The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-26
GRAFTERS
ON THE
STATESMEN


[ lnGItdNllRly ulllAAllN w bhlHubh " FN'N'
or Representative from his seat to the
corridor, while sessions in the respective
chambers are on, by the simple process oil
sending in card to him by doorkeeper'
For some years the legislators have been
gradually curling up against this sort OF
thing.
Scores OF them now refuse to respond to
the summons of the card carried 10 them
by the doorlieepers Not few have even
forbidden the doorkeepers to carry the
cards of corridor visitors TO their seats.
Those who decline TO receive cards at AL
while in their seat are willing to take the
chance Of offending really influential CON
stituents and home friends for the Sc
ourity from grafters. bores and cranks
which they thus obtain.
The noisy levees in the corridors on the
Republican and Democratic sides of tho
two chambers are nearly things OF the
past. although just at this time, the legisla =
tors are obliged to let down little In their
opposition TO the card sending business,
owing TO the fact that Washington is filing
up with visitors from all over the country,
hero to take in the Inauguration pageantry,
and these visitors include many persons
who cannot be 4lighted with IMMUNITY
even by Senator's and representatives
who in ordinary times decline 70 be called
from their seats under any consideration.
or ten persons who send in their cards
10 the Senators and Representatives while
the sessions are on, il may fairly be stated
that on the average. only one possesses
any legitimate and proper claim to the
legislators attention. The remaining nine
are grafter=, with all sorts OF axes TO grind
bores of marvellous diruseness, or out
and out cranks.
The grafters who want something for
nothing predomnate They invariably
pretend to be from the same State as the
Legislators and, in the cases Of Representa-
tyes whom they summon, from the same
district They attempt to stick up the
Legislators who respond TO their card sum-
monses for money railroad trausporta-
ton. passes through the private rooms Of
the White House, cordial introductons
to all the other members of the State
delegation in Congress and so on.
One Of these grafterl. quite n motherly
looking woman of middle age, got Re-
publican Representative from western
New York into the corridor Of the House
hulOlulilR NUt iNtIIlill'dn fltlt a NllDIl llillf
ago She sent to the Representatives
desk by doorkeeper the visiting card Of
woman of wealth and distinction in his
district The Representatives astened from
his seat TO meet n woman friend of such
fine character and delightful personality.
His surprise was as great as his wrath
was keen when he was greeted in tho cor
rider by the motherly looking woman,
who in no wise resembled the woman whose
card he had received.
Il know you'l excuse the dece ption, Mr.
Blank efusively began the motherlv
looking woman, grasping the Representa-
tive's reluctant hand but | feared you
wouldn't come ont if I sent you my own
card. and so I sent you the card of Mrs.
A.. whom met last year at the convention
of the Daughters Of the Revolution Such
dear woman. Mrs. A. Now. MIR. Blank,
what | want
~Youll have TO excuse me. madam.
put in the Representative, starting TO edge
away. Il should think you would be
ashamed Of such conduct IT. nothing
short Of false pretenccs.
oh but | had 10 see YOU YOU know.
exclaimed the woman, again Selling the
Representative hand and thus OBTAINING
him Now this is what | want and I'm
sure you'll do it for me. because spent
several months in your home city once
and know lots of nice people there. ! am
going 10 take trip 10 California man
aged to yet railroad transportation there
and back but the gentleman who gave it
to me couldn't arrange about the Pullman
transportation. and the sleeper is s25 each
way. I'd be 50 much Obliged 10 you il
you'd get mo Pullman passes to California
and back. and it would be- 50 easy for you
to do IT, if YOU would Now. won't you
pleaee do this for me Mr., Blank?'
The Representative from western New
York deliberately pivoted upon his heel
and STROBE through the swinging door into
the House
We'll. Of all the nasty hammered and
stingy things snapped the motherly
looking woman. a. she nounced down the
corridor, and the doorkeeper- who had
overheard the coloquy. laughed.
Very few Of the Senators or Repre-
sentatives are willing to respond 10 the
cards Of women visitors in the cor
ndors. Usually they send out word by
the doorkeeperS that they are too busy
to be seen that they have immediate an
pointment- away from the Capitol. or offer
some other excuse. But the women who
engage in this business Of calling on legis.
lators for favors are aware Of the decided
Of the lawmakers 10 meet
women visitors in the corridors. So in
writing their cards in the reception rooms
they leave on the Mira or "NIiss SO
that the recipient Of the card naturally
suppo-eS the visitor to be man.
good nat,Ired we'll 10 do Representa-
tive from Chicago received. while in his
seat a short time ago q card bearing the
freshly penned name Of an individual whom
he imagined he vaguely remembered IA
one Of his constituents. When he want
into the corridor on the Republican side
he was most ehusively greeted nv a fair
charmcr IN blue velvet suit finished of
with an ermine stole The pretty woman
had an immense bunch Of violet, Mt her /
waist and diTused a delightful feminine
fragrance.
So glad you came exclaimed the nj.
tractivc visitor. holding out hand for the |
high handshake 10 the Chicago Repre. |
so good Of you, You know
The Representative looked mvstieod |
IA he fingered the card he had received /
On tho floor. |