The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1904-05-24
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON
Notes and Happenings Compiled at the
Capital by Carl scofeld.
Especial correspondence.l

lat1On for the District of Columbia
/ Nearly every measure for the District
which 1t had really been hoped would
pass was enacted into law, all except
the request of the per diem employees
I who wanted thirty days leave of alb
sence. This congress did not see fit to
grant. The commissioners, however,
have 900 days of leave to proportion
out among these employees, and this
will give each about FIVE days off dur
Ing the year.
Cold shoulder For Ex-Members.
\ A noticeable feature Of the session
which has just passed into history
was that ex-senators did not appear
on the senate floor so frequently as Of
yore. In fact, the impression seemed
to prevail that these former senators
got the "cold shoulder" especially If
they were men engaged in business in
which there was the faintest suspi-
cion that they were using the influence
Of their former positions upon senators.
"A year or two ago something Of this
kind called forth declaration in the
senate against the practice of former
senators appearing on the floor Of the
senate in the interest of legislation. 1t
was Senator Hale who spoke on the
subject, and he used emphatic lam
guage. He said it was pleasure to
meet former colleagues and welcome
them to the senate when they came as
visitors, entered the chamber for the
4 purpose of renewing acquaintance and
made their visits social event. But
1 when former senators appeared as at
torneys for bills of doubtful character
and used the privilege of the floor to
importune senators to vote and work
for the measures he characterized their
acts as reprehensible and intimated
very strongly that he would take steps
to relieve senators from the disagreea-
BILE company if the practice was not
stopped.
Senators Who Never Come Back.
Some ex-senators, though frequently
in Washington and sometimes at the
capitol on business, never enter the
chamber. l think Thomas H. Carter
Of Montana and William e.. Chandler
of New Hampshire have never been on
the senate floor since March 4, 1901
That was the day that Carter talked
the river and harbor bill to death. He
says that he has feeling against GO
/ ing to the senate. But he expects to
appear there again with certificate Of
election emitting him to serve six years
from the 4th Of March, 1905. do not
believe that Carter and Chandler have
even been to the capitol since their
terms expired.
Edmunds Is Particular.
Former Senator Edmunds Of Yer
mont has been seen on the floor since
he resigned, but he has been particular
in the matter of law cases that would
take him to the senate and has refused
several big fees because he would have
to appear before a committee OF his
former colleagues and make an argu-
ment He has been known to prepare a
written opinion upon some matters,
notably the ship subsidy bill, but he
has avoided congressional practice. |
know of one case relating to the APP
pointment Of senator by governor
where the legislature failed to elect
when Edmunds is supposed to have
prepared a brief which was signed
and submitted by young western
lawyer. 1t was said that the language
was plainly that of Edmunds and, fur
ther, that the young man who sub
mitted it could never have drafted
such a papes.
E=-Members In the House.
All ex-members who want to enjoy
the privileges of the floor of the house
must obtain cards of admission signed
by the speaker. 1t is very seldom that
such cards are refused, although it
sometimes happens that a protest is
made to the speaker against some man
who makes lobbying a business and
becomes obnoxious to members. Some
times protest is uttered on the floor
of the house against the presence of an
ex-member, and have known the per-
son to be named by the representative
who was annoyed.
Others Not So squeamish.
The late Thomas B. Reed did not
think it beneath the dignity of a for
mer member of the house and a speak
er for six years to be an attorney i'll
the matters pending in congress. On
more than one occasion he came to
Washington for the express purpose Of
representing clients interested in legis-
lation. Re did not SO On the floor Of
the house to see men, but he saw them
in the ways and means committee
room and in the senate finance COM
mittee room. John G. Carlisle, who
was speaker six years, a member Of
the senate and four years secretary Of
the treasury, does not share the scruples
Of Edmunds, but is retained in cases
before the department and congress.
Quick shot.
4 "The quickest shot / ever heard in
the way OF repartee,n said Congress
man Babcock of Wisconsin in Il group
of men who We're talking of the now
famous CoclSran-Dalzell bout in the
house, occurred when Bill Price, who
| for several years was a member of the
house, was state senator in the Wis
consin legislature
Price was a devoted Prohibitionist
and Always made one long speech each
session on his favorite theme One
day In the middle of one of these