The evening times., 1899-02-06
GENERAL WASHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

NEWS AND GOSSIP!
Who Will BE the Croesus of the
Senate !-There is some speculation in the
political and other circles as to who will
have the distinction of being the richest
member Of the Senate after March 4, 1899.
There are several States yet to hear from,
but from present indications the new Sem
ator from Montana, Col. William A. Clark,
will probably be awarded the honor. AT
this time it is said to be dead heat be-
tween James Mcmillan, of Michigan, and
Mark A. Hanna. Both are classed as null
millionaires. From all accounts, how
ever, Senator Clark's fortune will exceed
that of any of his colleagues, notwith
standing the fact more rich men have been
elected to the Senate this winter than at
any previous time in the history of the
country. Millionaires as a rule are sensi-
tive about the size of their bank account,
and 1t is never an easy matter for an out
slider to make an accurate estimate of the
value of very rich mans possessions.
Senator elect Clark's assets are set down
by Montana people at anywhere from S2o,-
00G, 600 to $50, 600 900. They may be less
and they may be more. At any rate it is
safe to say that Mr.. Clark will not have
to draw his Senatorial salary in advance
to meet his current expenses.
A movement is said to be on foot 10
have medal struck off of appropriate de-
sign which will be worn by the richest
Senator as long as he can prove his title
to the distinction. This would necessitate
a showing of hands and comparing Of notes
and might be objected to by some on
that account, but the matter could be set
tied in an executive session, and, OF course,
never would get out, as executive session
secrets are never divulged. The chief diff
ficulty it is said, is likely to come over
the selection of the design for the medal.
The leading artists of the country will be
invited to submit suggestions. All COM
munications on the subject should be ad-
dressed TO Senator Hanna.
Colonel Dick Busy Man.-An ac-
tive member of Congress is Col. Charles
Dick of Ohio, who represents the district
which sent Garfield here for nine terms
The colonel once signed himself Charles
W. F. Dick, but when he became so busy
decided to economize time and labor even
in signing his name, and so dropped out
the W and F. Not only is Colonel Dick
Congressman with a big district to look
after, but he is Secretary of the Republi-
can National Committee. That means that
he has all the work to do for an organiza
tion of which Senator Hanna is chairman.
This position makes Dick the universal
Congressman for all the Republican dis
tricts of the country and for all the States
which have Republican Senators. Thou
sands of faithful patriots who want office
prefer to call on Dick rather than Hanna,
who is frequently ''too busy to see them.
They like Dick because he is always
ready 10 listen and, If possible, ready to
act. No matter how humble the visitor
Dick greets him warmly and never de-
ceives him. Ii is understood that a prom
ise from Dick is as good as a bond, but
o. course, he is cautious about making
promises. To get an idea of the tremen
dous amount of work Colonel Dick has to
do each day il is only necessary to visit his
Offices at Fourteenth and G Streets. He is
there every morning at and finds dozen.
often more, of persons awaiting his CHEEKY
smile and hopeful greeting.
They may not get what they want, but
they get attention, and that is more than
some constituents get from their Senator
or Congressman. Every day delegations
call who have business before depart
ment Dick takes them under his wing
and off they CO. They thus have no t-oub' c
in getting an audience with Cabinet Off
Ger. or even with the President OF the
United States. for Colonel Dick is consid-
cred especially powerful at the White
House. When Ohio politicians fail to get
satisfaction from their own Senators or
! Members they invariably show up anx-
iously at Colonel Dicks office. His unfail-
ing good humor has made him many
friends, and ii is no wonder that he is daily
becoming more popular at home as a pos
sible Republican candidate for governor.
An Ohio Candidate for Librarian.
President Mckinley is not worried about
the selection of a Librarian of Congress to
succeed the late John Russell Young. Con-
gressman Barrows is regarded as a strong
applicant and his New England friends,
headed by Secretary Long. are very active.
They are aided by President Mckinley 5
own idea that the Librarian should Be q
literary man. Mr.. Alvord. one of the ap-
plicants, is newspaper writer, big,
healthy, and vigorous, but he is not ex
actly literary Senator Hanna. who is
practical, had a talk with President Nc
Inley in Alvord's favor and declared:
You don't want a book worm in charge
of that Library. You want a leyel-headed
business manager. There are plenty of
book worms for the minor positions where
they are useful
The name OF DR.. j. H. Garfield a CO.
lumbus, Ohio, college president came up
no one knows exactly how, but he was
suggested as a happy compromise. He is
President of the Ohio State University, an
institution kept up by the State, and Presi-
dent Mckinley is very familiar with its
condition from his experience as governor.
He also knows President Garfield we'll and
it is possible that President Mckinley
thought of the selection without any out
side suggestion.
Capt. Alexis Cope, Secretary for the Trus-
tees OF the Ohio University, came on here
last week and called at the White House
He refused to admit that he was here in
Canfeld's behalf. but though the trustees
would hate to lose their president they
would not stand in the way of his eleya-
tion. So it can be taken for granted that
Captain Cope did not come to protest
against the Garfield appointment By ac-
cepting, President Garfield would not help
himself financially. He receives now Sc. 900
year and house rent free. The salary of
Librarian is only $4,000 and no free resi-
dence.
Garfield is, of course, an Ohio man. born
at Delaware. in that State. but he was
taken as boy to Vermont, and was edu
Gated in the East. He was brought to Co
lumbus from Nebraska, where he was fa-
nous as an educator.
of OhiO.-The most surprising intimation
of the week is proposition to make Major
Webb G. Hayes son of the late ex-Presi-