The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-12-17
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial corregpondence.1

sion that were more or less undesira.
ole in location and who therefore had
| pretty hard time catching the eye of
! Vice President Fairbanks or whoever
| happened to be in his chair are much
better off this winter A number of
vacancies have occurred, and some
pretty good seats have been reas-
signed.
No Drawing For Senate Seats.
There is no drawing of seats in the
senate as there is in the house, the
senate being a continuous body, which
does not have to organize at the be-
ginning of each session. The seat dis
tribution started away back some
where in the past, and when a senator
gets seat he likes he holds on to it
until he dies, fails of reelection, re-
| tires or gets chance to secure one he
likes better. 1t is the custom when
ever it looks as If a seat is to become
vacant for any of these reasons for
some senator who has had his eye on
it to file an application with the SER
geant at arms. These applications are
frequently on file several years before
the seat is vacant. Frequently it is a
cold blooded procedure, but the pos
session of a good seat on the floor
means so much to senator that
every one is on the alert.
Beveridge Gets a Prize.
There are few better seats in the
senate than No. 81, which was held by
Senator Spooner before his voluntary
retirement. 1t is on the central aisle
and second from the front, and the
occupant of the vice presidents chair
Is always looking at it if he is sitting
straight. This plum goes this winter
to Senator Beveridge of Indiana, who
formerly sat in No. so, which is in the
third row and much farther around to
the left His old seat goes to Senator
Hopkins of Illinois, who moves one
seat nearer the central aisle in the
same row
Senator Dick of Ohio comes down
from the heightsAhis seat last session
was away back in the last rowland
gets No. 1, which is the first seat on
the left end of the first row. He is
right under the vice presidents nose,
but the latter is likely to look past him
most of the time unless he makes q
fuss. Still it is much better seat
than the one he had before. Senator
Brandegee of Connecticut comes over
from the enemy's territory and takes
No 10, that used to be Senator Mill
lard's.
Not Superstitious.
1t is pretty certain that Senator Kit
tredge of South Dakota is not a super
stitious man. because he is to occupy
at this session No. %, formerly held by
Senator Wetmore of Rhode Island,
who will be delayed in taking seat
this winter on account of deadlock
in the legislature and for whom 10 in
the last row is being held. No % is
good seat in the second row of the
Republican side Senator Piles gives
up A to William Alden Smith, the
new senator from Michigan, and
moves to As, slightly nearer the cen
ter, Senators Buckley and Knox, who
had seats with the overflow on the
Democratic side last session, will be
over with the rest of the Republicans
this winter.
Best Democratic Seat.
The most conspicuous seat on the
Democratic side is now held by Sena-
tor McLaurin Of Mississippi 1t isiNo.
10 on the central aisle in the first row
This is quite a promotion for Senator
McLaurin, who formerly had No. 80,
away around to the left in the second
row. No. 10 is Senator Morgan's old
seat. The next best, which is No. 80,
directly behind Senator McLaurin's,
belongs to Senator Clarke of Arkan-
sas, it having been left vacant by Sen
ator Berry
Senator Frye of Maine has the best
seat on the Republican side, No. o.
Other Republicans who are comforta-
bly, situated in the front row are Sena-
tors Cullom of Illinois, Gallinger OF
New Hampshire and Hepburn of Ida
no.
More Democrats In House.
4 uS ONCluOW VI INSpuDllCduS VIII SIT
in the Cherokee strip this year, the
house again being divided by party
line down the center aisle instead of
one aisle into the Democratic side, as
was the case last congress, when the
Republicans had such an immense ma
jority. Last congress the Republican
majority was one hundred and thirty
odd. This year it is fifty-fve. Peter
Porter of New York chose a seat with
the Republicans, although denied adj
mission to Republican caucus.
Would Bar Housekeeping.
That new house of representatives
Office building is giving members of
congress much concern. Every states
man will be allotted suit of three
or four rooms, with all modern inn
provements, and some of the dignified
ones are saying that it won't be long
before some of the backwoods con-
gressmen win move folding bed in
and live there, thus saving hotel bills.
I'm going to introduce a BILL" said
Representative Bowers of Mississippi,
prohibiting gas stoves and light
housekeeping in the new Offices"
Uncle Sans Rent Bill.
There is one item of our national
expense account which is as astonish-
ing as the growth which is responsible
Cor. II IT is fine amount that Uncle