Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-05-11

Washington. May 3.-The Gridiron
Club once described Congress as being
two debating societies which hold
forth over two unlicensed canteens.
2 he definition is in a measure highly
appropriate. 1t might be added. how.
ever, that for several hours each day
these two debating societies hold SEES.
sion in these same unlicensed can.
teens; for much legislation is launch.
ed with the aid of bowls of milk or
something stronger.
Morning prayer is over. The House
end Senate calendars rustic in the
lands OF the lawmakers, and the
dishes clatter in the two unlicensed
canteens under the legislative halls.
Woe betide the new member who
bly, with his maiden speech on why
Government Clerks Should Have Lon.
ger Hours" There Is a mighty plead.
or inside numerous irock coats which
urges for thy stomach's sake An
immaculate New Yorker starts the
exodus. New Workers lave the lunch.
eCn habit bad. A hungry Missourian
follows to support his failing strength
until the dinner hour which has some.
how gotten down into the tail of the
day since he came down to Washing.
ton. jolly Sam" Powers Is ever rea.
dy for light collation. as they say up
in Massachusetts. and his disappear.
auce from the Chamber is suggestive.
| The exodus becomes general and
finally drags into Its wake the new
mans" only listener, a Member who
has reached sort of sophomore stage
He finds the House restaurant crowd.
cd to its. capacity. Even The ladies'
dining room Is full, and Representa-
tive Newlands, who refuses to eat any
where else, is taking the last seat in
the Members ROOM" The Congress.
sional soph sidles up to the buffet and
a moment for bite, while all the
time. deep down in his soul, he knows
that luncheon is just as much an
event of the day as the Chaplain's
opening prayer or the evening adjourn.
nent. He forgets to hustle back be.
cause a wiley "old inner" gets him in.
tccested in reciprocity Tor Cuba and
a bottle o. settler that's mixing up
with something else. When he does
remember that his country will go to
the demnition bow.wows II he is not
upstairs to save 1t, he leaves convinc.
cd that beet sugar can be best protect
ed by free trade for Cuba and wonders
what the ID the gentleman from
Mississippi meant ~ suggesting the
adjustment oil that convenient buffet
in the Capitol.
From II a. IN. until the House ad
jOurns there Is constant stream OF
Members, employees and visitors pour
irg in and out OF the House restaur'
ant. Some twenty.one black walters
rush back and forth under the watch
tul eye of Mr.. Coffin himself, who,
whether drinking how" with Con
gresham, 70 speaking a word to a
pretty woman, sees everything. He
must just coin money" said a com
mercial visitor one day. When an ex
c!dmation of this kind reaches Mr.
Coffin. he is wont TO remark: But yor
ought to see the off days, the recess9'
and the adjournments, and the sum
mer vacation-and the pay roll! Why
there's the chief and his assistant, sec
ond assistant, thiru assistant, fourth
assistant, scullion two oystermen
dishwashers, expert glass washers.
His fingers give out as he goes on t
enumerate walters, baTkeepers, etc.
etc. THE whole check for that room
won't amount to six dollars" and h.
indicates with tragic sweep Of tn
hand a room filed with venerable
Members eating bread and milk. A
tie very entrance, the Watchdog O
the Treasury is finishing bowl o
mush and milk. "Of course, we max
up for it in here where the Congress
>, Iaen bring their guests, and then, 20
= know, a Member always spreads hin
self on constituent"
, But the House and Senate restaul
ants are losing money. AS a proof @
this Messrs. Page and Coffin are ag
tating the question Of a Government
establishment, They propose that tn
- Government shall undertake the Who'll
". enterprise. retaining them to manag
Y it on a fair salary, and serving pa
rons at cost prices. The latter stipl
lation would doubtless increase tn
popularity of these dining rooms I
in undesirable extent, and woul