, 1902-02-27
FROM WASHINGTON
GOSSIP AND NEWS FROM
THE CAPITAL.
Nine Veteran Members Of the
Senate-Record and Character
fStlcS Of Senator Bacon OF
Georgia Cloakroom Klcke;s.

'f'''' ~
There are nine members Of the Sen
ate who were born in the POS Of the
last century, and all except n OF
them have seen long service in that
great legislative body. Singular as it
may seem. the eldest of the nine
Senator Pettus-is just serving his first
term. All OF the nine are men OF ma
tional reputation and WELD powerful
influence, indeed. hey get most ev-
srything they ask at the hands of the
Senate. The immortal nine. as they
have been called. were born within
a few years OF each other. Senator
Pettus heads the list. He was born in
1921. and his colleague. Mr.. Morgan.
In 1924. Senators Hawley. Hoar. and
Bate first saw the light Of day in 1926;
Senators Plat (of Connecticut and
Stewart were ushered into the world
in 1927. and Senators Cullom and AL
lison came w years later-lS29. The
youngest Senator is Joseph Weldon
Bailey of Texas. He was born in 1863.
The Oldest member in the House Of
Representatives is Galusha A. Grow
Of Pennsylvania. He is In his 18th
year. and the youngest member is John
j. Feeley OF Illinois. having been born
in 1875.
A movement Is on foot to place Gen.
James Longstreet, the famous con-
federate commander. on the retired
list with a comfortable pension. Gen.
Longstreet is 81 years old and in fail
Ing health. He holds the position Of
commissioner OF railroads. which was
given him by President Mckinley. The
veteran served through the Mexican
and civil wars. and after Lees ur-
render Joined the Republican party.
which has generously taken good care
of him ever since. He has filled lucra-
tive Offices. such as surveyor of GUS
toms at New Orleans, supervisor Of in
ternal revenue. minister to Turkey,
postmaster al Gainesville. Ca. and
United States marshal for Georgia.
Democratic Senators have been dis
posed to object to his confirmation in
deserving the party to flock with the
Republicans. but it is not likely they
will oppose his being placed on the
retired army list.
United States senators are supplied
with bottled mineral waters at gov
eminent expense. Nearly every com
mittee room has something very like
a bar attachment. 1t is usually in one
corner, behind a screen, and next to
the washbowl. The bottles OF flzz-
water are supplied by colored messen-
gers who bring them in buckets Of ice
like champagne. The excuse for the
expense is the poor quality Of the Po-
tomac river water. After a rain it 10
dark-brown in color and Is impreg-
mated with soil. 1t is also claimed by
the doctors that 1t carries the bacteria
Of typhoid. Anyway, the senators get
the bottled goods; and when, as it
sometimes happens, there Is a little
private stock Of liquors In the cup
board, the combination is very conve-
Rient.
Every morning as regularly as the
sun comes up over the hills to the east
Senator Pettus energies from his resi-
dencs hear the capitol grounds with an
envelope full Of crumbs. He tramps
across r street, leaps the tall granite
curbing that skirts that portion Of the
government reservation, and looks owe
his steel-rimmed spectacles for the lit
tie squirrels placed in the grounds
some months ago. This ALBANIAN Of
the old school. ponderous Of movement,
who served as a lieutenant in the
Mexican war and afterwards rode with
. party Of his n%eighbors On horseback
to California, finds great delight in dis
tributing the crumbs to the squirrels
that rush around him. They are the
senator's friends and have no fear of
him. They cling to his outstretched
hand, climb around him familiarity as
he furnishes them a morning meal.
Mrs. Patterson. the wife OF the new