The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-11
SEEN AND HEARD AT THE CAPITOL

After being seen and not heard" on tn,
floor Of the Senate during the early par
Of the session, Senator McCumber seems e
have finally decided that he will hereafter
take part in the daily discussions. II,
made brief but very creditabe speech
on the Porto RIcan bill early last week
and yesterday he made some remarks in
opposition to Mr.. Hoar's amendment TO the
Diplomatic and Consular Appropriation
bill, to provide for the payment Of $40 00C
and a $4,000 annuity to former Queen
LiliuokaIani. Soon after Mr.. McCumber
resumed his seat Mr.. Beverage walked
| over, and, sitting down near the formers
| desk, was for some time engaged In con-
! versation with him. One Of the older Sen
ators noticed this, and iokingly said: Il
guess Mr.. Beverage sees in Mr.. McCum-
Der possible rival for the position Of the
Demosthenes Of the Senate"
During the reading Of the Alaskan bill
/ at one Of the night sessions last week the
most comfortable Senator on the floor was
/ Mr.. Scott. He lounged back in one chair,
and, with his feet in another seemed per-
/ fectly content to have the reading OF the
/ bill proceed indefntely> A Senator good
naturally reproached Mr.. Scott for assum-
/ ing such an undignified position in the
| Senate chamber, and the latter expla ned
that the leg, on which an operation was
recently performed. is still weak, and that
| ii rests ii TO put it on a chair or other OBJ
| ject, so as TO lessen the flow of blood to
the affected member.
Mr.. Chandler is the only Senator who
seems really to enjoy the reading OF long
| bill. He always has copy of the bill be-
fore him, and follows the reader closely.
now and then suggesting the insertion of
comma or other punctuation mark. or
proposing a correction in the phraseology
Of the document. II these criticisms cause
a discussion the Senator is in his element
and proceeds to argue the question with as
much solemnity as though the fate OF the
whole bill were at stake. But here and
there in his remarks are inteIjeeted little
flashes OF wit that show that he is not
overestimating the gravity OF the subject.
An argument between Senators Hoar and
Tillman is always interesting not only be-
cause Of their marked ability. but because
Of the contrast between the two men. Mr.
Tillman's arguments are ordinarily full OF
biting sarcasm, which is often directed to-
ward his opponent, but he always begins
his remarks in reply to the venerable
Massachusetts statesman 10 a deferential
manner Mr.. Hoar. however. appreciates
the argumentative powers OF the South
CarOlinian, and makes his rejoinders point
ed and decisive, the result being that Mr.
Tillman is soon aroused, and speaks in his
usual forceful manner.
Although yesterday was not particu-
larry pressing day in the House Of Repre- |
sentatives SO far as public business is |
concerned, two of the prominent members !
Of that branch of Congress ate their !
lunches in their seats. Mr. Cannon took /
apples and Mr.. Linney took oranges It /
was about 3 o'clock that the Chairman OF |
the Committee on Appropriations strolled /
down the centre aisle toward the Speakers |
desk. The Wise-Young case was under |
discussion. and a speech was in progress.
As Mr.. Cannon approached the Speakers |
desk he turned out OF the aisle to chat
with Mr.. Lacey. When about half way |
down the red-carpeted walkway he drew |
from a rear pocket a big red apple into
which he inside such a plethoric excava-
ton that his chat with Mr.. Lacey was con-
Quoted under facial difficulties. One bite
ltllONtu dU0iutI III QUICK succession until
the apple. which gradually changed from
a big red one to a small white one dis
appeared. Mr.. Cannon returned to his
desk and soon produced another apple
This met the fate Of its predecessor. and
then a third apple came forth from the
rear pocket. The unchanging
face OF Mr.. Cannon was in action for some
time During this. Mr.. Linney was in
eating oranges. He would first
squeeze and suck them and then tear them
asunder the better to get at the pulp.
An unusual number of boutonnieres were
n evidence on the Republican side of the
House yesterday 1t looked as though
some flower girl had been doing thriving
business in the lobby. Several members
wore flowers pinned to the lapels of their
oats who had not done so before during
he present Congress. Another curious
eature of the flower show is that no bios
IONS other than red carnations appeared
Among the members thus adorned were
Mr. SullOway Mr. Babcock. Mr. Hull. Mr.
Payne Mr.. Lacey. and Mr. Cannon. No
Democrat wore flower. the color scheme
IN that side Of the chamber being con-
ined to Mr.. Bailey's celebrated purple
ravat
Mr. Bartlett OF Georgia. though he walks
With a bad limp and a heavy cane is
apidly gaining note as one of the most
ctive men on the floor He is of a very
ervous temperament, and finds solace in ,
trolling about and visiting other members :
[ their desks He does not appear to sit
ong in one place. He makes many of