The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-05-05

Naitt just OH the hall OF the house, 7
which at that tine was in what is now r
StatlIary hallE AT 1his little lunch
counter. for il was nothing else, home
made pies, ginger bread and dough-
nuts 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 4
wing Of the capitol was completed. the
little lunch counter expanded into one
good sized room in the basement.
History Of the Establishment.
There were no tables. and it was the 4
custom for the members to send their !
messengers from the committee rooms /
to the restaurant and have the refresh /
ments carried to them. This plan was /
found TO be inadequate, and, finally,
about thirty years ago. additional ]
rooms were given, and the house res !
taurant expanded into its present size, /
consisting Of a large general room for !
members Of congress, a smaller room :
for members when accompanied by Ia [
dies a general ladies' and gentlemen's !
room for the public. and a long mar |
row room with a lunch counter and /
small tables. Underneath are the
ate side the restaurant facilities con-
sist of three rooms-one for the gem
eral public, the othe.. two for members
of congress. In these rooms the tables
ranged along the east side Of the han
are for the representatives and the
others for the senators. The senate
restaurant has been in the charge Of
one man, Mr.. Page, for the past seven /
teen years. He knows the likes and
dislikes Of every senator and nearly
every member OF the house Of represen-
tatives. He has been a host TO more
great men than any other individual
in the United States Every inaugura-
ton day he serves the initial lunch TO
the new. president. on these occasions,
the room used is that Of the commit
tee on military affairs. A few months
ago. Prince Henry took "a bite" at a
buffet lunch cOntrlved by the manager
Of the senate restaurant. On this &C
CasiOn the Meteor rose made its first
appearance in. Washington.
Anent the Liquor Question.
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 peCu-
liar condition Of affairs existing ia
Washington this law seems to have no
effect in its application to the capitol
building once spasm Of reform
seized congress. A resolution providing
that the sale Of liquor in the capitol
should cease was introduced, and
kind Of fever for gallery play took pos
session Of the house, and, to the hOr-
rOr Of the honorable members, the res
OlutiOn was adopted. They cOnEoled
themselves with the expectation that
the senate would defeat the resOlu-
ton, but the senate grew virtuous, and
again the yeas had IL. Attractive bot
ties Of wine and beer lined the shelves
Of the senate and house bunets. but
a tantalus thirst tOTmented congress
The second day Of the new regime
found senators and representatives
with noses tucked inside OF a sherry
I glass, but inhaling the soothing aroma
Of old rye, while their eyes watched
for the OminOus shadow of the ser
/ geant-at-arms or the capital police. The
( shadow Of the sergeant soon interrupt
l ed the imbibing Of all senator's That
officer las charge Of the enforcement
/ Of senate regulations in the east wing
/ of the capitol and is held in awe by
the "graybeards." But, under the floor
/ of the house there is a mysterious in
/ fuence which causes the capitol police
I men promenading through the lower
I corridors to reason thusly: The honor
/ able member Of the committee on pub
! lie buildings and grounds whom I see
| in loving conference with Mamie fay
/ lOr' is responsible for that rule 10 the
I effect that Mamie is forbidden the
/ premises Of government buildings. II
/ he's going TO encourage Miss Taylor IN
/ this way, 1 can't be held to account for
her.
Raid By Temperance Women.
Occasionally the W. c. T. U. swoops
down on the capitol, and then for an
I hour or so there IS a drouth in the
/ restaurants One special raid is re-
| membered with glee by the house.
Speaker Reed was not considered a
drinking man" his daily pOUatiOn be-
in gOnly about a pint. The visiting
temperance delegation found the
speaker in his private room, and his
reception of them indicated that he
was in the proper spirit of Indignation
: against the laW-breakers. 1T Is inn
possible, ladies. what you tell me that
they are selling liquor down stairs?
I shall have it stopped at once. 1t is
against the law" This with a resOund-
]
ger responded as II sent for by pneu-
matte pressure. and was almost gaivan-
lied by the order to go down imme-
diately and stop all liquor selling
Then the ladies were most prOfusely
thanked for calling the matter 90 Mr..
Reeds attention, and he graciOusly
promised to keep an eye on the affair
An hour later genial Tom Reed rolled
into the house restaurant. and several
thirsty members joined him in cele-
brating the end Of the hours dr0uth
There is no doubt that Speaker Hen
derSon viii follow the precedent set
. By Speaker Reed in this matter. as
well as in the enforcement Of other
rules of the house, should the w. c. T
L. call upon him.
There is another source from whicr
the dry ones get a periodical scare
This is the member who, at stated in
tervals. cries Wolf for an ulterioi
purpose. This unfortunate Iegislatoi
has a prohibition county in his con
stituenCy, and just before election hi
tlckles it under the chin with a bill
10 abolish the capitol gin shop. Blu
the face which he wears on these OCCa'
siOns is due to the fear that ne MAJ
b2 taken seriously by his colleagues
rather than any heartfelt disapprova
o. his own.
He has been heard from this session
/ He has introduced a bill which is nov
before the house committee on publi
, buildings and grounds. providing tina
hereafter it shall be unla wful for an,
2 person o.. persons to sell, dispense o
81 otherwise dispose Of intoxicating
, liquors Of any kind, or any compOun,
/ or preparation thereof, either in tn
capitol building in the District Of Co
{ lumbia. or upon any part Of the publ
3, . ground upon which said building
situate. Violation Of the proposed &C
r is to be deemed a misdemeanOr. an
S the criminal courts Of the District o
l. Z II IL .