Evening star., 1934-05-27


not cleaned daily, soon fill to over
flowing.
The United States Treasury has the
biggest spittoon on record. 1t is a
great oblong wooden box as big as
bed, filled with sawdust. 1t lies in
the basemen at the foot Of the four
flights of stairs which lead to the
various stories and accommodates the
Government employees and others
who delight in squirting down over
the marble banisters.
Tobacco, which Is product OF
America, has become scattered all
over the world. but the tobacco splitter
who is also an American product, is
too disgusting to be introduced into
any country whether there be a
tariff or no tariff on the introduction
The Senate at night is, unless there
is something very interesting under
discussion, a rather tame affair. The
stately members lose their dignity OF
the day and loll and lounge and Loaf
about the chamber. The liveliest part
of the hall Is the galleries. which are
usually filled with strangers who listen
to gossip and chat in low tones, while
the fiery talk goes on below. The
question which most of them ask on
their entrance is Where does all the
light come from?" The room Is per-
fectly lighted with a mellower and
softer light than, that of the sun, but
no gas jet. lamp. or electric light is
visible Soon the eye looks toward
the CLASSY roof and it is seen that
the light streams down through its
frosted plates. Illuminating the coats
Of arms painted upon them, and
making the bald heads of the older
Senators shine like great rosy-cheeked
apples. 1t drops softly on rosewood
desks, shows every tobacco stain on
the velvet eight-dollar ar-a-yard carpet
and plays on the maroon Russian
leather Of the empty chairs. Many
Of the Senators are out of their seats
and the light shows such piles OF
rubbish and torn paper under them as
would make Western Reserve house
keeper wild. The average Senator
is not as cleanly as John Bunyon
and his habits of neatness are not
going to bring him near to godliness,
during this session at least.
Hotel Characters.
Sitting in the Willard last night
waiting for an audience with a Sem
ator, took note Of the odd charac-
ters who passed through the lobby
during my Commute stay. First
came Col Boudinot, the old Indian
lawyer, with his face as bronzed as
copper kettle, hair as black as a
ravens and as curly as girls, and
eyes as keen and piercing as an
eagles. He went to the register,
glanced over the names for some of
his Western clients and went out Col.
Boudinot is the representative of the
Indians at the court of their Great
Father. He has been so for years.
He is striking figure among the
characters at Washington, and is one
of the many men whom strangers
want to see and talk to- He is q
man of considerable culture, speaks
English fiuently and is talented
singer.
Next came the gray-haired patri-
arch who for many years has repre-
sented Jay Gould at Washington. He
Is clerical-looking old sinner, this
veteran lobbyist, and he moves in and
out among the members with all the
solemnity of a country parson. No
one seems to know very much about
him. He slips around through a crowd
as though he were creased, and when
ever scheme involving Wall Street
is before Congress, he is especially
active, either on the one side or the
other.
Another character is the veteran
flower peddler of Washington. He has
sold roses through a dozen admins
trations. Roscoe Conkling, the dap
per former Senator from New York,
has worn many a buttonhole bouquet
made by him. A thick-set, slovenly
looking German, he looks the picture
of poverty, and his very tones are
hungry as he begs you to buy his
flowers. He Is richer than he looks,
and he has made a fortune in his
business. He has a number Of houses
and some real estate In Washington
and he keeps a bank account larger
than that of many a Congressman
who buys from him.
Pig Iron" Kelley.
"Pig-iron" Kelley told me this
morning that he was satisfied with
the work Of the session, and that he
was going home happy.
what, Mr.. Kelley, will be the in
fluence of the new tariff ON the elec-
ton of 1882" asked
What, young man, will be the con-
dition of the weather on the day Of
election in 1892" he continued.
"I can't tell you," said I.
"No more" replied the veteran
Congressman, "can I tell you what
viii be the effect of this bill upon the
election. Such representations are
arrant folly"