Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-03-25
VII IN HALLS oF CONGRESS
Members Conduct Most serious of
Affairs IN Merriment-A Few
samples,

sampler
That we Americans are a laughter loving
people and as easily amused as children has
been the comment OF every visitor to these
shores who has recorded his impressions.
The house OF representatives is an excellent
place to have the impression verified. Even
the sacrosanct precincts OF the senate are
not impregnable against an occasional soft
chuokle. But the house almost may be said
to conduct even its most serious business in
a gale of laughter. The members seek and
| find humor in the driest OF topics. Mr. Hep
burn calls Mr.. Payne Of New York, with his
| shock of hair, "a white buttoned mandarin
and the veracious Record chronicles loud
| laughter" The galleries become infected
with the same spirit OF levity and Gus
tomarily, whether they understand the stu
alton or not. join in each outburst until the
heavy rapping OF the speakers gavel re-
stores order.
Sometimes it is difficult to understand the
subtlety of the humor that amuses congress
1t is on enduring record the other day that
laughter followed Senator Tillman's remark
to Senator spooner: 81 love to set you law
yers by the ears and then watch you pull
one another's wool" The stranger among
us who heard the tribute paid to that re-
Aie@i "a 80 ~ Ahh VA pIoNOhNA must S0~h
strongly impressed with the ease with which
our rsibles are tickled. One can more
easily understand why anything said by
Senator Allison that even remotely bordered
on the frivolous should excite the nlirth of
| his colleagues. Senator Hoar OF Massa-
/ chusetts and host of others have borne
testimony 70 the invariable gravity and
solemnity Of the Iowa senator's demeanor.
Mr.. Hoar said in his autobiography that
/ he never knew what Allison did with him
self when he was not studying his favorite
topic of government finance; that he APP
parently had no other occupation and no
! amusements
Mr. Allison is VIGOROUSLY the most eau
tious Of men. 1t is said Of him that he has
never made a direct statement without
saving qualifications. A little while ago,
just before Christmas he was discussing
one day on the floor of the senate an
emergency appropriation and said ut is
an appropriation that the senate in its dis
erection ought to pass before the Christmas
holidays. I mention that incidentally. as
suppose we shall have Christmas holidays"
The outbursts Of laughter that followed APP
parently amazed Mr.. Allison. for he added:
I'VE usually have, but ! have heard no
\ suggestion as to- the time fixed for the
holidays"
Mr.. Sullivans warmly expressed belief that
You cannot legislate morality into board
II directors of high finance sitting in WALL
street any more than you legislate thirst
out Of citizen OF Iowa or Kansas or
Maine" was received with laughter. Mr.
Harriman's comment before the Armstrong
committee that Mr.. odell got his political
influence through his influence with me"
was amusing to the members of the house
1t should have hattered Mr.. Hartman that
the representatives took him at his own
} valuation as a humorist.
Mr.. Simms OF Tennessee, concluding an
| impassioned hsrangue on the recent dis
closure of conditions at the naval academy,
said: Somebody has asked What is haz-
mgr do not care what hazng is but I
know what assault and battery and man
4. slaughter and murder IS" member:
That is hazing"
4 The interjection took all the snap out of
Mr.. Simms eloquence.
) John Sharp williams home truth that
( the country is tired OF you republicans
over there on that side of the chamber and
5 afraid of us on this side" was the cause OF
$ great laughter and applause"
). Many times the stories told on the floor
: are like the familiar faces OF dear OLD
| example, MI. fOrQney oil
a Michigan has put this one In enduring
:, form for the delectation OF future ages:
! "A story is told OF my friend the gentle
Q man from New York (Mr. Payne) when !
young man practicing law. There was al
!, old darby in his town that was accused o.
/, stealing chickens. He looked around anC
a finally found the gentleman from New
York, who was willing TO undertake his de
Tense. When he came into court the judg,
said 10 the darby: Are you the defendan
in this oaseT The darby didn't exactly un
derstand what was meant, but he said
No, Judge Pointing to the gentleman iron
Ia New York. he said That is the defend
II ant; am the man that stole the chickens
Il Now, ! believe / am going TO contend Il
Ie this case that l and my constituents ar
the defendants" OauEhter)
n Only those who are acquainted with tn
i. cadaverous aspect OF Mr.. Adams of wis
l. consin will appreciate the humor of hi
ID statement that he did not think he locke
ls as he did because he had smoked Manil
cigars.
& Any faithful reader Of the Record mus
% have been struck with the number OF time
the word Laughter" appears The aualit
: OF the comment that brought II forth
- fairly and sufficiently shown in the speci
. mems displayed above.-New York Eventn
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