The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-19
CAPITOL NOTES AND GOSSIP.

4 Novel and n Fine--RepresentatiY
Hepburn of Iowa is a voracious reader
He pores over everything that comes in
his way in the shape of a book, but his
appetite is particularly keen on history
and things with a historical turn to them
Recently it cost him s. to read one OF
the late romantic novels and he admits
that to him the excitement was worth the
price. II happened last summer when a
Grand Army reunion was being held in
! Clorinda. Representative Hepburn's home
town
Being a busy man during the day the
member from Iowa is forced to do most CT
his reading at night. 1t is usually done
in bed. and as a rule the vigil over the
book continues until long past midnight.
About the middle of June the Grand
Army was to begin its encampment, and
several of the leading old soldiers called
upon Mr.. Hepburn to participate in the
early morning ceremonies OF pitching
camp Mr. Hepburn accepted with pleas
ure. but blanched a little when he was
told his presence would be required at
a. m.
The night before found him deep in the
wonders and adventures of a Hugh
Wynne," Richard Carvel, " Janice Mere
dith." or other character of that ilk- TIE
tale was most enhancing and exciting, and
Mr. Hepburn took the book to bed with
him Midnight and still the hero was in
imminent peril of his life from which
he must be eXtrieated. Four O'Clock came
with the chase through the pages Sill hot.
and finally with the dawn the reader found
himself at happiness and fms" He
closed the book and turned over for forty
winks before he should get up TO meet
| the Grand Army men and greet them over
their camp kettles. When he awoke the sun
was high in II heavens and the tramp Of
the parading veterans was to be heard in
/ the street. OF course Representative Hep
burn made an acceptable and appropri-
ate apology to his comrades, and they eX-
c-lsed hin, with paltry fine of s..
The Committee on POstonces.-
There is not quite the excitement now
connected with a membership on the
Committee on Postoffices and Post Roads
that there used to be-" said Representa-
/ tive Loud, Chairman of the Postofice and
Post Roads Committee. When I first
| began to serve on it it was as much as
my life W. worth to venture even nay
/ nose outside the committee into the hall
The moment I stepped out. was sure to
be seized by a half dozen people with
ready tales to pour into my ears The
experience was exhilarating, but became
tedious after a dozen or so years
Since Cleveland's last Administration
things have been somewhat different. The
lobby on subjects connected with the
PO5toffiCe Department has been less Wig
orous because OF a law passed at the
/ instance of the Postmaster General serv-
/ ing then, that no person in the employ
OF the Postoff1ce Department should form
part of a lobby engaged il influencing
/ legislation on subjects relating TO the
! postal service. That really gave us some
relief, for regular and systematized
lobby had been supported at the Capitol
/ by every branch of the postal service
| That was all swept away and now we
have only an individual protest or re-
quest every now and then There is
some evidence OF a lobby in the interest
| OF fourth class postmasters, but that is
not much in evidence. We have man
aged 10 get our codihcation bill through
its first stages without having orr lives
made burden. When it comes to the
| appropriation bill 1 may have another
! tale to tell"