The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-04
They Flock with Great ReguIaritx 70
the Capitol Restaurants and
Linger Long.
4 POPULAR LUNCHEON PLACE
GATHERED ABOUT THE TABLE. THE
MEMBERS SEEM QUITE
Many Are Very Abstemious. but the
Liquor Question Is Always a vexed
one-A Temperance Bill.
Correspondence of the Indianapolis Journal.

I'm May Tine GTlQirnn
Club once described Congress as being two
DEBATING societies which hold forth over
two unlicensed canteens. The definition is
In a measure highly appropriate. 1t might
be added. however. that for several hours
each day these two debating societies hold
session in these same unlicensed canteens:
for much legislation is launched with the
aid Of bowls of milk or something stronger.
Morning prayer is over. The House and
Senate calendars rustic in the hands of the
lawmakers. and the dishes clatter in the
two unlicensed canteens under the Iegis-
lative halls. Woe betide the new member
who chooses that time to bore the assembly
with his maiden speech on Why Govern
ment Clerks Should Have Longer Hours
There is a mighty pIeader inside numerous
frock coats which urges for thy stom-
ach's sake An immaculate New Yorker
starts the exodus. New Workers have the
luncheon habit bad. A hungry Missourian
follows TO support his failing strength I'M
Ill the dinner hour, which has somehow
got down into the tail of the day since he
came down to Washington. Jolly Sam
Powers is ever ready for a light collation.,
as they say UP in Massachusetts. and his
disappearance from the chamber is sug-
gestive.
The exodus becomes general, and finally
drags into its wake the new mans only
listener, a member who has reached a sort
OF sophomore stage. He finds the House
restaurant crowded TO its capacity. Even
the ladies dining room is full. and Rep
Iesentative Newlands. who refuse. to eat
anywhere else, is taking the last seat in
the members room" The congressional
s.eo-brf --110- 49, - 49, 49, - -
10 make believe he has just a moment for
d 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 chap
lain's opening prayer or the evening ad-
Journment. He fOrgets TO hustle back. be-
cause a willy old timer gets him inter-
ested in reciproc.cy for Cubs and a bottle
Of seltzer that's mixing up with something
else. When he does remember that his
country will go 10 the demnition bow-wows
If he Is not upstairs TO save it. he leaves
convinced that beet sugar can be best pro-
tected by free trade for Cuba, and wonders
what the ID the gentleman from Missis-
sippi meant by suggesting the abolition of
that convenient buffet in the Capitol.
NOT a MONEY-MAkING PLACE.
From II a. m. until the House adjourns
NAtlE - q GQAASNdnL SNAGdAA " III
employees and visitors pouring in and out
OF the House restaurant. Some twenty
one black walters rush back and forth I'M
der the watchful eye of Mr.. Coffin himself.
who, whether drinking how with a con-
gresham. or speaking a word to a pretty
woman, sees everything. He must just
coin money said a commercial visitor
one day. When an exclamation of this
r-F-H 49, NJ -ar - =; 49, - -
mark: Blu you ought TO see the off days.
the recesses and adjournment, and the
summer yacatiOn-and the pay ROLL Why,
there's the chef and his assistant, second
assistant, third assistant, fourth assistant,
s~cullion. two oytermen. dish washers. ex-
pert glass washers" His fingers give out
as he goes on 10 enumerate walters, bar
keepers. etc. 9TH whole check for that
room won't amount to Sc" and he indi-
Gates with a tragic sweep of the hand a
room filled with venerable members eating
bread and milk. AT the very entrance the
watchdog of the treasury is finishing a
bowl Of mush and milk. "Of course, we
make up for it in here where the congress-
men bring their guests, and then you know,
a member always spreads himself on a
constituent"
But the house ana senate restaurants
are losing money. AS a proof OF this
Messrs. Page and Coffin are agitating the
question of a government establishment.
They propose that the government shall
undertake the entire enterprise, retaining
them 10 manage it on a fair salary and
serving patrons at cost prices. The latter
stipulation would doubtless increase the
popularity OF these dining rooms TO an
- - u
necessitate a limitation of their privileges
20 members and their guests and employees.
There is also a public moral side to the
question. How can Uncle Sam assume the
role Of drink mixer for his legislators. He
will afford a new theme for the caricaturist
when he becomes a 'barkeep."
But how about the thirsty senator? There
has been much buttoning of frock coats
during the morning hour" In the COM
mittee rooms the tinkle OF telephone calls
has been continuous. Engagements TO
lunch with senators are as much sought as
tickets TO presidential receptions. The SEN
ate restaurant fills rapidly after o'clock.
Certain senators are favorites' ana a mem
Der Of the committee on rules, under which
the conduct OF the restaurant falls. can
nave anything he wants, though 1t take a
culinary miracle TO secure it.
AN IMPORTANT OCCASION.
Luncheon is a serious feature of the
legislative day. Senators make regular ap-
pointments with each other 10 discuss a
bit of inside politics or a party issue al
lunch. Members OF different political faiths.
who rant at each other within the Senate
chamber. bury their differences when the
restaurant is reached and fraternize over
pie and milk or Lynn Haven bays, as the
season warrants. Constituents are tickled
into fervent adherence by an invitation TO
take luncheon with their senator's They
go home and tell the folks about the big
men they saw and what they ate and how
'the senator knows EN- ALL"
II is interesting. We may not realize H.
bur, honestly. We nave some clever men IN
the north wing Of the Capitol one sees
them more nearly from an adjoining table
than from the galleries. and they seem
more themselves, often quite jolly and
human. And the things they eat!
A group OF senators were seated about
the long table in the senators room OK the