The age-herald., 1899-01-15
Committee Room Anecdotes

survey, and o.ner matters have also led to long and weary investigations.
 Committee Room Anecdotes
 When the committees are not in session their rooms are frequently the rendezvous of members beset by office-seekers and oth- CTS in search of political grindstones. At times a whist party is formed, and cloudlets of tobacco smoke circle toward the ceiling. In some of the rooms lunches are served; indeed, the speaker has a private room re- served where he invariably takes lunch and dictates to his stenographer. The best stories are always retailed in committee rooms. The member who seeks an escape from opportunities in these rooms, however, is not always successful.
 A good anecdote is told of Leopold Morse while a member of the committee on naval affairs. circle of his friends had gath cred around him in the room and he had distributed a few choice Havanas. He was detailing an allurins reminiscence when the door opened and a tall constituent with an Uncle sam beard greeted the genial Boston congressman. MT. Morse shook hands with him, and the constituent opened his budget. He was evidently a man with a past. fife began with a discursive review of lie and its attendant miseries. Some of his children were suffering with dphtheria and he de- tailed the prescriptions of the physician. He had had bad luck in business and had suf- fered by the indorsement of a note to &C., commodate a friend. He was engaged In a lawsuit with an insurance company With fair prospect of losing the suit. Morse LOOK him aside and listened patiently for twenty minutes, while his friends puffed their cigars and passed the wink. They were anxiously awaiting the renewal of Morse reminscence and Morse was as anXiously awaiting an opportunity to resume It's re- cital. There seemed to be no end to me constituents tale of woe. It was dreary and weary. The congressman's face lost it's 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 words to this effecD come to the point. What do you want me to do? Out with 1t. If l can aid you l will"
 The constituent was dazed, but his face showed no humiliation. He continued his story, and had just entered upon new era of domestic affliction when Morse, in tuitively divining his object as he thought, pulled out $20 note and handed it to him, saving "God bless you" It was the solving of the enigma. Morse shook the man warm ly by the hand and the constituent bowed himself out. The social circle burst into laughter, and Leopold continued the allur- ing reminiscence. It turned out that the constituent was a rural friend of Leverett Saltonstall, who was looking for place under the Cleveland administration.
 MT. Hitt's First Committee
 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 re- ported so accurately the great debate be- tween Douglas and Lincoln on the plains of Illinois. Afterward he became secretary of the American legation at Paris. Returning to the United States, he was elected to the Forty-seventh congress to fill a vacancy, taking his seat at the beginning of a short session. He was a marvel of mental ac- tivity, and eagerly awaited an opportunity for work. Speaker Keller made him a member of the committee on railways and canals, of which the Hon. Amos Townsend, of Ohio, was chairman. Receiving the usual notice for a meeting of the committee, MT Hit was there on time He introduced himself to the chairman who in turn pre- scented him to his colleagues on the com mittee. With impressive dignity MT. Town send called the meeting to order, and sur prised young Hit by saying:
 Gentlemen, there is only one bill before the committee; 1t is of minor importance and can stand postponement until the next congress. In relieving the committee of its arduous duty, 1 cannot allow you to depart without token of my fondest re- membrance. I have here a box of the choicest sublimes, which I will open for your inspection and gratifcation."
 Thereupon he took the box from his drawer opened it, and passed it around In three minutes the atmosphere became