The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-27
Big TIM VISITS WASHINGTON.
HIS FIRST APPEARANCE SINCE
THE SESSION OPENED.
So Anxious to Vote in His Committee in
Favor OF the Metric system That He
Abandoned His Legislative Duties at
Albany--Refused to Occupy His Seat.

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Abandoned His Legislative Duties at
Albany--Refused to Occupy His Seat.
WARRINGTON, April 26.-The Hon. Tim
othy D. Sullivan, member Of Congress from
, the Eighth district Of New York, left his
legislative duties at Albany yesterday and
came down to Washington, where the mem
bers of Congress. of whom he is one, are in
session. This is the first time that the
member from de Ate has honored the
National Capitol with his presence since
the opening day Of the session, now nearly
Ave months past. Even the galloping OF
the ponies at Jennings recently was not a
sufficient attraction to lure him here from
his duties at Albany.
When the vote on the Statehood bill was
about to be taken and the Democrats and
insurgents we're ~endeavoring to their
utmost to have every member present a
determined effort was made to bring Mr..
Sullivan to Washington in order that his
vote might he recorded against the union
Of Arizona and New Mexico. Washington
waited anxiously and expectantly to see
him, but Mr.. Sullivan found it impossible
to abandon his legislative duties at the New
York State Capitol. Consequently Wash
ington saw him not, and there was a painful
silence in response to the clerks call of his
name upon that measure.
Naturally there was much curiosity and
not a little wonder manifested when Mr..
Sullivan with his able alternate, the
Hon. Billy Watson of Tammany Hall and
the House Of Representatives., was seen
entering a Capitol elevator this morning,
Investigation developed the fact that the
Committee on Coinage, Weights and Meas
ures was TO meet to-day for the purpose
of taking a vote on the bill to establish the
metric system for use by the Government
after July /, 1907. When the Speaker was
making up his committee assignments last
December, with his usual care and dis
cretion and with due regard for the fitness
Of things and men, he placed Mr.. Sullivan
on that committee.
Mr.. Sullivan is an earnest advocate Of
the plan to abolish the antiquated system
OF measuring things by the old fashioned
method of feet and inches, pounds and gal
Ions and bushels, and he believes that we
should substitute therefor the decimal
system. He would break into smithereens
the yardstick of the forefathers, he would
abolish the peck measure of the corncrib
and the wheat bin, while the gallon can
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he would establish. He would nave the
denizens OF the East Side rush the GROWER
for a litre of beer, buy their beefsteak by
the kilogram and compel all the bellies OF
Avenue A to purchase their organizes and
challies by the metre.
Unfortunately the committee did not
reach a vote to-day. and Mr.. Sullivan in
his anxiety to vote for the measure was
obliged TO remain in Washin gton until to-
morrow. But to show his disdain for the
House Mr.. Sullivan refused to go on the
floor, and the seat which has been vacant
since the opening day was still vacant to-
day. Not even the knowledge that Mr..
Sulzer was to deliver himself Of an attack
upon the ship subsidy bill was sufficient
to induce hin to go on the floor and listen
to the debate. After the committee meet
ing was over he betook himself to more
agreeable quarters downtown. Mr.. Sulli-
van informed some of the members Of the
committee who talked with him that he
did not like Congress and that he did not
intend to be a candidate for reelection.
He was more fascina ted with Albany, where
there is something doing"
II should not be understood, however,
that the duties Of the member from de
Ate" are neglected during his enforced
absence attending to his legislative duties
at Albany. His Affairs are most diligently
looked after by his alternate, the Hon
Billy Watson of Tammany Hall and
the House of Representatives. During
his absence Mr.. Sullivan is recorded as
having introduced forty-five bills. all of
them of a private character. pensions for
old veterans, claims for those to whom the
Government is in debt and the like, and
each one of these receives the careful at
tention Of his invaluable alternate, the
Hon. Billy Watson of Tammany Hall
and the House of Representatives.