The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-21
THE SPEAKERS NEW RULE.
THE CORRESPONDENTS DO NOT
FIND IT SATISFACTORY.

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national CapitaI-Other Matters OF
General Interest.
Washington, Jan. &.-The surest way for
a man TO kill himself" politically, is to
sotagonize the newspaper correspondents.
Tx Speaker Kiefer tried il a few years
AGO with such signal success that he has
ever since been politically dead as the
,vnieal door nail" Sad to say, Speaker
henderson seems bent on doing the same
th.ug. in a different way, and already
riotous feeling of resentment toward him
Is brewing in the bosoms of the newspa-
uer men of Washington. They say that
they have all along treated the new
Speaker with great consideration in their
comments on his rulings affecting parJi-
san questions, besides suppressing all men
zion of the grave mistakes he naturally
made at first in trying TO WELD with the
same vgor the ponderous gavel laid down
bv Car Reed" While a plain M c.,
Mr. Henderson was always genial ana Jo-
vial enough with the correspondents. With
his new position, his manner entirely
changed; but the snubbed correspondents
excused it on the ground that increased
burdens of state made him more serious
and preoccupied. But they cannot under
stand why he has issued new rules, which
turns them all out of the House neck
and crop, fifteen minutes before the OPEN
ing of a session. 1t not only greatly in
creases their labors. but cuts them off en-
tirelv from Mr.. Henderson's assistants,
few Of whom ever appear in the House
until shortly before the gavel falls. Since
time out of mind newspaper men have
been permitted to remain on the floor, in
pursuit of the always elusive news items,
until Just a second before the Speakers
gaVel raped out the announcement that
the assembly was in session. Last week
Mr. Henderson deprived them of this an
Gent privilege, and the floor is now clear
ed of everybody except members and en-
pl0yes, a quarter of an hour before the
House is called to order. The wrath of
the scribes has so far found vent only
in speech. but some of them are saying
that if their ime-honored right is not re-
stored the wires will presently sizzle with
their Indignation, and war on the new
Speaker will begin.
Yesterday an elderly gentleman from
the far West was wandering about the
capital accompanied by a guide. lie
seemed to be especially interested in the
many comforts which Uncle Samuel has
provided free of cost, for our senators
and representatives. well. I declare,
snum" said the elderly gentleman, they
have nice, easy time of it, don't they?
Sitting there with their feet on them nice
carpets few hours a day, doing nothing
but talk. and getting thousands of dol
lars a year for doing it,
;.,.9 1911 al th.a 1a NIT a
serious counteuance, but slyly winldng a
"a sniCk ering companion, there is no limit
to a cOngressmans comforts. What you
see on the surface is nothing. They have
the fun use of the restaurant and all
they want to eat and drink-yes, drink
without costing them a cent They are
even furnished with a box of the best
Cuban cigars once a week. In the sta
tionary room they can draw all the finest
CicS-nacks in that line they want, includ-
ing portfolios and perfumery and scissors
and valentines for their sweethearts They
travel on passes and draw mileage from
The government besides.
oh, yes" he continued, warming to his
subject, as the old gentleman's excitement
grew apace-"there is no end to a con-
gressmau's privileges. Flowers and horses
and carriages for nothing. They do say
that great big hotel is going to be built
right up close TO the capitol where con-
gressmen can stay for nothing and bring
their families" By this time the old gen.
tleman was fairly dancing up and down.
said he: Years ago l promised my wife
tnat | wouldn't never go into politics But
that settles it. Living here in such high
style for nothing! Mary Ann will like
that. I'm going right home and begin my
oumpaignr
of course the genial guide was earn
ing hiS money on his imagination; but 1t
Is true that our representatives. have many
creature comforts" free of cost For ex-
ample, in both the Senate and House wings
OF the capitol there are barber shops,
Wnere statesmen are shaved az the eX-
Pense of the government Hair tonics,
soaps and perfumes are thrown in. gra-
us all the lucky congressman has to pay
is Il dip" to the tonsoral artist; and not
even that unless so inclined Away down
I'D me basement of the capitol, in the midst
OF The winding and mysterious passages
ol mat subterranean labyrinth, are To-
etied the congressional bath rooms, where
me statesmen perform their ablutions at
tlr expense of Uncle Samuel. There are
HIleen tubs on the House side and when
congress is In session they are patroniZed
a. all hours of the day. The representa-
uVes who take their periodic tubbings are
NOT bound 10 any particular hour or rule
VI pdthing. They start in al any hour or
the day Tor night, if the House sits late)
ana are scrubbed and rubbed down by
s''ong-armed attendants at government
thtense. The fact that the tubs are con-
y. 'ously occupied indicates the extent 10
winch the privilege of a free bath Is APP
H'riated. In most hotels a charge is
made for baths much less luxurious.
IAe state of Washington has now a
H1ressman-at-large, who bids fair to be-
T'ue as celebrated as his predecessor, Mr..
a. ram Lewis. Mr.. Cushman. the new
I'HIe@entative, is very tall and lean and
e'' nn-looklng, but conceals a world cf
poi'J run behind an Abraham Lincoln sort
'Nlerior. His friends say that his fund
s'ories is ineXhaustible. One OF them
Als own expense, is something like
r"'s' During the recent campaign he
"le many miles on horseback, making
Veches in small towns. on one occa-
XXX ne stopped at farm house to get a
'nK Of water. Thinking to get a point
'r TWO, he Interviewed the Maud Muller
waited upon him as to the poliu-
sentiment of the nelghborhood II
i,ely dunno" said the farmers daughter.
d. never so to them political meetin's.