The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-15
POLITICAL BEDFELLoWS.
SOME QUEER SWAPPING ABOUT
IN WASHINGTON.

Political OuNcasts-seAAAoE
Turned the Joke on Roosevelt
Cold Deal Given New Congress
men and Their Pet Schemes
Washington. Dec. 14.-In the rear
rangemenr OF the Senate committees
now in progress, Senator Dubois, the
free silver publican-Fu sionist from
Idaho. hobs I'd as member OF the
Democratic Steering Committee It
seems strange 10 see Senator Dubois
located in the middle OF the Demo
cratic reservation in view Of the con-
snicuous part he played in the Repun-
lean party when formerly member
OF the Senate. Prior 10 boiling from
the Republican convention in 1896, BE-
csuse free silver was rejected in the
party platform, he was one Of the rec
ognized leaders OF the Republican side
OF the Senate. He was q member OF
the Republican Steering Committee for
several years. and was regarded as
one Of the shrewdest and most capa-
bic political organizers Of the body
His return 20 the Senate resulted from
q fusion OF the free silver Republicans
with the Democrats in Idaho. and he
has cast his political fortune with the
Democratic party so long as he shall
remain in the Senate.
There vas q vacancy In the Steering
COMMITTEES. and although several vet
eran Democrats asDired to the place.
the young. aggressive and able tacti-
~
for the plsce. His familiarity with
the Republican methods viii doubtless
Be Of considerable political advantage
to the Democrats as the session pro-
greEses. His cordial reception into
the Democratic ranks Is in striking
contrast with the Indifference shown
10 the twO political outcssts. McLaurfn
OF South Carolina. by the Democrats.
and Senator Wellington Of Maryland,
by the Republicans. The former,
while claiming to be q Democrat. Is
excluded from Democratic caucus, and
Wellington receives similar ostracism
al the hands Of his Republican asso-
ciatss. Dubois by boldly allying him.
self with the Democrats. IS received
with high favor and good committee
assignments.
One on Roosevelt.
One Of the cloak-room stories told
IN connection with one Of President
Roossvelt's stag dinners 10 congress-
men Is 70 this effect:
II appears that. Intentionally OF other
wise. the guests invited to the dinner
included a dozen or more senators
who are noted for their long speeches
whenever they indulge in general de-
bate. During the dinner President
Roosevelt led the conversation on TO
congressional topics, and commented
freely upon the beauty and effective
ness OF short speeches and limited de-
bate. In the middle Of one of Presi-
dent Roosevelt's sharpest and most di-
rect pleas for short speeches he was
interrupted by the venerable Senator
Pettus Of Alabama, known in sena-
toriai circles as "Old Confucius," who
remarked in his droll way:
Mr.. President, I don't think you
set US long -winded fellows a very good
example in your first message to Con-
gress." Everyone at the table gather
ed the point, and for a few moments
the laugh was on the President. No
one at the table enjoyed this little
pleasantly more than the host, and
the subject Of snort speeches was drop
ped, to make way for some breezy
anecdotes by Senators Dolliver of Iowa
and Clay Of Georgia, NSecretary Long
and others.
To Trim the New Members.
Almost every new member Of Con-
gress has come to Washington with a
carefully drawn public building bill for
his Individual "deestrict" in his pock-
ct. OF course, all OF these measures
will be introduced and printed, but
most Of them will languish and die in
the room of the Committee on Public
Buildings and Grounds. Even IL they
he
committee, they are apt to be held up
in the House by the three legislative
highwaymen composing the Committee
on Rules. There appears to be an un-
Outstanding between the speaker, the
members of the Committee on Appro-
priations and the Committee Of Rules
10 discourage the passage Of public
building bills. Under the circumstances
there Is rough shedding ahead for the
new members with their pet bills.
Representative Sidney Mudd, OF
Maryland, has a good laugh now when
he relates his experience with his An
napolis public building bill, when he
first came to Congress. After many
weary days Of waiting he finally OBJ
tained recognition from the Speaker ia
call up his bill for consideration. II
called for an appropriation Of 800, 900
Mr.. Mudd, in a prepared speech, elo-
great commonwealth of Maryland
without a postoffice building. Hoping
TO make his appeal stronger, he added
that the building would also be used
as a custom house in conjunction with
the postofiice.
An evil disposed opponent of the bill
staggered Mr.. Mudd by inquiring:
What were the custom receipts al
Annapolis during the last fiscal year?'
That was the one question Mr.. Mudd
feared, and II rendered him speech
less for a moment. Quickly recovering
the use of his tongue, he timidly re-
piled:
''They were quite small, believe, but
there is every prospect of large in.
crease in the immediate futur."
rs it not a fact" continued his tor.
mentor, that there We're no custom
receipts at the Annapolis last vear?'
Mr.. Mudd reluctantly admitted that
such was the fact. and his public build.
ing bill was laughed to it's death After
several terms in the House he finally
passed his bill, but he never attempted
10 revive the customs house feature
again.
Cold Deal for New Members.
Veteran members Of Congress take
especial delight in trying to impress
newcomers in the halls Of Legislation
with the Importance Of making a mod
est start after they reach Washington
The wet claims the right to dictate
all of the important legislation, con-
troll all OF the federal patronage. and
enjoy all of the social courtesies fol
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