Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-06
CRAhKS At CAPT. OIL
congressman the Prey Of Peo-
pie With Schemes.
PET PROJECTS OF EACH
IMPRESSED ON SENATORS AND
REPRESENTATIVES.
Individuals Who Want to Save the
Government and Humanity Out
in Full Force.

Government and Humanity Out
/ in Full Force.
Some of the familiar faces of corridor
characters that have haunted the Capitol
| building during past sessions OF Congress
are missing this year. Others of the regu-
lar type were on hand when the congress
| sional mill began to grind out its legisla-
tive grist.
i 4 veteran employee of the big white
| building on the hill who has watched this
| human fotsam ebb and flow as session fol-
! lowed session said to a Star reporter to-
day:
Death has claimed some of the regular
| hangers-on about the Capitol corridors.
| Others in insane asyiums or hospitals,
| while still others have disappeared from
the map for one reason or another. How
! ever where one interesting old-timer has
| made his exit, another. less interesting
perhaps has made his debut. there are
still enough left for a study OF the off-side
OF human nature 1t is seen in the lime
light at Uncle Sans big law factory.
Talked to the Statues.
One of the oldest characters on the list
| OF the veteran employee was known as the
little statue man. but he has crossed
| over and in his place has come the 1T
tie badge artist" who was conspicuous
figure in the throngs at the Capitol the
1 opening day-Monday.
| The little statue man hailed from New
| Jersey and had been a regular visitor at
| the Capitol during the sessions OF Con-
gress since soon after the civil war In
| which he served as a sailor. He was given
| the sobriquet OF 1.-The little statue man" be-
cause of his habit of frequenting Statuary
Hall and talking loud and earnestly to the
bronze and stone representations there OF
men famous in American history The lit
| tie statue man wa shfmself small in stature
and as full Of energy as a live electric wire.
His fayorte statue was that of Robert Full
| ton. the inventor of the steamboat who is
repre- in Statuary Hall at the Capitol
as holding in his hand a model of his first
| steamboat. on which his gaze is intently
| fixed. The little statue man would APP
proach the stone Fulton reverently. hat in
hand and begin talking to the statue some
what in this fashion,:
All. good morning, Robert. Still busy
perfect1ng your little steamer, / see. But,
Robert, you had better hurry your scheme
along or | will beat you, for l think
ing about inventing a ship that will both
fly through the air or skim over the water
Fond. Of George"
This strange little Jerseyman was also
fond of the statue of Gen. Washington,
which he Familiarity addressed as George"
| he DelleFeO this stone imitation sui
breathed the spirit of '7G, and could under
stand the remarks that were addressed to
it. Or as the little statue man" expressed
1t, George Washington in stone has been
reincarnated with the patriotism of the late
George Washington in the flesh, and stands
in this hall living Inspiration to the
American people"
The little badge man." who has made his
first appearance at this session of Con
gress. is a STRENGTHENING little fellow, ac-
| the veteran emDiQye.E
of his coat is decorated by fully fifty
badges in different co'ors and designs. He,
too, has a penchant for talking to the
statues OF great Americans at the Capitol.
He claims to be the grand commander OF
the Order of American Patriots, which Is
said to exist only in his imagination, ana
is seeking to add the names of distinguish
ed senator's and representatives, to his
roster of membership. 1t is not known
whether he demands an entrance fee. but
he has already it Is said, attempted TO pin
soied red, white and blue badges, fam
tasticalIy decorated. on the breasts of Ger
tain staid and dignifed statesmen, who, as
a rule. have repulsed his advances.
Spoke Spanish With a Brogue.
Aanother regular of the Capitol fotsam
and jetsam who is among the missing this
season is tall, spare individual who was
known as the Irish Mexican" His real
name is said to be Murphy, but 1t was
given a Mexican twist by being contorted
into ''Murphreerero He could talk Span
ish fuently with an Irish dialect, He had
| been regular visitor to Congress for
| many years, usually appearing lobby
list in the interest of Mexfcans along the
Rio Grande in the vicinity of Brownsville,
Tex, and Matamoras, Mex, who had claims
real or ina ginary against Uncle Sam.
The red, rosy apple man" is on hand
this year, as usual He Is noted among
the employees of the Capitol for his me-
teoric movements through the throngs in
the corridors. He is almost acrobatic in
| his stunts of getting through the crowds
| or of overhauling retreating NJ. c. who is
trying to avoid his persistency and his
! rushes.
He is said to have a claim against the
government which Is as old as the veneer
| able Uncle Sam himself. This man always
| has a set expression on his face, and Is
| travelling rapidly at all time. He was
given the sobriquet of the red, rosy apple
| man because he usually carries a supply
| of that fruit with him on his pilgrimages
| to the Capitol. His modus operandt when
trying to interest representative IN ms
age-yellowed claim is to rush up to him
! with a big apple IN his hand and introduce
| himself by exclaiming: Have an apple, sir.
II is delicious. and is red and rosy, sir"
He explained recently that he does not
| cmDloy the apples in the nature of brides,
| but that there is something inherent about
the fruit which makes an erstwhile rigid
| statesman become suddenly flexible and re-
ceptiye
Has Elixir Of Life.
Still another human oddly who frequents
the Capitol corridors and buttonholes SEN
ators and representatives is the elixir of
life man" He is venerable specimen and
|. carries in his pockets bottles of a queer
| looking reddish mixture which he says will
| prolong life when properly used He also
| claims that his elixir Of life will cause
bursts of oratory, the return of youth and
| will produce a winning personality"
| ut is just the thing some of our aged
| senators need he said recently. 1T will
| make them young and blooming again and
they will become irresistible on the floor of
the Senate"
This elixir man was put out of the Capt.
toll by the police last year because of his
annoyance to certain senators. But he is
said to be in Washington and says he is
going to the Capitol soon to strike up a
trade for his wonderful preparation.
"The professor" with his huge bouquets
of flowers, has made his appearance already
at the Capitol. He always carries va
riety of flowers with him on his visit to the
halls of Congress and gives them away free
ly to every one he meets, regardless of creed,
color or former condition of servttude. 1t is
said he Is seeking to have legislation en-
acted for the betterment of conditions ION