The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-31
CAPITOL CHAT.

M in A0A Gu III III
Presidents oom Saturday. He sought
senator Frye, and, after depositing the
electoral vote OF North Dakota, in
dulged in "reminiscences of the two
| presidential campaigns in which An
drew Jackson won. Although A. B.
Russell was then but a lad. his mem
DRY at eighty-three is keen. He has in
his minds y a vivid picture OF how
he voters looked those days in pass
ing to the polls.
He touched on his service years ago
as a feIlow-commissioner witt. Cad
wallader Golden Washburn, for many
terms a members of Congress from
wisconsin. major general Of volun-
teers, and likewise governor of the
Badger state. Then Senator Frye be-
came reminiscent. for Cadwallader
hailed for Senator Frye's old Congress
sional district. The North Dakota Wis
itor observed his own regard for the
ex-governor and ex-representative,
and mentioned the latter's gift of a
library 10 his home town of Liver
more, Me.
Yes" murmured Senator Frye, his
mind evidently going back to earlier
days.
They had a famous cradle in the
corner ot the old Washburn residence,
shown the day the library was dedi-
catsd," said RUSSELL.
Yes" said nate Frye again.
you know, I made a speech that day.
and I referred to that old Washburn
cradle as having rocked four COVER
nors of States. four United States rep
resentatives, three United States sen
ators, n major general, one captain
in the navy, and two foreign .minis-
ters."
There have been some unique Incl
dents in the bringing of electoral
votes to the President pro tempore.
The messenger from California came
with the ten votes Of that State sewed
into the lining of his coat, near tkS
inside pocket. He simply couldn't lose
h votes unless he fost his coat. Sew
eral gentlemen entered in a delegation
with the messenger from Vermons.
Mr.. John F. Murphy, the clerk, who
keeps a record of votes received, ask
ed for the usual credentials, which is
a paper signed by all the other cleo
tors. designating the name of the mes
senger.
II haven't any credentials retort-
ed the Vermonter, but we electors
are all here" and out stepped his
three colleagues in proof Of his words.
Indiana sent her fifteen electoral
votes by a double messenger service.
A. K. Stills. of Monticello. and J.. y.
Oliver, of South Bend. conveyed the
important records. Nearly all the
others wanted the Office" said Stills.
but it was too important to fight
over. SO oliver and I Joined forces
and ecure a majority, and here we
are"
Capt. john A. Travis, ore of the
veterans who guard the gallery doors
and hold their places for life, enjoys
a distinction belonging to mo- one else
on that roll. Every January he re
ceives an annual pass over A certain
big railroad, where he car ride as
often as he chooses
When the final day of debare on che
Wilson tariff bill came, in the Fifty
third Congress, the pressure for seats
in the galleries was great. There was
not a foot of available standing room
gu VIC a WIZ
eager to get inside. 1t was an'fmpos-
sibilitv. But he showed both by his
manner and by his words his serious
disappointment.
In those days the privilege of the
floor was less strictly guarded than
now, and Travis. led his man to the
flood below and passed him in behind
the brass railing.
The stranger returned after the de-
bate. expressing much gratitude and
holding out a roll of bills. ct cannot
accept money" replied Travis, for
any service here, further than what
the government pays me-" and the
stranger, who proved to be a railroad
official of prominence, disappeared.
But every year the annual pass over
the railroad comes to hand, to prove
the officials appreciation.
| Representatives Litt1efield and
Bourke Cochran, h Tammany ora
tors, are striking up a warm friend
ship. Both are keenly interested in
legal topics, for both are leading law
yers in the House. Political differ
| ences cut little figure betwean them.
| They walk and talk together by the
| hour.
Both are fast pedestrians. Mr..
| Cochran has developed into an expert
in dress. In fact, ne is easily the best
dressed man of the House. Mr.. Lit
tlefie1d has no aspirations in that di-
| rection, although his attire generally
becomes the man. But when these
two start put from the capitol, of an
afternoon, each arrayed in his long
and high, and make a hot pace up
Pennsylvania n they are an i'm
posing pair. All the other Congress
sional strollers up that pleasant thor
oughfare are quickly left behind,
seeming, in comparison, like common
"pikers."
Ex-GOy. Powers was conducting q
L D1-~4 YKY;Ir1r