The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-01-18
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL
Gossip About Men In Public
Life at Washington.
GAINES AND MoRRELL IN A TILT.

How the Representatives From Ten-
nessec and Pennsylvania Amused
the House Senators Crane and
Knox at LunchcOn-Novel Exchange
Of Greetings Between the President
and Congressman Longworth.
Representatives John Wesley Gaines
Of Tennessee and Edward De V. Nor
rell Of Pennsylvania, both Beau Brum-
meis, provided fun for the house and
the people in the gallery the other day,
says the Washington correspondent of
the New York World
Mr.. Morrell wanted congress to grant
permission to the railway appliances
congress, which Is to meet ut Washing
ton in the spring, to use the unim-
proved grounds near the Washington
monument for exposition purposes.
II am surprised" said Mr.. Gaines,
running his fingers through his wavy
hair, that such a distinguished states
man, that such a soldier, whose fine
| figure and flaming epaulets, cooked hat
and clanking sword is always Il joy to
Philadelphia-nay, even an honor to
that state-can be found supporting Il
measure that will desecrate the noble
shaft raised in honor of the father Of
our country by permitting the placing
Of Il workshop within it's very shadow.
II this bill goes through. gentlemen.
there will be screaming whistles.
clanking bells. snorting engines and
greasy men all about the place."
Mr.. Morrell, who is Il militia briga-
der. arose slowly amid the laughter of
the house and galleries to reply.
"From my heart" he said. II thank
the gentleman from Tennessee for his
glowing description of me, Il descrip-
ton which will go down in history, but
which l have been too modest to utter.
''There is a bit of poetry which l
read in a newspaper. 1t goes like this:
John Wesley Gaines. John Wesley
Thou monumental pile of brains!
What wisdom that small head contains!
John Wesley Gaine John Wesley
Gaines!"
"Thc gentleman from Pennsylvania
has beer accused of having almost
everything but a monumental pile OF
brains,' Mr.. Gaines shouted, jumping
to his feet.
II said l read 1t in Il newspaper"
Mr.. Morrell replied. II don't always
believe everything I see in them, but
1 truthfully believe that in this In
stance the gentleman has been mis-
represented"
It was all over in a few minutes, but
house and galleries roared while it
lasted.
Senator w. Murray Crane and Send
tor Philander c. Knox, who generally
go to lunch together since their hun
cry experience waiting for the last Of
the presidents message while nearly
all the rest Of the senate enjoyed Il
satisfactory meal below, have at last
located a good corner Of the lunch
room, says the Washington Post.
On the first visit there they We're
content to regale themselves in the
public room. Thither they went again
the other day. entirely that
there is a place set apart for senators,
where the vulgar public may not ell
ter. AS 1t was getting along in the
afternoon the table linen was not of
the whitest nor the menu card as spot
less as it might have been. Still the
two new senators were making the
best of it when Il wise committee
clerk passed.
"Why. you can't cat here said he
to Senator Crane.
but, in heavens name, can't we eat
anywheve:" asked the Massachusetts
senator.
The two We're politely led to the in
ner room and were seated. They 10Y
feel that they are actually making
progress in learning the ways of the
senate.
Secretary Taft of the war depart
ment, who made Tom Reeds claim
that mo gentleman weighs more than
200 pounds fit his own case by chang
ing it to read, "No gentleman weighs
more than 800 pounds" pushed his
huge bulk, says the New York Worlds
Washington correspondent, through the
cabinet room door at the first cabinet
meeting AFTER the election just as the
president said, II feel so good about
the result I'd like to wheel somebody
around in Il wleelbarrow."
"Well," said Postmaster General
Wynne. "there's Taft"
A New England senator recently re-
ceived a peculiar request, a y the
Washington Post. 1t came in Il letter
saying that the writer has possession
Of an ancient Episcopal prayer book
that once belonged to the senator's
mother. The condition of the volume
was carefully described, including a
statement that one cover is missing,
The senator a told he could have
the volume if he cared to possess 1t,
but In return his correspondent asked
that he visit the agricultural expert