Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-05-25
LITTLE FATHER" OF THE
UNITED STATES SENATE

only way it could be passed into his
tory would be to remove the boxes
surreptiiiousiy.
o one year ago the boxes were in
spected b. Colonel Ransdell, and con-
demned
ihis was MY a mental process on
the part of The sergeant-at-arms. He
set about finding new ones. Through
the stores of Washington and Balti-
more he made a round which lasted for
weeks without finding their substitute.
He enlisted Others in the search. but
stu without success. One day Col
onel Ransdel heard of a pair of snuff
OXe displayed in an antique store.
He hastened to examine them, and in
flve minutes they were the property OF
the United States Senate. but wild
horses could not make the s~ergeant-at-
arms say what they cost.
1t would be libelous to name the Sen
ators who still take snuff. But:
Senator Bacon, of Georgia. has been
known to use a small pinch in jest,
and one senator often extends the
privilege in mock courtesy to another
and has it accepted. Members of the
House come over and use the Senate
snuff as a jest at the old custom.
representative Hughes. of New Jersey,
has been known to play this joke on
the Senate.
When the little electric bells all over
the capital ring three times. the ser
g~eant-at-arms and his assistants must
see that none but senator's and two
sworn clerks are on the floor
They clear the galleries upon the
order of the vice president and guard
the stairways. that non may listen
at he keyholes. The lobby back of the
Senate chamber is closed and none may
enter until the o bells which tell of
adjournment. If anybody should burst
into an executive session of the Sen
ate 1t would be a national scandal.
The Sergeant-at-arms does not, as is
the case in the House of Representa-
tives, carry rhe mace or any other en-
blem Of authp-ity. though encounters
On the mate floor have. If anything,
been more "merciless" than in the larg-
er body. Still:
Nothing violent has occurred to re-
Qulre the services of the sergeant-at-
arms since Senator Tillinan strobe
across the legs of Senator Teller. of
Colorado. to resent "the lie" passed by
Senator McLaurin, his colleague. Sem
ator Tillman had charged under the
sting of Senator spooner's questioning
that patronage had been used by the
White House to get it's bills through
the Senate. Senator McI.aurin was
n out OF the chamber. but the asser-
ton of Senator Tillman that a repre-
sentative of his own state had been so
influenced was repeated to him. On his
return he said that it was Il lie. Strid-
ing over Senator Teller. who sat be-
tween them. Senator Iillman struck at
his colleague. but they were imme-
dtately separated by Senator Bailey. of
Texas, and others.
Blu disturbances in the Senate gall
leries have been most common of late,
and for that reason
D~oortenders are instructed to keep a
watchful eye on all who ask for seats,
and IL a spectator in the Senate be-
comes unruly. he goes out with a rush.
Carrie Nation vas once elected from
n of the galleries.: a s.an dropped
dead during a session of the Senate two
years ago, and another, rising IN his
seat while the Senate was in ono Of
Its solemn moods, shouted from the
gallery in a loud voice, prepare for
h coming Of the end of the world!"