The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-04

scale. The House restaurant consisted of
a little hole in the wall" just of the
hall of the House, which at that time
was in what is now statuary hall. At
this little lunch counter, for it was moth
ing else, homemade pies, ginger bread
and %doughnuts, in the line of eatables, were
sold. and as beverages the members had
the choice of fresh milk, buttermilk or a
very good brand Of whisky, which was
dispensed from good old-fashioned black
bottles and in generous glasses. When
the south wing of the Capitol was com
pIeted the little lunch counter expanded
into one good-sized room in the base
ment.
There were no tables, and it was the GUS
tom for members to send their messengers
from the committee rooms to the restau-
rant and have the refreshments carried 10
them. This plan was found TO be made
quate. and finally, about thirty years ago,
additional rooms were given and the House
restaurant expanded into its present size,
consisting of a large general room for
members of Congress, a smaller room for
members when accompanied by ladies, a
general ladies' and gentlemen's room for
the public and a long narrow room with a
lunch counter ana sinai idDiCS. AOS
meath are the kitchens and storerooms. On
the Senate side the restaurant facilities
consist of three rooms-one for the general
public, the other two for members OF Con-
gress. In these rooms the tables ranged
along the east side of the hall are for the
representatives and the others for the SEN
ators. The Senate restaurant has been in
charge of one man. Mr.. Page. for the past
seventeen years. He knows the individual
tastes, likes and dislikes of every senator
and nearly every member of the House OF
Representatives He has been host 10 more
great men than any other individual in the
United States. Every inauguration day he
serves the initial lunch TO the new Pres
ident. On these occasions the room used is
hat of the committee on military affairs.
A few months ago Prince Henry took "a
bite at the buffet lunch contrived by the
manager Of the senate restaurant. On this
occasion the Meteor rose made its first ap-
pearauce in Washington.
The question of the sale of liquor in the
Capitol restaurant has been, a live one for
many years. OF course, there is no license
fee. The sale of liquor in government
buildings is prohibited by a general law,
but under the peculiar condition of affairs
existing in Washington this law seems to
have no effect in its application 10 the
CAPITOL building. Once a spasm Of reform
seized Congress. A resolution providing
that the sale of liquor in the Capitol should
cease was introduced. and a kind OF fever
for gallery play took possession of the
House. and, 10 the horror of the honorable
members. the resolution was adopted. They
consoled themselves with the expectation
,ha, the Senate would defeat the resolu-
- - the senate grew virtuous and
again the yeas had it. Attractive bottles
vvira and beer lined the shelves OF the
senate and House buTets, but a tantalus
thirst tormented Congress. The second
day of the new regime found senators ana
1a1rssentatives with noses tucked inside OF
sherry glass. but inhaling the soothing
roma of old rye. while their eyes watched
for the ominous shadow OF the sergeant
t-.rns or the Capitol police. The shadow
of the sergeant soon :diS"se- the I'M