Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-06-03

and harbors committee as he is almost
a; the top Of the group on that commit
tee.
senator Lodge was quick to see the
roint and assured the man from North
Adams that he came from the wrong
part of the State 10 give serious trouble.
Senator Lodge was sure that Lawrence
has his dates mixed and told him that
Senator Crane was the man he would
have to dsplace Lodge. In fact. was
perfectly willing that Lawrence should
be a candidate against Crane.
BEFORE the pleasantly was concluded
Lawrence assured Mr.. Lodge that he
was going to have Butler Ames placed
on the rivers and harbors committee and
that then the Jig would be up. Where
upon the senior senator scratched his
whiskers and grnned.
sNCF'F-TAKERS OF THE SENATE.
There are two snuff-takers in the
United States Senate, Mr.. Overman Of
North Carolina and Mr.. Carter of Mon
tana. For the benefit OF these two men
the Senate still maintains the official
sruff-boxes. which are kept carefully
with fresh material for producing
sneczes. These boxes are little lacquer
cd affairs about four inches long, two
and half inches wide and an inch deep,
anc are fastened by screws to the top
Of the projecting ledge. one on each side
Of the Vice Presidents dais.
The snuff is purchased by the sergeant
at-arms In four eight-pound jare. Mt a
cost OF IS cents a pound. and it takes
AL average OF about Ave pounds year
to replenish the boxes twice a week dur
my the sessions. The work of rcfiling
| the boxes was for years one of the du-
tics tremendously performed by the late
Captain Bassett. the venerable assistant
dcorkeeper of the Senate and inveteratc
user of the powdered weed; but since
! his death. five years ago. the task has
! fallen to the lot Of one Of the pages
who. naturally. does not bestow upon
II the loving care Of his aged predeces-
sor.
Captain Bassett when he died had COM
pleted nearly 90 years of continuous ser
vice in the Senate and was almost thu
sole relic of the days when the use Of
snuff was general in that body. Fol
many wears before his death his dign
fed. almost ceremonious. manner Of in
ddlging in the habit excited the wonde
ard awe of the modern page.
He was very proud OF a gold SNUFF
box presented to him by the senator
upon the 4oth anniversary OF his entr.
into their service. and he kept It file'
with a choice brand OF the powder. H
carried II in a tail pocket OF the frocl
coat in which he always appeared. an
the force Of his habit Of reaching for
; once caused a laugh at his expense
II was during the troublous times at
| tending the Hayes-Tiden contest. and
was thought best that Captain Basset
} as custodian OF one OF the boxes con
| tanning the disputed electoral votes
should be armed. He was accordingl
!, provided with a revolver, which he car
ried in the pocket of the empty coat
. tail
t AS the procession was about TO stai
on the march from the Senate to tn
House Captain Bassett was asked II h
had his revolver with him.
l Yes" he replied, there 1t is" anc
diving into the wrong pocket. he pre-
t duced. not the revolver. but his cherish
: cd gold snuffbox.
There had been threats OF attackin
= the procession on the way to the Hous
e and the members OF the party were
;. rather sober frame Of mind. but II
= tension was relaxed for the moment +
$ the laughter which was caused by II
n mistake
= Perhaps the most noted Of the sem
Il tors who were addicted to snuff with
y TIE memories OF the older employees vi
y the late Allan G. Thurman OF Ohio. NJ
Thurman was frequent visitor OF Il
l. official sruffbox on the democratic sid
IT After helping himself TO a liberal pine
I've would return to his desk and bril-
e forth his huge red bandanna. whi'
il afterward became a wcll-known poli'
a, emblem in his campaign for the vic
Is presidency. Then. after sneezing sever
~ times, he would glow tremendous hla
n Vice President Wilson. who died In
s. loom at the Capitol. was another not
lie patron Of the Senate snuffbox. and
was Senator Edmunds Of Vermont
ID later days Senator Carter Of Monta1
le and Senator Turner Of Washington we
tn. sole representatives Of the c
10 regime Of habitual snuff users.
IL A VISITOR FROM BEVERLY.
m Lawrence p. Stanton OF Bever
in Mass. prominent in newspaper husine
OF and political circles in that city, h
ne been in Washington for the past Il
or days In the interest OF certain matte
is ly which Beverly is to be benefited
nc the future. He took up with the trea
IN rry department the question OF the M
federal building In that city. authoriz
~ in the last OMNIBUS public building b
or ard was informed by Assistant Secreta
~ IIilles that the specifications for Il
"a building will probably be publish
AZ about September l. and that IT Is
es hope Of the department that the We
will actually be begun before winter
Mr. Stanton also called on Preside
80 raft and Secretary Carpenter with CO
y" gresham Gardner. and assured tn
that the citizens OF Beverly would
their utmost TO make the summer ca
ia, an attractive and restful place
the Presidents vacation Mr.. Stant
=, $50 announced that II would be the p
-, lev Of the newspaper which he condu
in Beverly to endeavor TO keep down a
- pebble demonstrations. etc. which
~. enthusiastic people might try to arrar
~. and which he understood would he
~, tasteful TO the President. President T
was very much pleased with these
surances from Mr.. Stanton, and said
hoped to see a great deal OF him
-, PtNerly this summer.