The National tribune., 1903-02-19
Senator Depew's Laugh Makes Trouble

1t doesn't take much to lose a man
or woman prestige in this day and age.
Col. Theodore Bingham, Superintendent of
Public Buildings and Grounds of the Dis
trict of Columbia, is the last noted figure
to be officially scalped. Col. Bingham is
tall, soldierly fellow. whose full dress
uniform looks to have been designed for
him particularly, and who is a very Ches-
terrified of politeness and epitome of cour-
tesy. 1t is his duty, during the social sea-
son, to be forever at the Presidents side
and to introduce to him all the notables
who come along. On occasions of State
receptions and dinners, banquets, and the
like, Col. Bingham stands at the left of
the President and introduces Tom, Dick
and Harry and all their women relations
as they tread on each others 10000 or
more heels, in pushing, showing line past
the President and the Cabinet women,
vainly fancying that this, indeed, is So
ciety."
Col. Bingham, by virtue of this particu-
lar office, has many other functions to per-
form, some of them most unpleasant. If
people get disorderly at these affairs, he
is supposed to have them ordered taken
away, and if any man speaks Extensively
this officer finds it his duty to quietly ask
guests. The story runs that Col. Bling
hams transfer to another post is caused
by his obeying an order of the President
to tell Senator Depew not to laugh so
loud, as it disturbed his other guests! Col.
Bingham says this is not true, that he
asked for the change himself, but he does
not deny that he was obliged to ask Sena-
tor Depew to laugh less loudly, and that
the President was the man who ordered
him to do this. While Col Bingham
stoutly denies the story of his transfer,
and insists that he asked it himself, it is
not at all probable that any Army Officer
is going to voluntarily diminish his own
rank and cut down his own salary. As
Superintendent of Public Buildings and
Grounds, Col. Bingham bears the rank and
draws the pay of a full Colonel, while his
real rank and pay is that of q Major. and
by leaving Washington he goes back to
these.
The story goes that at recent State din
ner at the White House Senator Depew
the Red Parlor, while the President and
the ladies were in the Blue Parlor adj
joining. Senator Depew is said to have
been telling a story which was neither
new nor particularly racy, but he always
enjoys his own stories immensely. and
laughs uproariOusly at them. His laugh
ter was infectious, and the diplomats
laughed too, though not many of them
could understand word of English. and
that is the only language the junior Sena
tor from New York is master of, it is said.
The President was very much annoyed by
the racket in the Red Room, and sent Col
Bingham in to quell the disturbance. Col
Bingham knew the laugh, so went directly
to Senator Depew, and in low voice told
him that the noise disturbed the President.
Senator Depew flushed, nodded his head.
and Col. Bingham withdrew. 1t is now
said that Senator Depew went to the
President and told him that Col. Bingham
was officious and hurt his feelings in the
presence of the diplomats, and demanded
that the offending Colonel be sent away
and a new officer be brought here in his
stead. And the President ordered the
thing done, SO the story goes.
A Representative from Western State