Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-11
copyrighted. 1900. by Amos ]. Cum
IninrSl

mings.)
Washington, D. c., Mar. 6.-The
House has at last opened it's night
school for Congressman. Arlstophancs
would have not termed 1t a thinkers
school, and Socrates would have agreed
with him. Alcibiades might have called
it gabbling school. The Hon. w.
Jasper Talbert, of South Carolina, has
taken charge of it for the session. lie
favors Il compulsory system of educa-
ton. The qualifications for admission
are not astrinsent. although United
States Senators are debarred. MIR.
Talgert's eQuanimity, however. has
been temporarily upset by an unruly
scholar. FTe come from Iowa, and his
name Is William =. Hepburn.
Night school have been held under the
Reed and other rules for many years.
They occur once a week, Friday nights
being set apart for them. These are
what are called pension nights. The
School hours are from S p. m, to 10 30
y. m, with no general recerScs. The
two and a. half hours are allotted by
the House for the consideration OF
bills reported from the committee on
Invalid Pensions They also occas-
ionally take in measures for the re-
/.
Talbert has been q close student of
these schools ever since he first enter
ed Congress. He has no affection for
dcserterS, bounty-jumperS, and coffee
coolers. In previous Congresses he has
distinguished himself by bitter opposi-
ton to all their demands. In many
cases he was successful, but occasional
~ Il deSertcr slipped through the lines
despite his efforts. He made no OPP
position to bills he considered meritor
ious, and preferred the claims of
private soldiers to those or the field and
staff. In the last Congress he fire.
quently crossed blades with George w.
Ray who as chairman of the committee
on Invalid Pensions, had charge
such bills. In the present Congress his
saber will be upliftcd against the clay
more of the Hon. Cyrus y. Sulloway of
New Hampshire, who succeeds Mr..
Ray.
A FIGHTING PROFESSOR
Talbert is n wonderful fighter. He
uses his sword panfuly, and there is
no trickery about him. a vertable
Uotspur in discussion, he talks nuenty.
and at times with great energy. No
man questions the sincerity of his con-
victions. Every fibre of his body at
tests it. He roars like Il lion when
thoroughly aroused, and pounds his
desk like a trphammer. He has no
House. 1t is always willing to listen
to what he says. y word in return has
similar effect to Il spark thrown into
Eunpowder. Ii forces Il volcanic erup
ton. EXpletive sentences flow from him
like molten lava and usually some
ncophytc is caught in the fiery stream.
AT times. however, there are indignant
protests. In the Fifty-fourth Con-
gresS the lava inundated the feet of
VIM. u. Barrett, OF Massachusetts. AS
the smell of burning leather began to
perVade the chamber, Barrett showed
his apprehension. He moved a. resolu-
ton OF censure. 1t led to a short but
acrid debate. The Carolnian at last
made an extremely graceful apology,
and the man with the burnt feet oiled
his blisters and retired
The first night school for the present
session was held on February 2, with
246 scholars Of tho 354 absent Prof
Talbert was present, Wrangler ]. +.
Lacey, Speaker uro tenn, called the
school to order. The rule under which
1t was opened was read, when the mon
ftor from South Carolina seized q hick
Org CAD, and made himself manifest.
He asked for ten minutes in which to
address the pupils. Mr.. Lacey politely
replied that he should recognize the
chairman OF the Committee on Invalid
pensions, Mr.. Sulloway. Cyrus arose on
the Republican side OF the House like
ccdar IN n StuDDie Held,and gave way
TO Prof. Talbert. The South Carolinian
read n newspaper extract saying that
the Grand Army of the Republic want
edldOrder 164 re-establishcd in the Pen
slpn Bureau. No 164 was in operation
only three years ago but the newspaper
stated that in that time it fastened
$50, 900, 900 every year upon the govern
ment. II re-estabished, the pension
appropriation would be increased from
$50, 900, 900 to s75,000,0 600 n year. Tutor
Talbert then read an extract from the
Philadelphia Press, edited, he said, by