Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-09
OSLY SOFT DRINKS ON SALE
Harsaftsr No Liquor May Be Sold in the
Capitol Building.
SENATE SURPRISES I'VE HOUSE
Upper Branch was Expected 20 KiIl
the Amendment, but Did Not Do
SO, a II Became
= Law.


Wrom a STAN C~Orrespondent)
WASHINGTON. March s.-(speciai.)-
During the first session OF the congress
which has iu5t closed Representative
n Of Indiana offered an amendment to
the immigration bill, which prohibited alb
solutely the sale Of whisky, wine. beer or
any other intoxicating liquor in the capitol
Of the United States. vefy much to the
establishment OF everyone, there was not
a dissenting vote wheE the motion to adopt
the amendment was put. The enactment
Of this clause upon a bill regulating immi-
grafton was looked upon as a huge joke,
which would be promptly stricken from
the measure when Il reached the senate. IL
was absolutely not germane TO the bill and
the point Of order II once raised would
have knocked II out quickly. But the one
membeF from the west who is generally
on the alert to prevent the passage Of any
bill detrimental to the interests Of the
liquor men allowed the opportunity to slip
by and neglected to- raise the point Of or
der. He, like his colleagues on the floor
of the house. laughed ever this good Joke
and confidently expressed the belief that
the senate would very promptly veto the
action Of the house and kill this particular
amendment.
For twenty years the senate has con-
1tNnAAy 8tAnM0AkM 81 .4tNNAARLn ~ 4NNAANO
members Of congress OF the rightNto drink
q bottle Of beer or q glass Of wine with
their meals. But the senate has grown
tired Of e~naetshg the roe OF censor upon
legislation OF this kind which affects the
house Of representatives. II the amend
ment had carried an appropriation It's fate
would have been promptly sealed In the
upper house Of congress, but as 4 simply
enacts into law what has long been a dead
letter rule, the senate decided to let the
house have it's way. and in consequences
the last glass Of liquor to be sold in the
capitol was that which was furnished to
q thirsty Congressman just before the res
taurant closed on Wednesday. From this
time on the visitor to the capitol who has
no congressional friends having charge Of
a committee room will be compelled to 90
outside to Queneh his thirst OF else be
satisfied with soft drinks"
But It need not be assumed that members
and senators themselves will go thirsty be-
cause Of the closing OF the capitol bar.
No liquor has been sold in the senate res
taurant for the past four years, but It Is
probable. that nearly as much has been
consumed In the senate wing OF the capitol
every day during the past four years aa
ever was drunk In the halcyon days when
whisky was served In cups and when the
waiter called to the man behind the coun-
ter for "cold tea" For some time past
now II has been the custom to supply each
committee roam with half a dozen bottles OF
hthia, appolinaris or white rick wsteT
every zforning. In those innocent-iookine
bookcases behind the glass doors. covered
with silk curtains, are always TO be found
bottles Of choice whisky. with the neces-
sary glasses, bitters. lemons, sugar and
other appliances for mixing toddies OF cock
tails. some, OF the senators have expert
bafkeepers for mesA6agsrs. One of the
mest notabIe committee rooms IN fhis' re-
spect is presided over by a senator from
one Of the prohibition states Of New Eng
land. and those who have. sampled the
product Of the Bifeboard declare that the
darkey who acts in the double capacity Of
messenger and mixer can beat the bar
keepers en- Mount Olympus in the concoc-
ton Of various brands Of nectar.
Thirty or Forty Bars.
Because Of the ease with which thirst
quenchers could be secured IN the house
restaurant. the committee rooms at that
and Of the capitol nave not been we'll sup
piled during the past few years, but The
keeper Of the restaurant will have no diff
nculty In disposing Of the stock Of liquor
on nauQ 10 members WEo nave
rooms Of their own. and In the future there
viii be thirty or forty bars in the house
wing where liquor can be obtained II one
has the password instead OF q general
public drinking place.
In this connection a funny story IL told
. Of : grave old southern senator last Tues.
day night. He had been up very late and
had touched the harp lightly" a fow times
and In consequences was somewhat sleepy
His clerk entered the committee room and
Was astonished at the question ~propoundet
10 him. who. your asked the slight,
beeosGod senator. why. Senator" wal
the reply, Il am John p. smith" That's
'markable coincidence. Ny secretary'i
nams's John P. smith,"
Senator Lodges Enunciatfon.
II was shortly before the noon hour OF
Wednesday. the closing day Of the Fifty.
seventh congress. when two stylishly.
dressed women and q gentleman accom-.
panying them rode down In the senate ele,
vator from the senate reserved gallery
The uuonaon haf fha nnunto4oIahln "A. -