The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-26
A Merry YOUNG MEMBER.
VERY RECENT, But GETS ON RE-
CEPTION TO HENRY.

Dfstrict - AnecdOte of J. Ham
Lewis Successor Congregational
Absenteeism Explained.
Washington. Jan. 5.-Representative
Lessler. who defeated the wealthy
Perry Belmont for Congress from the
Staten Island district, proposes 70
have hand in the official reception
Of Prince Henry of Germany For a
very youthful and exceedingly new
member OF the House, Mr.. Lessler is
in no way backward in asking for
what he believes to be his rights as a
national legislator. He went to the
White House few days ago and, aft
er paying his respects to the Presi-
dent, frankly asked to be included in
the official committee named to re-
cetve Prince Henry when he arrives in
New York. Mr.. LESSER says the Prince
VIII land in his Lessler's) congress
sional district and therefore he should
be member of the receiving party.
He discussed the proposition with so
much earnestness and urged that he
pc selected as the representative of
the large German element in his dis
trict with so much effect that the
PRESIDENT finally concluded to have
the Boy Statesman from Staten ISL
and made an official participant in
the ceremonies attending Prince Hen
rvs arrival in New York Mr.. Lessler
left the White House delighted with
having scored a winning with the
PRESIDENT In his first try at national
politics.
j. Ham" Lewis Successor.
Representative Cushnan. who comes
from the state of Washington, as the
successor of the well-known Ginger
whiskered statesman ]. Hamilton Lew
/ IS. is as 'undressy" as ]. Ham is
"dressy."
Mr. Cushman is equally as full of
tank as was Mr.. Lewis, but the for
mer is not as cultivated nor as refined
In MS manner of speaking or acting.
| However, he is as breezy as a North
western cyclone; and is a picturesque
inquire In the present Congress. He re-
Gently received am invitation to attend
the Presidents reception at the White
House. Mr.. Cushman consulted various
| well sustained authorities on the sub
Ject of proper form for dressing on
such occasions, and in addition to
swallow tailed coat, Mr. Cushman also
purchased silk hat to wear to the re-
ception. 1t was his first experience
with silk hat and he handled it a
| little awkwardly and it fell from his
hand in the great crush at the impro-
vlsed hat box in the Executive Man
| sion.
The next day Mr.. Cushman went to
the White House to see President
| Roosevelt, and in relating the tale of
his hat, said: "Mr. President, when
become President of the United
States | am going to have a big gilt
star placed in the floor of the big hall
down stairs, to mark the spot where
some dad-blasted dude put his feet on
the first and only silk hat ever pos
sesssed. When 1 recovered il, you
| cordeon."
Silk hats. at So per. are beyond the
| Cushman limit.
Representative Alexander of Buffalo
is indefatigable in his attentions to
visitors in Washington from his con-
gressional district He takes them TO
the White House, presents them to the
PRESIDENT, then does the guide act for
them in the various departments and
rounds them up at the Capitol, where
he does the honors in the reserved gall
| lery, and afterwards in the cafe A
few days ago he was sitting in the gal
lery with a delegation of sh$pmasters
and pilots, who were here attending
the annual convention. He was point
ing out the celebrities on the Republi-
can and Democratic Sides One of the
old sea dogs observed that there was a
slim attendance of members in their
seats. notwithstanding a great national
| question, care of the army in the Phil
| ippines, was under consideration.
| AbSenteeism Explained.
Mr.. Alexander was ready with an ex-
| cellent excuse for the absenteeism, and
/ his explanation, while it may not be
| original, has an element of news in it,
He went on to say that casual visitors
in the House galleries might be inn
pressed with the idea that the members
take no interest in the work of Con-
! gress because they do not remain IN
their seats during a long discussion on
pending measure. The real work Of
Congress is performed in the rooms of
the important committees, the major
ity of which are authorized to sit dur
| ing the sessions of the House The
Ways and Means is struggling daily
with the Cuban sugar problem and
other matters of national Importance,
so that it's members are seldom seen
on the floor after the opening prayer.
The Committee on Appropriations, the
Rivers and Harbors, Military AZ
fairs, Judiciary, Agriculture, Pen
sions, Postoffices and Post Roads and
all of the big committees, with sew
enteen members each. aggregating
nearly 200, are to be found daily in
their committee rooms preparing leg
islation for consideration by the House.
One day during the present week
there was no less than fifteen special
hearings going on before the several
committees of the House. Delega-
tions interested in sugar tobacco and
other products included in the taxable
list, are here day after day seeking
hearings before the Ways and Means
Committee. The same may be said
of those who are interested in rivers
and harbor improvements throughout
the country. The pensioners, the farm
ers, and all classes of men are daily
given an opportunity to make known
their wants to the various committees
entrusted with the duty of framing
legislation on these subjects. 1t is a
rare occurrence to find a quorum of
the members present in the House, ex-
cept when a vote on some important
question is to be taken or when the
debates take a personal or political
turn and there is a prospect for
trough house" scene.