Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-01-12
Other States Interested in Effort Being
Made by Nebraska Members.
WRGlNIAN REMEMBERS CORRESPONDENTS
'ecuIiarIties of Eating which Are
ervabIe in Capital RestnuraDts
Pie staple Article
of Diet.
tFrom a Stan Correspondent)


formulating 1t is tacitly agreed that no
general bill looking to the leasing of the
unoccupied public domain can pass con-
gress. and consequently legislators have
been racking their brains to hit upon some
measure that will give the big cattle grow
ers grazing area and at the same time safe
guard the interests of the government.
While legislators differ as to the terms Of
the measure, which is designed ~ amend
existing public land laws insofar as leasing
is concerned, there Is not one who does not
recognize the need and the Importance OF
some such bill, in view of the millions
which the growers of cattle have invested.
The homesteader has rights which the gov
ernment is bound to protect, and it is this
protection that is worrying legislators.
Cheap beef is as essential as cheap coal,
and in order to bring the price of beef
down TO the pockets Of the worhngman,
who stands in most need of this necessity,
1t has been argued that a conservative
leasing bill would be OF incalculable benefit,
not only to the government, but to the
cattle growers as well, in that 1t would
insure them rights OF entry on the public
lands of the nation which are now denied
them.
Nebraska has been one of the states most
vitality affected by the laws relating to the
public lands. II has been the seat OF
most pronounced war against cattle own
ers, and it is now in the public eye to
larger degree than any of the other west
ern states by reason of the recent efforts
put forth by the Interior department in en-
forcing existing regulations. One Of the
men who is most vitality interested in this
legislation is Major John F. Lacey, chair
man of the house committee on public
lands, who expresses tfe hope that some
measure will be evolved that will have the
support of congress yhich, while protect
ing homesteaders, will at the same time
permit the leasing OF Nebraska lands under
proper regulations.
Remembers the Press Gang.
For the past eighteen years the men who
are entitled to admission to the press gal
lery of the house have annually expert
enced the Joy which seizes the country
editor when the first basket of strawberries
are placed upon his desk by an appreci-
ative subscriber. Eighteen years ago Harry
Libbey of Virginia represented the Norfolk
district in congress. He was a popular
man and an enthusiastic believer in the
superiority of the oysters grown in Lynn
Haven bay at the mouth OF the Potomac.
Mr.. Libbey sent to his home and secured q
few gallons of these famous oysters, which
were served in the press gallery to all who
cared for them. Since that time he has
annually repeated the process, but now in
stead of two or three gallons he sends
whole barrel. The oysters for 1903 were
"shucked" on Wednesday last in Norfolk
and they reached Washington on Thursday
morning. For the hour between l and
o'clock on the same afternoon not news
paper writer was to be found in any of the
corridors or the committee rooms which
they usually haunt at that time Of day.
More than $50 men were busily engaged In
disposing Of raw oysters in the press rooms
in the rear Of the gallery.
Not one man in twenty among those who
participated in the oyster orRie ever saw
Harry Libbey. but each was willing 60
swear that he is a keen Judge of the quail
ties OF an oyster and that he had picked
out about as fine a lot as ever grew in the
shallow waters OF the bays OF the lower
Potomac.
There are other gatherings of this kind
constantly occurring in the restaurants Of
the house and the senate. About once a
year Senator Mitchell of Oregon sends to
these restaurants a large box of Columbia
etors of the lunch rooms find very little
business for their cooks other than the
preparation of these superb fish Then, too,
some of the southern senators and members
have lately been engaged in educating the
taste of their colleagues up to "'possum
and sweet taters." A score or more of these
peculiar southern animals which delight
the heart OF the darkies way down on the
old plantation" have been served this win
ter and as a result "'possum" is found on
the bill OF fare whenever the restaurants
can .ocure a supply in the markets.
Another popularity of congressional
luncheons is the wonderful popularity of
spare ribs this winter. 1t is a daily spec
tace to tInd ten or a dozen senator's and
members gnawlng the rib bones of a small
poTkeT, and while the southern men are
most partial TO all kinds of pig meat" :"
the appetizing aroma of spare ribs has
spread through the dining rooms to such an
extent that members from north, east and
west are almost as enthusiastic over the
dish as those from Missouri, South Caro-
lima and Texas.
Hatch Mutton Man.
The late Congressman Hatch OF Missouri
was probably responsible for the cOnsump-
tion of more mutton than any other man
who ever sat in congress Mr.. Hatch was
farmer and he prided himself upon his
flock OF Southdown sheep. You fellows
don't know what mutton is" he would say
to a group OF congressional friends "YVu
seem TO think that all sheep meat is NUT
ton. Now, the real thing is a 5-year- old
wether killed properly and hung up for
al least two weeks before being eaten"
And then Mr.. Hatch sent to his home
farm and secured two whole carcasses. He
gave a mutton dinner. There were mutton
chops, mutton broth, roast shoulder and
roast saddle Of mutton. served with currant
jelly and boiled legs of mutton with caper
sauce. In fact, there was a mutton din
ner complete. Every member who sat at
that feast admitted that he had learned
more about the flavor OF sheep properly
butchered and served than he ever knew
before. Since that day a few old timers
eat mutton at least once a week and the
meat has to he especially obtained for
them.
But after all the staple dish OF the Amer
lean congressman at noon seems to be pie.
Apparently it makes little difference what
the component parts OF that pie may be
so long as II is Just pie. "Bring me
/ piece OF pumpkin pie" member
will say TO a waiter. Sorry, sir. %
will come the response, but the pumpkin
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