts of two
statesman of German extraction.
Il look back upon ms CongressionoI
NE with real pleasure" the veteran
auSed' a; times the Treadmill of leg
ls!ation became wearisome, but Tho
work was iightened by many amusing
''- uellIa' Eugene Hale was then Z;
member Of the House. Among his as
sociates were Tom Reed, William =.
trNe. and L!awcllyn Powers, now Gov
ernor OF Maine. Hale was then leader
OF the delegation and was chairman of
the Republican Congressional Commit
tee. He was the best dressed man i'm
tne House. Neat ana natty in attire
ne was equally neat ard natty in man
ner and intellect. As lie was the lead
ne Republican OF the Cummitte on An
propr.ations. he WIS an active oartic;-
pant in debate. al one time he Wis
tied the room occupied by the official
rcpoi tcrs 10 revise some remarks. On
entering; the room he complained OF lis
atmosphere. Ii had faint offensive
10 a man of his exquisite scnsibiiitiea.
RE said there WAS undoubtedly dead
rat behind some OF tho bookcases, ara
IL ought TO be removed Immediately
20 pungent was the odor that he left
the room. asking that his remarks be
sent TO his residence for revision. AS
ne departed he averrcd that he would
nave an Investigation made, as such
an odor was injurious TO heath and not
TO be tolerated. y few minutes after
ward the carpenter and two assistants
appeared TO remove the floor. IL ncces-
sary. Meantime the windows had been
opened and the room was filled with
fresh air. They had hardly begun
work before The mystery was explained.
Each reporter had two a,nan-
uenses. They were bright young fell
lows. given to practical joking. One
mad serreptitiously empt!ed vial of
iodlform upon the clothes OF an assist
ant. When he saw the carpenters re-