The times., 1899-12-13
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.
a Modest Member-wben the mem

4 Modest Member.-When the mem
bers call on Speaker Henderson and begin
to talk committee places the Speaker gen
orally hands them piece of paper, saying
I am very busy now; just think over the
committees you want to serve on, write out
the names, and leave it with me later"
This pleases the member. who takes the
hint and next day he hands in the paper
containing the names of few committees.
According to a story circulated at the Capt.
tol yesterday. one of the members of the
Illinois delegation, who resembles Span
lard, and has been taken for Cuban
Commissioner. handed Mr.. Henderson
list of committees that caused the Speaker
to gasp for breath. The member was very
modest in his request. naming the follow
ing committees he desired to serve on:
Appropriations, Ways and Means, Judicia-
ry, Foreign Affairs. Banking and Currency,
District of Columbia Insular Affairs, Naval
Affairs, Military Affairs, Postoftices and
Postroads, Rivers and Harbors, Pacific
Railroads, Interstate and Foreign Com
merce. Merchant Marine and Fisheries, In
dian Affairs, and Public Buildings and
Grounds.
When the Speaker recovered he is report
td 10 nave IGItidt httl- - NLlo an iAAAiA
you had better name few more commit
tees"
The Lake Erie Dnm Project.-Rep-
resentative Corliss OF Michigan is exert
ing himself in the interest of bill which
provides for the construction of a dam at
the foot of Lake Erie or in the Niagara
River by means of which it is hoped TO
control the level of the lake. The bill has
been prepared after consultation with a
number of prominent engineers who have
endorsed the plan and who say that the
proposed dam will deepen all the harbors
in Lake Erie The subject has been in
vestigated and approved also by the Deep
Waterway Commission. Large appropria-
tions have been made for dredging the
harbors of Cleveland, Toledo and Buffalo.
It IS believed that the dam will save
vast amount of dredging.
An Interested Audience. - \ good
story is being told on Gen. R. 3. Kennedy,
who was Chairman of the InsulaT Com
mission The scene of the story is laid
in Porto Rico. It is said that the general
/ is fond of making speeches. While in
Porto Rico he mounted a platform before
/ <
interpreter The understanding was that
when the orator would conclude a SEN
tence the interpreter would tell the audi
ence what it was all about. But it IS
said General Kennedy forgot the inter-
prefer and spoke for an hour and a half.
There were but two persons in the audi
ence who understood English-General
Kennedy and the interpreter
AftorneyS' Liens. Reprpspntatiye
Moon of Tennessee has evolved bill to
provide liens in favor of attorneys at law
in original and removed causes to the
United States courts, and to provide for
| the enforcement of these liens. Mr.. Moon
is a practicing lawyer having been ad-
mitted to the bar in Alabama and Tennes-
see in 1874 and to the Supreme Court OF
the United States in 1873. He was attOr-
ney for the city of Chattanooga in lSS1-S2.
He seeks to have it enacted into law
that the attorneys lien in the cases in
I dicated shall have priority over all other
/ liens except those for taxes. Mr.. Moon
viii also seek TO secure the passage of
a bill to restrict the application of the
doctrine of contributOry negligence so as
| to permit persons guilty of negligence
I which is not the proximate cause of an
! injury TO persons or property, to recover
! damages.
The Democratic National Conyen-
TOMAS the time for holding the Demo-
1 cratic National Convention has not been
fixed the question is naturally open for
discussion. and is being discussed with
\ vigor by Democrats in all sections of the
/ country. Many letters have reached poll
ticians in Washington on this subject. The
u n ar.1r
! adviser seems positive that public senti-
ment is unanimously in accord with his
! views
/ A Nebraska politician has written that
/ there is a Cyclonic wave of popular senti-
ment in that State in favor of postponing
! the national convention until thirty days
! prior to the Presidential election. a Dem
/ oerat from the East gives the unanimous
! opinion in his section as favoring an early
| convention, and mentions an early date in
| March as the best time.
The powers that have the deciding of this
matter in their hands-the members of the
! Democratic National Commutee-are non
! committal on the subject. As yet Chair
man James has issued no call for a meeting
! Of that committee. II is expected how
| ever that this call viii be forthcoming il
! the near future.
suIzer's Sweater Tax BiII.-Repre,
! sentative Sulzer of New York has bill
! the ayowed purpose OF which is to raise
additional revenue for the support of the
/ Government. but which is aimed really a,
| the sweater system" Mr. Sulzer would
! have it law that every person or cor
| poration engaged in the manufacture OF
! shirts, skirts, neCkwear cloaks, coats
: vests, trousers underwear cigarettes ci-
gars furs or fur trimmings who shall LEI
| out the goods to be made in rooms or build
! ings occupied for domestic purposes shall
! pay a tax of $500 year for each person en-
! gagged to work under such conditions.
Chief Clerk OF the Document Room
The first and most important appointment
made by Doorkeeper Glenn. of the House o
Representatives. since the organization o.
the House took place yesterday. when Mr.
| Babcock of Wisconsin. who is slated fol
! Chairman of the District Committee. cap.
| tured the prize for his district In poin
of fact, Mr. Babcock secured two appoint.
ments J. B. Walker resigned the chic
| clerkship of the Document Room to ac-
cept the position Of special agent of rura
| free delivery, Postoffice Department re-
| Gently held by Henry Casson the newly
! elected Sergeant-a Arms of the House
| The place made vacant by Walkers resig.
nation, which pays 81 400 per annum. wa.
| filed by the appointment of J. B. BRUNEI
/ one OF Mr. BabcOcks constituents. Thus
| does the Badger statesman draw first blood
1 in the distribution of the spoils More
changes under the Doorkeeper are expected
| this week.
The House Librariun.-The story wa,
current yesterday that a change may b,
/ L. In.. 1.