The National tribune., 1903-01-22

picturesque speaker, ia always interest
ing, but impresses one as being rather
lazy about it. If he really aspires to lead
ership he has got to do something more
than be an entertaining debater. 1t will
be difficult to follow Mr., Richardson, for
he is willy as n fox, and can take ad-
vantage of the smallest quips and quirks
of the Rules of the House, which he
seems to have at his tongues end.
They tell story of Tom Reed that n
young Smart Alec GANG, to Congress. thor
oughly imbued with his own Importance.
BY chance, lie was To- friend of n very
warm friend of the big Speaker, and so
had the advantage of pe2ming to his tutel-
age well recommended and it was the
intention of Mr.. Reed2tO be kind to him.
Very early in the session, the Smart Alec
approached the Speaker and asked him
what particular thing he should take up.
81 want to distinguish myself some way,
and think that it would be we'll to take
up some particular subject and thorough
ly familiarize myself with it so that l will
become an authority" remarked the fell
low, who was really rather bright.
Mr.. Reed studied a moment, and then
said kindly, "Well, there are the Rules
of the House. You might find study of
u q
Congress- The Smart Alec very POM
pously replied that he had read the Rules
very carefully and thoroughly understood
them. at is quite unnecessary to spend
any more time on them," he said. Speak
or Reed looked down on the fellow rather
quizzically, and then said in his most sar-
castle drawl, II doubt if l can be OF any
assistance to you. l have been studying
the Rules of the House and of parliament
60
not mastered them yet You are too swift
for me-" And the Smart Alec lost his
best friend then and there. 1t takes years
of study and close application to the bus
mess of the House to enable member to
master all the intricacies of the Rules,
and the novice is easily tripped up.
How does this strike those who are
straining their consciei.ces in an effort to
Irvine the Blue and Gray. The Turner
Ashby Chapter, Daughters of the Con-
federacy-by the way, '"Purner Ashby"
has n familiar sound-has offered prize
to tile pupils of the public school of Har-
risonburg, Va, for the best essay upon
.'The Southern COnfederacy, its war, or
heroes, to be delivered on Memorial Day"
The schools of Virginia are now repu-
dating the histories of the United States.
which the authors corrected as to war of
the rebellion facts, on the action of Gen.
II. V. Boynton, who fired them out of the
curriculum of the District of Columbia
schools until they were made to CORE
spond with data in the War Depart
ment. They fairly tumbled over them
selves in their haste to make these correc-
tons, and the old plates were destroyed.
Now the South will have nothing to do
with these corrected. histories, and is call
inC on its historical writer's to prepare an
unbiased" history of the United States,
in which the Southern Confederacy will
receive proper recognition and its heroes
be haloe1 in proper fashion.
Mr.. Cannon, candidate for Speaker of
the 5Sth Congress, chews gum! He does
indeed! He chews it like q house afre.
His jaws work over time, but his pleasure
is not in the gum Itself, so much as in
the Sweetness" and as soon as the SUI
gar in it is gone, he attacks fresh stick,
and throws the otheF, :swad" away. He
likes candy, too. Gen, Grosvenor, of Ohio,
is also fond of candy, nAnd he likes the old
fashioned mint stick feHe sits and nib
bles at II just as he used to when kid,
and very courteouslyt Offers some to any
of his colleagues who happen along when
he is iDdulging. 1t is very SELDOM that
any Of them refuse the sweet, either.
y TT B.
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson is max
ing the fight Of his hfG against the con-
soldiation of the Division of Statistics
with the Weather Bsresu Of his Depart
ment, which would mean the adjustment
of whole lot of Offices. h cut in expenses
ard not SO much duplication of work.
True. tho Secretary Sdys that the work
is not duplicated, and THAT the work of
the Weather Bureau is meteorological, and
that of the Division of Statistics is
"purely statistical" He tells in IL close
Imprinted pages Of report to Congress,
why It will be very bad Judgment to take
away the. Offices of some of his employees,
and then asks Congress to make Bureau
of the Division of Statistics, with three
additional ,highly-trained statistical ex-
perts, who shall be paid $1,000 per an
mum. Congress will probably do it, too.
A Joint Resolution of considerable i'm
portance is one that requests State au-
thorities to cooperate with the Census Of
fee in securing a reform system of birth
and death registration. It will pass, and
is measure that should receive prompt
and earnest attention by State authorities.
Mr.. Russell Tex) would make it
felony for any officer of any National bank
or banking institution to receive any de-
post of money or other valuable proper
ty after such officer has knowledge that
such bank is insolvent or in failing cir
cumstances. ~
Mr.. Connell Pa.), has a soft side for
Army Chaplains. He wants law to rec
ognize and promote the efficiency Of Army
Chaplains who have served not less than
10 years and who have been commended
as worthy of special distinction for ex-
ceptional efficiency by Regimental or Post
and Department Commanders. Such as
these he would have the President, with
the consent Of the Senate, promote to the
rank, pay and allowances of Major, the
number in the Army never to exceed Is,
the remaining Chaplains to have the rank,
pay, and allowances of Captain of the
staff.
Mr.. Wilcox, the dusky-skinned Dele
gate from Hawaii, who has but 40 more
days to serve, has introduced a very COM
prehensive amendment to the election
laws Of the Territory of Hawaii. 1t is
IA pages long.
Secretary Root has forwarded to the
Senate Military Committee memoran-
dunn prepared by Quartermaster-Genera
LudingtOn in regard to the bill introduced
by Senator Foraker to provide for the ap-
propriate marking of the graves of sol
diers Of the Confederate army and navy,
and directing the Secretary of War to as
certain the localities and condition of the
graves of such soldiers who died in Fed
eraI prisons and military hospitals in the
North during the civil whr, ard who were
buried near the place. Sf confinement.
Con Tudipyton cove thot 20 10 Cop-