The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1904-06-04
WASHINGTON LETTER


Especial Correspondence
There is much pleasure in Washing
ton over the action of the first srsa,oi
OF the Fifty-eighth congress on le-is
lation for the District of Columbia
Nearly every measure for the Distic
which 1t had really been hoped woal,
pass was enacted into law, ali eXcep
the request Of the per diem employees
who wanted thirty days leave Of ab
sence This congress did not see lit t.
grant. The commissioners, however
have 800 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 En-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 II
they were men engaged IN business In
which there was the fantest suspl-
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
senator's appearing on the floor of the
senate In the interest of legislation. II
was Senator Hale who spoke on the
subject. and he used emphatic lan-
guage. He said II was pleasure To
meet former colleagues and welcome
them to the senate when they came as
visitors. entered the chamber for the
purpose OF renewing acquaintances aud
made their visits social event But
when former senators appeared as at.
torncys for bills of a doubtful character
and used the privilege Of the door to
importune senators to vote aud work
for the measures he characterized their
acts as reprehensible and minated
very strongly that he would take steps
10 relieve senators from the dsngrcen-
bic company II the practice was not
stopped.
Senators who Never Come Back.
Some eX-sena tors, though frequently
in Washington and sometimes at the
capitol Oh business, never enter the
chamber. | think Thomas H. Carter
OF Montana and William t. Chandler
OF New Hampshire have never been on
the senate floor since March 1. 1901.
That was the day that Carter talked
. IA. ,.I "A
says that he has feeling against go
ing to the senate. But he expects TO
appear there again with a certificate OF
election emitting him to serve six years
from the 18th of March, 1908. | do not
believe that Carter and Chandler have
even been TO the capitol since their
terms expired.
Edmnnds Is Particular.
Former Senator Edmuuds OF Yer
mont has been seen on the door 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 committee of his
y
ment. He has been known to prepare n
written opinion upon some matters,
notably the ship subsidy bill. but he
has avoided congressional practice |
know OF one case relating To the ap-
pointment OF senator 10y n governor
where the legislature failed TO elect
when Edmunds is supposed to have
prepared brief which was signed
and submitted by u young western
lawyer. II was said that the language
was plainly that of Edmuuds and, fur
ther. that the young man who sub.
mittcd 1t could never have drafted
such a paper
Ex- Members In the House.
All cS-members who want to enjoy
the privileges of the door OF the house
must obtain cards of admission signed
by the speaker, 1t Is very seldom that
such cards are refused. although IL
sometimes happens that protest is
made To the speaker against some man
who makes lobbying a business and
becomes obnoxious To members. Some
times II protest Is uttered on the floor
OF the house against the presence OF an
ex-membcr. and | have known the per.
who was annoyed.
Others Not SO saucnmish.
The late Thomas Il Reed did not
think II beneath the dignity of n for
l.
or for siN years to be an attorney in
the matters pending In congress, On
more than one occasion he came 10
Washington for the express purpose of
representing clients interested IN lcgis
lation. lie did not 20 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
mittce room. John q. Carlisle. who
was speaker six years. member OF
the treasury, does not share the scruplcs
VI Edmunds. but IL retained in cases
before the department ana congress.
Quick shot
'The quickest shot | ever heard In
the way OF repartec.' said Congress.
man Rahcock of Wisconsin In group
OF men who were talking OF the now
famous Covkmn-palzcll bout in the
house, occurred when Rill Price, who
for several years was member OF the
house, was a state senator Ia the Wis.
consln legislature.
Price was devoted ProhihitioniSt
and always made one long speech each
session on his favortte theme urc
day IN the middle of one OF these
speeches he was interrupted 10y n Gee
man senator. brewer from up She