The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-06
SEEN AND HEARD AT THE CAPITOL


mittee on Privileges and Elections. nov
hearing the Montana senatorial case. rarel,
speaks out in meeting Days pass without {
comment falling from the lips of the kansa.
statesman. He is said to be even taciturr
among his close friends. Senator Harris
was born in Loudoun county. Va. and wa.
graduated at Columbian College in this
city in 1855
Col. John l.. Bridgers of Tarboro. \. c.
was at the Capitol yesterday in the interest
OF a proposed bill to authorize the build
ing of's railroad bridge over Fishing Greek
in Edgecomb county. n C. He explained
TO reporter that in the absence Of State
statute providing for such structures. II is
necessary to secure the approval OF the
Secretary of War and the Chief OF
Engineers. United States Army, after
! which authority may be granted
by special act of Congress.
Colonel Bridgers is one OF the most
| prominent lawyers of North Carolina. and
is Vice President OF the American Bar AS
ISOLATION OF that State.
Representative Berry OF Kentucky was
on the floor of the Senate yesterday and
/ spent considerable time in conversation
with Senator Chandler. after which he
! walked over and sat down beside Senator
| Lindsay and had loEg talk with him.
| The situation in Kentucky is understood to
have been the topic discussed in both in
stances. although Senator Chandler was
simply asking for information and discuss
ing The subject in general way, while Mr..
1 Serry's talk with Senator Lindsay was in
/ me nature of a consultation. The latter
two are the principal Kentucky Democrats
| now in Washington aud manage this end
/ of the political affairs of the State Just
! now botltare kept busy watching the prog
ress of the gubernatorial fight and looking
| after the interests of their party at the
| National Capital.
| Yesterdays Senate proceedings we're
1 closely watched from the diplomatic gall
| lery by Madame Sidky Bey, wife of the
| Secretary of the Turkish Legation. and
one of her lady friends. Madame Sidky.
! though able TO carry on conversation in
| English prefers to speak French. and
does so with ease and Huency. She is
| much interested in American customs and
manners and said yesterday that she hoped
TO have opportunities to attend other ses-
sions of both the House and the Senate.
Madame Sidky. in speaking of the Turkish
! Minister who has sailed for this country
! said that his wife would be the first Turk
| ish lady to visit the United states. The
Turkish customs do not permit the wives
of the diplomats from that country to ac-
company them TO other countries. and the
only wemen living at their legations are
Armenians An attempt IS being made to
do away with this custom. and the Turkish
Minister Will be one OF the first TO violate
IL in bringing his wife here.
Senator Allen said yesterday that it is
| his intention to speak at the Populist State
Convention which is to be held at Raleigh,
y. C.. on April Is. Senator Butler will also
attend ths convention. and it is expected
that he will be one of the speakers. The
principal topics that are TO be discussed
are the amendment to the Constitution of
North Carolina limiting the right OF suf-
frage ard what is known as the Goebel
election law
OF the members OF the House OF Repre-
sentatives who were born in foreign lands.
three were born in England. two in Scot
land. two in ireland. three in British
America. and two in Germany. Speaker
Henderson WIS born at Old Deer. Scotland:
MFR. Tongue of Oregon in Lincolnshire.
England: MIR. Jenkins of Wisconsin at
Weymouth England Mr.. Lorimer of Illi
nois a Manchester Messrs. Naphen OF
Massachusetts, and Cooney of Missouri
were born in ireland. Brigham II. Rob,
erts. who might have been member OF
the House. was born in Warrington, Lam
cashire. Senator Jones of Nevada was born
In Herefordsbire. and Senator WetmOre In
London The parents of the latter were
American. Senator Sewell is native of
Ireland lt
The changes that are to be made in the
Senate employees has for several days been
the all-absofbing topic Of conversation in
the corridors of the north wing OF the
Capitol At first II appeared doubtful that
the changes would go beyond the offices OF
Secretary and Sergeant at-Arms Of the
Senate. but since these officers have been
displaced by Republicans. an intention has
manifested itself on the part of the lead
ers OF that party TO carry the reorganiza-
ton still further. The caucus committee
first appointed to enquire into the distri- |
button of patronage. which was presided
over by Senator Mason. reported in favor
of giving to each Senator regardless OF
politics. places representing Sl.4i0 in sal
ary with the provision that men of spe- !
cial qualifications for the Offices held by |
them should be retained After this part |
of the plan had been carried cut. the re- |
manning places were to be appOrtiOned |
among the Republican Senators. This |
plan. however. did net meet the approval |
of the caucus and another committee was !
appointed composed OF the following Sen
ators: Messrs Mcmillan of Michigan. I
Chairman: Piatt OF Connecticut. Perkins |
OF California. Sewell Of New Jersey. Carter
OF Montana Hanna OF Ohio. and Mason of
Illinois. The scheme Of patronage agreed |
upon by this committee involves changes
in about seventy-iive positions, which are
now held by men whose influence is Demo-
cratic. or has passed out of the Senate.
and whose salaries amount TO about $780,.
900 a year These changes range from
important clerkships tn places on the force
Of laborers and are in the offices of both
the Secretary and the Sergeant -atArms.
This plan provides that only those Sena-
tor. of the minority who have spent a
number OF years in the Senate shall be
considered In the distribution of patron
age. and that the younger Democratic SEN
ators shall not be recognized. The changes
are to be made gradually. but it is ex-
pected that nearly all of them will take
place during the next few weeks.
Senator Money said last week that the
are very good for the securing
Of legislation during the present session
to provide for the refunding of money paid
into the Treasury of the United States as
he result of the sale of cotton captured
by the Federal forces during the civil war
number OF other Southern Senators are
Interested in this subject and are doing
everything in their power to secure the
passage OF the bill introduced By Senator
Davis which gives one wear Additional |
lime in which claims of this nature may