The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-12-14
washington LETTER
X Especial to The Review X

|
greatest Republic on earth, has an
other distinctive characteristic which
is not quite so desirable, nor is it al
ways mentioned with the first; it is
that of being known as one vast board
| ing house. Everybody keeps sopen
house, here as it is called. This is
due mainly to the fact that the popu-
lation of Washingto ton is composed large
| ly of people such as Senators. Con-
gressmen, Clerks in Departments.
Secretaries to the different members
of Congress. and the families OF all
these, who are here for only a short
time each year, the length of their So
journ being governed by the length of
| the Congressional session. OF course
the majority of these people either
board or do light housekeeping.
Hence arises the opportunity which is
so eagerly seized by most of Washing
tons permanent residents to open their
| houses. rent their rooms and fill up
their dining tables with boarders
whose tastes and appetites are as vari-
GUS as the states from which they hail
The prospective boarder may travel
from early morn till late at night and
and fairly wear out his shoes in run
ming around, ringing door bells and in
lspecting rooms in his endeavor to find
a desirable place. Even the new Con-
gresham is not exempt, for he too,
must find suitable place to rest his
weary head.
The newly appointed representative
from the tenth district, Hon. j. P.
Conner, has been very fortunate in Sc
touring desirable quarters at the Ham
ilton House, one of the very best fam
lilly hotels in the northwestern portion
of the city, which is the locality where
the better class of Washington society
resides.
Congressman Conner enters upon his
new duties with energy and enthus-
iasm, and manifests a familiarity which
would do credit to an old time member
of the House. He is especially alert
i for anything that will benefit his con-
stitutents, and he had not been IN the
city twenty-four hours before he was
eagerly inquiring what government
positions were available as patronage
and what were the best methods to
procure such places. The people of
the Big Tenth are to be congrat-
lulated in having, such a careful, ener.
getic and able citizen to represent
4 them at the seat of government.
i Quite an amusing incident as we
look at it now, but which at the time
bid fair to assume serious proportions,
occurred in connection with Congress-
man Corners induction into office.
On the opening day of Congress. it is
customary to swear in any newly elect
ed members. the Speaker Of the House
administering the oath of office before
the Bar of the House. When the
Clerk OF the House read the creden-
tials of the two new members from
Iowa. Judge Walter l. Smith from the
ninth district and Judge James P. Con-
ner from the tenth. the credentials OF
Judge Conner recited the fact that he
had been elected to succeed Hon. j. P.
Dolliver, who had resigned to take eff
feet the first Monday in December, or
December 3, 1900, the day Congress re-
convened. Congressman Baily, a
democratic representative from Texas,
arose and objected to the credentials
OF Judge Conner on the ground that,
as the resignation of his predecessor
was only to take effect December 3,
and in view of the further fact that the
courts had many times decided that a
resignation to take effect at some
future date is really not resignation
at all, but merely notice of an intention
to resign, therefore, the election OF
Mr.. Conner to fill vacancy where the
, vacancy did not really exist at the
time OF his election, was practically
void. For moment the air looked
blue around the Iowa contingent, and
no doubt Mr.. Conner was wondering
whether it was to be Congressman
, Conner or Judge Conner.
The point was of sufficient weight tt
, receive the consideration of the speaker
, who requested Judge Conner to stel
aside while the others. whose crelen
tials had ''passed MUSTER" were duly
sworn in. When the House adjourned
for the day, there was a quiet, little
} conference held in the law library
, room, in which the Judge and some Of
the Iowa members joined in looking ur
the law on this question. In the mean
time. the second and more formal
credentials arrived from Governor
Shaw, and as these did not recite the
objectionable clause, it was decided tc
offer them as substitute the following
day. To this the astute Mr.. Bailey Of
Texas. who likes to show his power or
, | 4, Il ol,,o