New-York tribune., 1902-01-12
PUBLIC MEN AND AFFAIRS.
DAVIS'S OIL HOW tom"
DUNN WAS POSTED.

DUNN WAS POSTED.
In the midwfnter holidays this city is always
| crowded with Washington statesmen. who take
! advantage OF the adjournment of Congress to
| pay New-York visit Many and diverse
| the excuses given as to their presence here at
| this time but seldom among those reasons is
! found the real one. When Congress stands ad-
! Journed Washington is unpleasant place for
! members OF the House and Senators to he in.
! Their constituents will not take no for an an
! swer, and the weary members and Senators
| have to make many visits to the various de-
! partments looking after Offices or attending to
! some Of the manifold business Of their States
! or districts. This work is essential 10 keeping
! their fences in that state of repair that will
render it difficult for others to break into their
political fields 1t is, however, tedious work, and
| when Congress is not in session there is no ex-
cuse Tor not giving full time to it, and for that
matter the constituents themselves are not
prone then to take denial.
This is the reason why holiday in Washing
! here
! The other evening at the Waldorf in one group
senators Clark of Montana; Ell1ins. of West Vir-
! ginia. and Spooner, of Wisconsin. were in busy
converse. On nearby lounge sat Stewart of Ne
! Nada, who is one of the most picturesque of
/ Senators. Near by was Bailey, of Texas, appar-
emily deeply engrossed in the study of ex-Gov-
ernor Hogg. of the Lone Star State, who occu-
pled an armchair across the corridor. Hogg. in
the guise OF plutocrat. is an interesting study.
] ana Such ne apparently is since he has become
, oil king. This phase of him it was that
| probably chained Baileys regard.
1t was IN the Waldorf shortly after its OPEN
| ing that a curious contretemps occurred. One
of the great suites on the Fifth-ave. and Thirty
| third-st. corner is named the royal suite and
to it are admitted none save the most dstin-
guished or the richest guests. the latter by pref
erenCe Here it that Ii Hung Chang was
! housed when in New-York, and many other IA
| nous persons have occupied the rooms. One
! day the bell in these apartments was rung for
! the waiter, and when he answered il a woman
| ordered a bottle OF champagne A short time
| later. and in response to her summons. another
! bottle OF the imprisoned sunshine OF France
was forthcoming. At this juncture however
one OF the clerks In the cashiers department
came across the wine checks, and, in endeavor-
! ing TO ascertain to whom they should be
| charged. made the surprising discovery that
| the royal suite was unoccupied at least in
Iar rs the Office was concerned. for the books
did not show any assigned to IL. The man
agement was consulted, but could not fathom
the mystery. Investigation followed. and, sure
enough as the waiter had reported, there
q woman in the royal suite and 1t turned out
10 be one OF the chambermaids. She had gone
n doffed her badge of office and summoned the
waiter. He took her order unhesitatingly. for
it was not for him TO inquire Why she did il
is still unexplained. although she said
thing about wanting TO know how II felt, as
they led her to the outer air
Apropos of the much discussed victory at
Santiago and the relative claims of Admirals
Sampson and Schley to the credit for destroying
Cerveras fleet. one public man in conversation
recently thus disposed OF both
Well drawled he. "all that | can see Is
that one wasn't there and the other tried TO get
away
West Virginia in common with the rest OF
the country. is enjoying a boom and her nat
rvu1 h.f,,
10 the full Just oil is the craze with the
West Virginians and everywhere the inhab-
tants drilling for petroleum There is one
exception 10 the West Virginia interest for oil.
however. and that exception is notable one.
IL being no less a well known man than ex-
Senator Henry c. Davis.
This is not the first oil excitement that has
occurred in West Virginia. and It Is because OF
one OF the previous ones that Senator Davis is
shy of oil. At the time OF former oil boom
a widow visited him and asked his advice. She
had tidy bit OF land. and was sure she had oil
it: at the same time. she wasn't grasping.
She feared II she went in partnership in it's de-
veopment she might become involved. and so
she would like 10 dispose OF the property at a
fair price. Would Senator Davis advise her
what to do? The Senator looked at her land: il
was a good piece of ground. and the spring
pointed out 20 him showed on its surface un-
mistakable evidences OF the presence of Oil |
That looks like the real thing madam" said
the Senator. You ought to develop IT,"
I'm afeard to- Senator" she replied. 1T
might make my fortune, but If shouldn't
strike it, it's ruined woman ia be. All 1
want is $4,000 and IL would cost me n lot to
put down a WE'LL.
The Senator hemmed and hawed and finally |
purchased the property. Then he sent an oil
expert to select a place to put down well. The
next day the expert reported.
There's oil there, sure enough. Senator" he |
said. but from the size of the well don't be- |
lieve il would pay 10 develop it, It's only five |
gallon concealed in the moss, he added.
Tales are frequently told OF the hardships en- !
dured at custom houses and pathetic stories |
are related Of persons who have been ratified !
by the inspectors as to be trapped into inCrm- |
mating admissions. "All who go before the |
customs inspectors do not get ratified but on |
the contrary at such times to have all
of their wits and apparently enough for
two with them" says an inspector Such n
one landed here a year two since. At Quar-
antne he got by the inspectors on the ground !
that he had nothing to declare. At the wharf |
it was different however. for there the baggage |
must be subjected to examination. and a rigor-
Gus one at that. This particular hero. nothing |
daunted gathered together his belongings |
which amounted to some seven trunks and three !
hand pieces and then got hold of inspector |
i've nothing to declare and nothing dutiable |
I am In haste to get to Boston. and would be |
greatly obliged If you would assist by MAX
ing as quick an examination of my trunks as
possible'-this In sweet voice and In gracious !
manner. The official eyed the mass Of baggage |
dubiously. Nothing dutable, EN-? he inquired !
Well, open that one. indicating the largest |
trunk in the pile. In a trice 1t stood open, and, |
alas and alack. in the top tray no less
than twelve pairs O brand new shoes their