The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-19

gresham attended the session. Not
more than fifty members were present
They were nervous and irritated. A
statesman from South Carolina was
disturbing legislation. Every minute
he threatened to call attention to the
fact that there was no quorum. Once
officially disclosed, 1t would have shut
off all business and have forced an
adjournment. The bills were being
considered alphabetically-each mem
Der in his turn calling up bill. Soon
after entering the chamber the name
of the debonair statesman was heard.
He designated the veterans bill. AS
the clerk began to read it the South
Carolinian interrupted the proceedings
by asking for an explanation. He re-
ceiVed it. The meeting with the old
soldier was accurately described and
his story laid before the House. The
fact that the bill was on the calen-
dar showed that it had been duly con-
sidered by the Committee on Invalid
Pensions, and a reading of their re-
port would undoubtedly be entirely
satisfactory to the inquiry from the
Palmetto state. The clerk had read
only a few lines of the report when
the Carolinian expressed the gratifica-
ton and said that he would interpose
no further objection. When the House
came out of committee and the act
ing Speaker announced the passage
of the measure the members were
startled by a wild cry in the galleries.
There stood the old soldier, sobbing
his gratitude and swinging his hat.
He ran downstairs to embrace the
comrade who had championed his
cause and was much disappointed to
learn that he had escaped.
In striking contrast with this case
was one brought before the House I'M
der the administration of Benjamin
Harrison. The bill came UP in regu-
lar order after being reported from the
Committee of the Whole. The member
in charge of it was absent, and a deb
onair congressman served as the man
in the gap. The applicant, it was
claimed, had lost the use of both hands
in the war. The law allows claim
ants without hands pensions of 800 a
month. In this case the surgeons on
the battlefield were about to amputate
the hands, when an assistant declared
that he could save them. He did so,
but the hands were paralyzed and ut
terly useless. The representative open
ed fire by declaring that the veteran
ought not to be punished because he
submitted to a surgical experiment. AS
the case was represented he would
have been a great deal better off if am
could have been no question as to his
right to the specified pension. There
was warm discussion, but the House
passed the bill. An hour afterward,
while in the corridor, the congressman
was effusively greeted by natty gen
tleman, wearing silk hat. He was
dressed in the extreme of fashion, and
sported gorgeous four-in-hand with
a sparkling diamond. Between the fin
Of his XUQIl- OInUaH hand no f~fip o.
a lighted cigarette. He was the benefi
ciary of the congressman's efforts in
the House. Apparently he had little
difficulty in using his hands. At all
events he grasped his benefactor by
the hand, and was profuse in his pro-
fessions of gratitude. 4. The debonair
statesman bit mis- lips without express
ing his thoughts, and returned to his
seat. Grover Cleveland afterward told
him that he remembered the case very
we'll, as he had vetoed similar bill in
a previous Congress.
These incidents are simply glimpses
in the career of a debonair statesman.
He is like a country grindstone, al
ways at the service of any man who
wants an ak sharpened or an edge put
put on scythe. You find him in both
wings of the Capitol. AS a senator he
attracts far more attention, because his
noon and night. are the senatorial grind
stones in use. At the least display of
courtesy, and senator is always cour-
teous, the applicant presses his suit
with increased vigor. When his object
is gained, he repays the obligation by
sending to the senator squads in search
of similar favors. There is a heredi-
tary feature to some of these impor-
tunities. They seem to be governed by
the law of entail What at first was
give1 as a courtesy in after years is
claimed as a vested right. The whole
family regards the services of the SEN
ator as it's exclusive perquisite. An at
tractive young lady claims it because
her grandmother received it, and at
times it descends down to the fourth
generation. A woman who claims to
be a great grandniece of Thomas JEFF
ferson is now roaming the Capitol in
search of a debonair statesman. There
is no limit to the demand upon him,
but there is limit to the supply. 1t
comes near the end of his political ca
reer, when his sympathies are chilled
by the frosts of experience and his en-
ergy is undermined by advancing years.
Amos ]. Cummings.