The Washington weekly post., 1900-04-03

Claude A. Swanson, of Virginia, in de-
Tending his seat in the Fffty-fifth Con-
gress against a Republican contestant.
The day was wasted in the consideration
Of this claim and the bill was finally with
drawn by Swanson himself.
Friday. March q, was, under the new
rule. again set aside for pension Iegis-
lation. Cyrus Sulloway yanked 13s of the
claims from the private calendar, and
they all went through the House. On
March 30, the twelfth Friday since the
holidays. the House orce more reached
he private calendar. Tantalus was still
seated at the table. Congressional indig-
nation was aroused at the way in which
he had been treated. He was allowed
a grape or two from the table, but the
House adjourned before the substantials
were reached
And TantalUs still sits at the table un-
der the rules. rarely eating, or drinking
under the rules, although the table is
furnished, under the rules. and he has a
right 10 eat and drink. under the rules.
provided he can reach the delicacies, un-
der the rules.
Ihis, however, is not ALL The Fifty
fifth Congress developed a similar fatali-
", when measures from the Committee
on War Claims were reached Week aft
er week and month after month took
wings, and Tantaius, with hungry eyes
and craving stomach, sat at the table
smacking mis- lips in vain. At last. seiz-
ing favorable opportunity, Thaddeus
punched his claims and threw an omnibus
Dill from the House into the Senate. II
was master stroke, but the result was
Ia r4l
up the bill 10 fabulous amount, involv-
ing millions in money. and sent II back
10 the House. Thaddeus had it thrown
into conference. where ii remained for
months, and finally came out Thoroughly
eyiscerated. MahOn made a bitter fight
against the insauate appetite of the SEN
ate, and at last came to a compromise
losing some OF his own claims, but saw
ing the country over s., 600 go. Many a
worthy creditor of the government how
ever, was rushlessly butchered.
These claims appear perenniaIly before
Congress. awaiting a prOpitious moment
Creditors OF the government are seen in
the corridors on every legislative dav.
Some are well dressed; others in shabby
raiment; burt there is a giimmer of hone
II every eye. The wealthy applicant
usually finds a seat in d WelI-furuisned
commlttee-rOOm, while the INDECENT one
remains in the corridors and window en-
brasures with aching feet and doWncast
heart All recall the fste OF William Nc
Garrahan, owner of t4la famous quick
silver mine. He paced the same cOrri-
dors, and passed hours every day in the
same emDrasurcs for more than thirty
years. When MS Dill mad PASSED both
Houses by an overwhelming vote. ne took
on renewed youth and received the con
gratulatlOns Of his friends with fearful
eyes. After nearly forty weary years he
saw the fruition of his hopes WITHIN
reach. From the depths OF poverty he
had climbed 10 The elevation Of wealth
In his old age ne had reached the mesa
or prosperity. All the clouds had disan-
peared. and the sun was at last shining
on the pathway OF his lie. Then a man
dined with the President, and a veto mes
sage was sent 10 the Capitol IL was
near the close Of the short session. The
bill was dead. Poor McGarraa aan fell
from the loftiest pinnacle OF hope 10 the
lowest chasm Of despair Il was fatal
he went 10 Providence Hospital, and died
within a fortnight
War claims and pension bills are fire.
quently in antagonisnl. In the Fifty-first
Congress an omnibus bill was reported
from the Committee on War Claims mo-
Vding for the payment OF css-tain ad-
judlcated claims under the Bowman act
II involved a great expenditure, and fin
aliJ got before the House. A bitter op-
position 10 its continued consideration
arOse. Privileged business was thrown In
It's way on private bill day. All other
bills on the private calendar were dam
med by IL Most OF the claims were what
are known as Southern var claims. In
vain did that picturesaca character from
the mountains Of East Tennessee. Leon
iiss c. Houk. appeal in quaint eIoquenee
10 his party associates on behalf OF The
Tennessee loyalisfs They maintained a
perfect deadlock. Finally Benjamin Au-
gustine Enles, Hcuk's colleague. tried 70
bring the majority to terms by stopping
all pension legislation. As Prof. Talberf
has since done. he demanded quorum