Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-04
Copyright. 1860. by Amos ]. Cummings,

Copyright 1900 by Amos ]. Cummings)
Washington. D. c., Mars
Three months of legislation have
passed without the appearance of a
James Hamilton Lewis. The old mem
bers miss his lively intellectual
percolations. and solace themselves by
watching the stragglers who emerge
from the forest of Congressional life
ana meander in the meads and past
| ures Of legislation. Some are risky
| and others are grave and sedate. The
risky ones take the fences without re-
gard to consequences. while those grave
and sedate are apparently looking for
some one TO let down the bars.
While Lewis shoes are untitled, 1t is
somewhat astonishing that no real
watchdog of the Treasury has been de-
veloped Since the death of William
s. Holman, the kennel has no tenant.
His honest bark is heard no more. No
man misses the bow WOW more than
Joseph G.. Cannon. He does fairly we'll
| without 1t: but, overweighted with ap-
preparation bills. he cannot eternally
remain upon the floor watching legis-
iation. Holman was rarely out of his
seat. When he ran his game to cover
he bayed SO loudly that all the little
dogs of the pack Joined in and filled the
air with music. This made him espe-
clally invaluable to the chairman of
the Sonmittnee on Appropriations.
he recognized Holman's honest bark,
ana was promptly on the line.
Ihere are keen noses in this House,
put their owners lack encouragement.
Ihere Is no one to pat them on the
head and set them on. The watchful
ob1ector is usually developed before the
holidays. One OF the most persistent
was Lewis Beach, of New York. He
contracted the habit under the tute-
lage OF lndiana's great Hoosier, and
soon outstrlpped the old watchdog him
self. The habit became ingrained ,un-
I'll at last he was unable to distinguish
Dill carrying an appropriation from
one that didn't carry one. He had a
front seat. and his voice was SO pene-
trating that the Speaker always heard
any one to pass a bill by unanimous
consent. The whole house fumed in
evaporation. Neither efforts nor
pleadings could influence Beach He
sat ut his desk, elbows down, with his
head in his hands absolutely impervi-
ONS' ~ oii IhC NlSClDiCS OIL holman In
the House, Beach showed the best
training; yet his honest bark ANNOYED
MS friends more than his enemies. and
there was general feeling OF relief
when 1T was heard no more.
KILGoRE. CHEADLE, AND KERR.
Another of Holman's pupils was the
hon. Constantine Buckley Kilgore. of
Texas. He was a child of the frontier,
n ri In n tn ne t.4
and q born objector. He practically
nailed his shingle to his seat, and made
Objection his business. His advent waa
an epoch In Holman's life. lie, Kilgore.
was On the Qui vive the instant the old
Watchdog opened his mouth. With
eyes set and ears erect, he led the pack
whenever there was n suspicion of n
job in the air. He was no respecter of
persons or measures, but ran down
-oHerything- that-teels -a-eent-etrt- of -rftts
treasury. regardless of friends of foes.
de reveled in joy whenever n claimant.
honest OF otherwise, was driven away.
When n bill for the erection of n monlI
ment to the martyrs of the British pri-
son-shops came before the House in
the morning hour, under the rule, he
ruthlesSly talked it to death, regardless
OF all protest. Patriotic feeling was
throughly aroused; the Indignation was
universal. Even nature itself had talk
Gil .. iiaIu AGAINST the martyrs after
death. Their bones had been uncover
ed by the tide and made the sport of
the winds. Each of the thirteen COL
onies was represented in them. Kill
gore, however, stood like a bigot deaf
to all entreaties, until Breckenridge,
of Kentucky, called him n Tory, and
Asher Caruth, in the plenitude of
The word brought flush TO the Texans
check. and a threat TO his tongue, but
he prevented the passage OF the bill,
although the House undoubtedly favor
ed it, sixteen to one.
The Fiftieth Congress brought out a
new pupil. He came from the watch
dogs own State, and also outstripped
his teacher in the pursuance of his OBJ
1ect. He was Joseph b. Cheade and
he remained in Congress for four years
The same House developed another
Watchdog, who jointed the pack, Daniel
Kerr. of Iowa. Both were Republicans.
The original Ponto never stretched
himself but that these disciples rushed
from their kennels and barked furious
ly. Their watchfulness became pro-
verbal. They gave tongue day and
night. whenever Congress was in SEES
sion. The legislative atmosphere was
fairly pestilential. Members almost
ceased to ask for unanimous consent,
and those who did SO dropped in their
seats when objection was made, as
though struck by a simeon. The thing
finally became n farce. Whenever Kerr
pointed his finger at the Speaker and
arose in his sea, the House broke into
merriment. Kerr was n Scotchman, so
! obstinate and set in his purpose that
Daniel Ermentout compared him to a
Kilmarnock man, waylaid by highway
men. He fought fufiously, laying out
| four of his assailants before he was
Knocked senseless and overpowered. On
rifling his pockets the robbers found
| only 10 cents.
Great heavens" said one of them, as
| he gaZed at the dime, "if he had had a
half IL Ill