The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-27

few days before Congress adjourned
the Capitol police suspected rertain per-
son OF being a confidence man. and at the
conclusion Of his talk with Representa-
tive Waters Of California took him into
custody. He Was taken before the lieu
tenant in charge and warned not 70 set
foot in the Capitol again under penalty OF
arrest. All this was very unpleasant to
Mr Waters, and he has a grudge against
the Capitol police
1T seems hard luel, he said in the
cloakroom that afternoon to party OF
Californian, that every time get a
good chance to operate on a Conscience
man some policeman comes along and res
cues him, These officers ought to know
that If a confidence man can get anything
from a Californian he is welcome to it,
and the chances are largely in favor OF
the Californian beating the con man at
his own game These Eastern sharps
must think because man halls from the
Golden state his pockets are bullying with
ready money, and he is always a ft sub
jet for a quick touch. The next time I
get con man in a corner and I see
Capitol policeman approaching am going
10 flag him and keep him away until get
through. Who knows" he concluded, re-
gTetfully, but that ! might have secured
gold watch or diamond gin from that
fellow this afternoon.
oh yes said Representative Barhams
also from California, '.you are doubtless
TOO wise for the best OF them, but I viii
bet you get stuck Ike the rest Of US occa-
sionaIly-'
Well. I'll confess responded Mr.. Va
tiers. they do get the better of me cnee
in a while; but I have had some lucky
escapes Now, there's Needhsm: If there
is anybody easy in the delegation. II is
Needham He is so soft-hearJed that any
one could move him to pity and make
him open his heart and purse, as well.
Some time ago young man came to me
and represented himself as being from ny
district live within a block CT you at
Los Angeles. he said and l know Your
friends the Blanks. and Captain Star, and
a number of other people you know we'll.
Here l am. stranded in Washington and
no way to get homo. Can't you get me
a pass TO Los Angeles% / felt myself
moved almost TO tears by the distress so
evident on the young mans countenance,
but IT occurred TO me that / would in
vestigate little before responding 20 his
appeal 7 want TO do what 1 can for rou,
I said, and I will see If I can secure you
transportation come dFOGB1 loEACs1OA
and I will let you know.
Needhmm Was Touched.
''As soon as he had departed tele-
graphed Los Angeles and received the re-
ply that he was evidently an impostor.
The next day he returned and said
Young man, you have made mistake
You are not from my district. but from
Needham's district Sc l am he replied,
+, ion
see Needham,' said I. His heart is as
big as his body So I will said he, and
so he did And what does Needham dog
asked Mr. Waters, gtaGcing around the
circle enquiringly. why Needham gets
him pass home
AT this there was considerable laughter
at Mr.. Needham's expense, in the midst Of
which ka stepped through the doors. You
should have been here 20 hear the story
Mr. Waters has been telling on you, sug-
gested Representative Metcalf. Mr. Need
hams curiosity aroused, he demanded the
story. and IL was repeated Yes" he said.
ruefuily land that isn't all. That fell
low came TO me for pass and / told him
never asked for passes, but, IN considera-
ton of his family and the sad circum-
stances IL which he found himself. 1 would
write a note to the agent Of certain
railroad, introducing him. and he might
explain the circumstances and perhaps
=
but the next day returned in the deepest
detection. He had presented the letter
and his request had been denied. OF
course under the circumstances. ] could
not refuse his gentle hint that $40 would
be acceptable. and let him have it, after
which he departed with ELUSIVE thanks.
We'll, you were easy, was the general
response to Mr. Needham's story.
But that was not the worst OF it. he
continued cheerfully- L met my friend.
the general passenger agent, some time
later he said, land asked him why he
turned down this poor but honest Cali
fornian. Turn him downl' he exclaimed,
in astonishment; why. I gave him a pass
straight through to Los Angeles This
shook my confidence in my California con-
stituent and an investigation revealed the
heaFtrending fact that he was not from
California, but hailed from New York, and
had sold the pass and spent the money.
and worse than all, was eongratulating
himself on having found such a soft
thing"
There is where these Congressman
from this part of the country have the adj
vantage OF US" said Representative Net
calf When they have to send their con
stituents home they only have few dol
lars 70 expend, while when We are called
upon TO stake the faithful follower TO a
return ticket It amounts to a good deal
The members most favored in this matter
are those from Virginia and Maryland
whose districts adjoin the District of CO.
Iumbia If a man from Muddss, Swanson's,
or Pearre's district gets stranded in
Washington and cries for assistance all
they have to do is TO point him in the di-
Tection of his home and tell him to walk
The Prey of Sharpers.
Notwithstanding all the cheerfulness
With which the members mentioned re-
ferred to their experiences with confidence
men and panhandIers. it has become rec
ognized as one Of the greatest drawbacks
TO Congressional life that Congressman
are exposed above all others TO the de-
msnds Of sharpers, to say nothing of the
Well-meaning but unfortunate whose J
statements are true, but whose claims up
on the Congressman are of the smallest
character. To the average citizen in the
wild and wooIly West, or in the remote
reeesses of the Vermont or Maine noun
tains, to the horny handed farmer ami the
frugal Yankee storekeepeF, $1,000 a year
salary. received by a member of Congress.
looks -.tarnation big. from a distance. OF
course, TO The average applicant for Office
the salary OF g member looks very small
al fist. But when aspirations have fallen
from the Court Of st. James to mes
seager boy In the Department of Agricul-
ture. and he has failed &c obtain even that,