Evening star., 1936-06-07

would have been instantly killed. He
is now improving, and, it is hoped,
will soon recover"
A ND the editor, in note, tells us
that the party press was busy
trying to make it appear that the
assault was political conspiracy, and
adds that's all leather and prunella."
Senator Preston King, with whom
Mr., Van Wyck was visiting that eve
ming, resided on A street, probably the
site Of the Library Of Congress. He
also represented New York in Con-
gress.
From subsequent events 1t is quite
evident that the attack on Mr.. Van
Wyck did not incapacitate him very
long, for he was soon commissioned as
colonel of the 10th Legion, the 56th
Regiment, New York Volunteers, and
served throughout the Civil War. being
brevetted brigadier general After the
war he returned to Congress and
served from 1867 to 1870. In 1871 he
moved to Nebraska, and represented
that State in the Senate from 1881 to
1887 He died in this city, october
"a, 1895.
An amusing incident is told of
Representative Van Wyck, while he
was member of the House. It seems
that Judge Kelley first attracted at
tention in Congress by the wonderful
volume and power of his voice, that
filled the entire hall, and subdued all
rival sounds-that is, up to the time
Mr.. Van Wyck made his appearance
in the House, when Kelley met more
than his match, "for his voice." we are
told, was little more than a zephyr in
comparison with the roar and thunder
that followed it and called forth shouts
of laughter, while Kelley quietly oc-
cupied his seat as If in dumb amaze
ment at what had happened"
Another incident out of the ordinary
occurred back in 1885, when a Quaker
| lady arose in the gallery Of the House
just before it was called to order. and
! commenced an exortation to the men,
bers to attend more to precepts of
religion and morality, and concluded
by asking permission to preach in the
Capitol that evening. An officer was
sent to remove her, but members cried
out GO on, hear her," when some one
pulled her down and a member OBJ
served, that as the lady had con-
cluded, he hoped the clerk would read
the journal"
There is probably nothing that takes
place in Congress today that is not
matched by something similar, at a
time when its members were glad to
worry along on So day while in Wash
ington, and So for every 20 miles of
their route in going to and returning
from the Capital. But, of course, this
was 100 years ago, when travelling
from distant points to Washington
was not an easy nor a comfortable
matter, and the mileage allowed was
surely not greater than the inconven-
ience of travelling in prairie schooner,
in one Of the early stagecoaches, or on
horseback, for steam railroads were
then few and far between.
IN THIS connection, visitor to this
country, writing back home. about
1843, has this to say of the salaries
then paid to our public officers:
"The heads of departments receive
$4,000 each and no house. Their
salaries are too low. since they
scarcely afford the means of credit
able subsistence to men in their pub
lie situations. 1t is probable, however,
that the country will, ere long, erect
buildings for the residence of these
officers and increase their pay a
little There is no plausible reason
why it should be so much inferior to
that of the President. The Chief JUS
tice of the United States receives
$4,000 a year and each Of the assist
ant justices $4,000. The judges of
the District courts are paid from $500
to $4,000 a year, according to the
amount of their services. The Vice
President gets $1,000 a year. Minis
ters plenipotentiary receive $4,000 a
year salary, the same sum for an out
fit, and one-fourth of 1t to defray
the expenses of their return home.
This pay Is much too small, certainly,