The age-herald., 1899-01-15

cerulean, and the committee was hard at work storytelling. The stories were good, but the action of the committee had a dampening effect upon Mr Hit. and gave him a new view of the important duties devolving upon him by his election to con- gross.
 The Hon. John Morrissey's tendencies were somewhat different from those of the accomplished Mr. Hit. When he took the oath and was sworn in he awaited developments with much nervous ness. He did not seek a place on an im- portant committete. He was evidently ap- prehensive that he would be out of place on a second-class committee. After some days he sought Speaker Colfax. saying: "I am about to ask a personal favor of you, and I sincerely trust that you will grant it."
 What Is it?'' the speaker asked.
 "I want you to assign me to the commit tee where there Is the least work" MT. Morrssey replied.
 The speaker was somewhat taken aback. He assured the New York statesman, how ever, that he would do what he could to comply with his wishes. MT. Morrissey thanked him and retired. When the com mittees were announced John Norrisseys name appeared at the tall end ef the com mittee on revolutionary claims and nowhere else. The New York gentleman lost no time in showing his appreciation of the speakers kindness. At the beginning of each week during the session he sent MT. Colfax a box of the finest cigars that money could buy.
 Couldn't Bury Williams
 The Hon. George Fred Williams had a re- markable experience in the Fifty-second congress He was a rabid supporter of Roger Q. Mills in the canvass for speaker so rabid that after particpa ting in the dem ocratic caucus he refused to vote for Charles F. Crisp, the caucus nominee, on the ground that Crisp was free silver man. After his election as speaker, Crisp retaliated by placing Mr. Williams on the committee on coinage weights and meas ures. If by this action he intended to bury George Fred he signally failed. Richard P. Bland was chairman of the committee, and he turned out a free silver bill
 George Fred Williams wrote the minority report, and delivered masterly speech against the bill. It was an opportunity which he never would have had If he had not been unceremonously landed upon the committed The report and the speech gave him a national reputation. The Hon. Jo- seph H. O'Neil, however, had more poltlcai sagacity than MT. Williams. He voteo both in caucus and in open house for his col league Hon. Moses T. Stevens, for speaker. He excused the vote by saying that he was pledged by his constituents not to vote Tor a silver man. A vote for Stevens, Whlie not a vote for Crisp, was vote against Mllls, the administration candidate. Crisp eVi- dently so regarded it, for he placed MT. Stevens as the New England democratic member of the ways and means committee, and landed MT. O'Neil upon the great com mittee on appropriations. A favor1te Wlth Crisp O'Neil retained his grip at the White Houge. and after failing to be reneminateu, was appointed sub-treasurer at Boston. lie had no trouble in finding bondsmen.
 
 every committee. Some of the chalrmeh take congressional life very serlously anu nreside with great gravity and decorum. Others are less stern and give the conn n,ittee meetings a social turn. The mem bers indulge in running conversation, rather than diseussion ad talk with the freedom of old-time friends. A few seem to regard political life as joke and run leglsiatloh with an easy throttle. The serious chalr- man is more apt to arouse storms than oiie not so serious The man who tries to run his committee by the rule of three awakens a corresponding feeling in the breast oi ms members Each man asserts his rights III asking questions and insists upon puttins In his oar at the proper time. The Volun!e member is checked when his more placid colleague insists upon his turn irritation supervenes explosives follow, ana troupe ensues A genial chairman lnoculates ms committee with his geniality and has very little trouble in grinding out bills. An in- different chairman may have plain sailing in committee, but is mighty apt to lose his topsais, spanker boom, and possibly ms mainsail when he reaches the house. There he will be overwhelmed with questions, and if not thoroughly conversant with the meas ure reported from his committee Is sure 10 be waterlogged if not capsized.
 AMOS J. CUMMINGS.