The Washington herald., 1908-03-20
MEN AND THINGS.

The passengers on a washington street
car We're astonished the other day to
behold Uncle Joe" Cannon. the alleged
Gar Of the House, make dash across
the street and jump aboard the car while
it was still in motion A cold driving
rain was falling. and Uncle Joe, who was
without an umbrella. was drenched TO the
skin when he reached the shelter Of the
car. He did not appear TO mind the DIS
comfort'a bit. and apparently had no fear
Of taking cold.
Mr.. Speaker. said member who was
a fenow-passenger. did you forget your
umbreIIag"
''Pooh." said Uncle Joe contemptuously
Il never carry one; couldn't keep Il
day IL I tried. anyhow. Umbrellas are
only for women and children and molly
coddles"
Senator Oyerman. Of North Carolina, re-
lated an experience he had recently in the
Tar Heel State. He went TO Salisbury on
some legal business. While a colored boy
was giving him a shipe the morning after
his arrival. the Senator engaged him in
conversation. After asking several Ques-
tions. he said: Sam. tell me who Is gov
ernor OF North Carolina?''
sam scratched his head for a moment.
and then replied: Deed I don't know,
boss Use done forgot"
Whereupon Senator Overman improved
the opportunity 10 read Sam certain
lecture on his ignorance
Just as ] was on the point Of leaving
the stand swelling with conscious pride
al having done my duty IN eniightening
the ignorance Of fellOw-creature." said
Senator Overman, I'm conclusion, sam
looked I'D and said: I say. boss: can you
tell me who is the governor Of Missis-
sippiT The funny part OF the matter was
that ] could not. on the spur OF the mo-
ment. answer his question. 1 walked
away, thinking that the better part Of my
lecture had been ruined"
There are a number OF literary men in
Congress. A member Of the House from
Tennessee who has the reputation Of
being quite a Shakespearean scholar
called at the White House recently TO see
the President Mr.. Roosevelt was en-
gagged on some important business and
the gentleman from Tennessee was com
PEELED 20 wait He paced inpatiently up
and down the corridor. frequently con-
sulting his watch. as he had an important
committee meeting awaiting him at The
Capitol Finally he dropped into a chair
in despair and dashed of the following
lines on a pad:
wasted time. and now time doth waste ne.
Fgr nov hath tine made ne his numbering clock
Folding up the paper. he handed il 10
Mr. Loeb. with the request that he give
IL 10 the President ms few moments
the door OF the Presidents private Office
swung open and the disciple OF the Bard
Of Avon was commanded to enter.
II have been much interested, said a
Western Senator. the other day. in read
ing the accounts OF the millions OF dol
lars that are said 70 be lying IN the
Treasury OF the United States waiting
for some one 10 claim them. can easily
believe 1t 10 be true. for Uncle sam be-
longs to the privileged class OF debtors
who never pay a debt until they have 70.
No emplOye Of the government. you
know. is permitted TO give OUT any infor-
nation regarding possible claims unless
It is called for officially. No government
employe is permitted 10 volunteer any in
formation regarding such matters under
any circumstances instant dismissal
would be meted out 70 any clerk THAI yio-
lated this rule.
1T may be a good rule. but 1t has never
seemed 10 me to be quite fair or honest.
When the government knows that il act
ually owes man money. and also knows
whore 10 find him or his heirs. IL has al
ways seemed 20 me that Il would be the
only decent thing TO do 20 disburse IL
without waiting for the man 70 appear
and claim il. l do net see what harm Il
would do II Uncle Sam, FOR instance,
would conduct his affairs with the same
honesty that is expected and required OF
private individuals
However" the Senator continued. 7
did not intend TO mOrahze on Uncle
sans shortcomings as a business man,
but TO call attention TO the fact that
probably nearly every large financial in
stitution has unclaimed moneys III its
vaults-SOmetimes mounting I'D into the
hundreds Of thOUsand OF dollars. In
many cases there is no possible way OF
finding the owners. and. perhaps. often
times no very great effort Is made 10 do
so' but what car you expect from private
establishments when Uncle sam himself
sets so bad an example in this respect?
Il have in mind an unclaimed sum that
has been lying in the old Riggs Bank. in
Washington. for over fifty years that has
history. The story is worth telling, !
think 1t Is a poker yarn" the Senator
added. lighting fresh cigar. and in
some respects II is probably the most
remarkable poker story ever told. The
game started some time during the winter
Of 1S6o-S1-just before the outbreak of the
civil war. Six men sat at the table and
took hands. but finally the contest over
big jackpot narrowed down 10 two men.
. Representative from a Western
and the other a member from the
Both men held good hands. Sand
ut that his hand was the best
limit game. and each man
'ailable cash. Then they
the respective hands
later where they
$ continued on
winter huf