Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1901-05-16
SPEAKER HENDERSON |! ]
MAKES FINE. HOST.
The iowa Congressman Sets a New
Record in Entertainment
Matters.
He IS a PEERLESS 1oAs1mAs1e'
Tho $4,000 Extra Pay Received for Pro
aiding Over the House Of Repre-
scntatives Spent ON
lsanquets.

Washington special: One Of the mos
charming men in the world at Dime,
table is Speaker Henderson OF tn,
national house of representatives. A:
toastmaster he has a wide reputn
ton, and he can preside at banque
with a grace that is the envy of every
body who knows him. Presumably he
knows full we'll that this is his stronf
point, and so it is quite likely tina;
when he gave an extended series
banquets last winter to members. of til.
house. he was consciously putting him,
self In a position where he would ap
pear to the best possible advantage.
Soon after congress convened, las
December, the speaker invited abou
twenty members to an elaborate cour
dinner one night at the Metropolita
club The rarest wines We're Furnished
In abundance, the most expensive
cigars. while the menu itself was tn,
best that the club chef could provide
that the spread did not cost less thar
$40 per plate, while he thought 1t NIGH
have been more.
After an interval of about a weel
another lot of members were taken, t.
q similar banquet at the same club, ant
SO the matter went on all winter unit
the speaker had wined and dined in tho
most expensive and luxurious fashion
every one of the $50 members of ths
house.
Presumably, the banquets were in.
tended as a gracious acknowledgement
of the compliment paid General Hen.
derson by his election to the Office o.
speaker; but whatever the motive they
We're a source of considerable expense
~
pense at about $4,500, and as the speak.
er always made it point to eat a full
share of the good things himself. there
is no way of telling how much more
these affairs cost him in the way ,oi
nightmares, headaches, premonitory
symptoms of govt, etc.
Lavish Entertainment.
1T was the most lavish entertain
ment ever provided by a speaker for
the members of the house." said q
western member of congress recently,
''and 1 am sure that Everybody Went
away feeling good and prepared t6 sa.
nicer things about Henderson thar
lever before. ~ NJ.
but how about the cost?'' was
asked. Didn't he pay pretty well fol
the good wilfaof his associates?" :
Well. yes was the reply, but
when you remember that this thing
that the $1,000 extra pay per year
which the speaker gets, almost covered
the outlay, 1t was not so very bad.
You know, of course that Henderson
will probably be speaker just as long
as the republicans are in control OF
the house. And should the republicans
lose control for a congress and then re-
gain It. Henderson would undoubtedly
again be chosen speaker. I think Il
was money well invested, but agree
with you in wondering how the speak
er managed to eat his share at each OF
the hanquets and still keep himself in
shape for business"
1t is said to be fact that the speak,
er paid for these elaborate spreads out
of his salary Of $4,000 a year. He is
comparatively poor man, and aside
from his income as congressman, he
has very little that is tangible and GER.
tain in the way of an income.