The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-04-24

as graft but the latter term is not
pleasant to some OF the high minded
statesmen. who come to Washington
with extreme notions on this subject.
In this connection the following in
cident is related Of a member of the
House. who comes from a rural dis
trict in the Southwest. Upon his ar
rival in Washington TO attend his first
session of Congress, he was filled with
his personal Importance. and an inten-
ton to resent any attempt on the part
of CORPORATIONS to influence his vote.
While discussing the subject with some
personal friends. the evening of his
arrival, he said;
Il understand the railroad compa-
MES, the telegraph and express lines
are very generous to members of Con-
gress? Members are given free passes
over the railroads. and dead head
franks by the telegraph and express
COMPANIES. are they nOt?'
He was informed that in some in
stances the railroads and telegraph
were inclined to extend courtesies TO
members of Congress.
Well" said the new member. in
dignantly, they cannot bride me with
their dead head passes and franks. l
am here TO represent my people with
absolute freedom and independence,
and I could not fulfill my trust TO
them with free passes and dead head
franks in my pocket"
Having thus delivered himself. the
new member entered upon his congress
sional duties. A short time ago the
member in question realized that his
telegraph bill amounted to more than
he saved out of his stationery allow
ance, and the on-the-side deals he was
able to make for surplus documents
and garden seeds. and other perqui-
sites.
Meeting one of his friends to whom
he had made his original declaration TO
resist grating" he said:
Il understand it is the general prac-
tice here for members of the House to
receive telegraph franks. Where can
l get one of those little books?"
A veteran Sena tor, who has served
several terms in the upper branch of
various changes in the personnel of
Congress, was commenting upon the
the membership of that distinguished
body.
1.-THE Senate" he said, "a few years
ago, was more like an exclusive So
cial club, in some respects. than a great
branch of the public service. There
were little select circles of senators,
who found much enjoyment in each
OLllGTS SOClCAS dL the tlOSc VI lliG I'd
session of the Senate.
There was one interesting group.
known in Senatorial circles as The
Glass of Social Philosophy The wick
ed newspaper correspondents used 20
refer to the members as The Senatorial
Poker Club Some of the writer's told
of the large fortunes won and lost by
the senatorial poker players. The Class
IN Social Philosophy, to which l refer
was composed of eight or ten of the
wealthiest men in the Senate. At one
time seven of the party were men,
bers of the Republican Steering Com
mittee.
1T was the custom to meet at each
others houses certain evenings and af-
ter dining with the host of the occa-
sion, and his wife. The lady of the
house was always present at the din
ner. After dinner, however, the So
cial Philosophers retired to the library
where they played penny ante, with a
IS cents limit That was the standing
rule of the game, and il was never
departed from while the club existed.
I am aware that an impression some
times prevailed that larger sums of
money changed hands during these lit
tie social gatherings, but If a record
had been kept. it would have shown
! that the fluctuations were evenly di-
vided and the gains and losses trifiing"
The original Social Philosophers
lave, with few exceptions, left the
Senate. Some have died, others have
retired to private life, and the mem
bers of the Old Guard still in the serv-
ice, probably seek consolation outside
of the Senate Chamber. Poker play
ing is not a lost art among Senators,
but the Social Philosophers have dis
banded and formed new social alli-
ances.