The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-07-08
THEY ALL DRANK IN THE GOOD old DAYS
Members Of Congress- Noted for Their Thirst Sou ut Inspiration the Cup
Took Their Toddles a a Matter Of

custom, which holds to this day. Of vot-
Ing an extra months pay to the clerks
and other people in the salaried service
OF the house and senate.
My. but Senator b. was n wonderful
mani said an employe of forty years
standing To the writer a few days aga.
He could hold more whisky and use more
beautiful language than anybody else |
ever knew. Why. sir. I've seen him come
out Of the Hole In the Wall loaded 20 such
an extent that he would have to hold him-
self up with a hand on a desk on either
side of him. and In that condition. sir. he
would make a speech that nobody could
answer. He would. by cad, sirr>
1t was told OF certain other bibulous
senator of those days that somebody once
ventured TO ask him II he adopted any
system in the regulation Of his drinking.
Decidedly so.' he replied. when ! ct
up In the morning ] put down layer II
whisky, and TO that add layer of watef.
Then ! suDerpose "a layer of breakfast"
"But how about the rest Of the dayss
Just n series OF layers OF whisky" hs
said. Two or three meals interspersed,
but no water"
IL IL said that In the early years OF the
century a good deal OF liquor was paid
for out OF the contingent fund Of the sens
ate. and that this ~ the real Significance
of mysterious and oft-repeated item Of
SYRUP" which appears In the accounts.
When the new senate wing OF the capitOi
was finished, provision was made IN its
basement for the present restaurant ana
postofiice Later on, the library OF con-
gress absorbed the quarters Of the old
postoffce. incidentally taking In the Hole
IN the Wall But today the little. circular
room. which has had such an interesting
and refreshing history. remains as re-
minder 81 Legislative conyivinlittes long
past. Mr.. Spofrord the librarian, tore out
the circular counter or bar surrounding
the room. on which the liquors and edis
bles were placed, and now there II a series
of shelves. which have lost their usefuI.
ness since the books were moved out o.
the capitol.
After tho sIlsoiishment az the Hole In ths
Wall arrived the epoch Of the COMMITTEES
room sidcboard II came 10 br the fashion
20 offer something 20 drink IN COMMITTEES
rooms. and the most important qualih.
cation for the position of messenger N
charge was the aptitude In the compounds
Ing ot cocktails and juleps. senator Thur
man. famous for hls haDdana handksr-
chiefs. was very fond OF a good cofktetIs
and when he called for ''one nf fhpte
things" n nrrt-elass expert wsH always u
readiness 90 furnish u instantly. unfor.
tnn0tely. the ndob9ard system vas ahussd
by legislators who found It convenient 70
drop in and got free drinks whenever they
felt In need az such refreAhment, and thus
Il came about that The privileges wess
suspended ard tho committee room bar
tecame a thing Of he rast Al tie prcseat
time. II n senator wishes 20 dispense .
fluid hospitality. he produces private
demii john.
Until after the ciyli var n never &C.
Cured To anybody "a attempt 20 regulate
or suppress the sale ~ liquors ~ the cap.
itol. In April. iSS, however. Henry Wilsaa
introduced II resolution forbidding me
vending 81 alcoholic stimpiants ~ ans
kind Ia tho building. and in the debate
that followed he said that. u u we're pfA1.
ticabie he would be glad - prevent me
bringing of such beverages into the cspfiH
at oil. even ia the casual bottle Or deHe
john BY members ~ congress. Honee~aY
suggested that the restriction ought 70
exclude gentlemen who were themselves
receptacies for the stun. bot such prom
billion was obviously too difficult
II does not appear that Mr.. Wilson'S
measure accomplished fugeh IN the Way S'
results. II prevented outside CUSTOMERS
% the house and senate restaurant from
buying iiquOr on the premises hut wasfky
vas freely served 20 representatives ard
senators IN cups. under TIRE name ~ "easd
tea After awhile the regulation became
practically dead letter. and a. the pres.
ent time any body may Fet anything ~
wants 20 drink IN either % the big res-
tsUraBts ~ The capitol