Evening star., 1943-06-13
Capital SideIights
By Will P. Kennedy.

Ever hear about the Senates Hole in
the Wall?' Well, it is authoritatively
mentioned in the official Kinds Prece-
dents of the House brought up to date by
Chairman Cannon of the Appropriations
Committee, former parliamentarian
Answering the question: "Is it histori-
cally true that intoxicating liquors were
permitted to be sold in the Capitol?" it
is explained that without question by
either House up to the Twenty fifth
Congress and up to the time of the COM
pletion of the new wings Of the Capitol
(the north and south wings, which con-
tain the enlarged legislative chambers
for the Senate and House, replacing the
original Senate chamber, later occupied
for many years by the Supreme Eourt
and the original House chamber, lateg
known as Statuary Hall or the Hall of
Fame) lit Qiquor) was permitted to be
sold in the crypt for time, and after
ward in a room set apart for that pur-
pose, known as a hole in the WALL
easily accessible from the Supreme
Court and Senate chambers, and in a
small room in the old south wing for
accommodation of the House of Repre-
sentatives."
Confirmation of this is found in
Memoirs of a Senate Page" written by
Christian F. Eckloff, pre-Rebellion
page, who had as fellow page the late
Senator Arthur Pue German, and who
was for years known as "the oldest liv-
ing page" He narrates that: In the
rear of the Senate post Office (where
German, before election to the Senate,
was in CHARGE, near the rotunda, was
formerly situated this far-famed restau-
rant, which properly speaking was a
Senate club. No outsider dared to ven-
ture there unless he was accompanied
by a member. It was a small room
where colored cook, named Carter
presided. Sometimes after an exciting
debate on the floor, the participants
would come arm-in-arm merrily trudg-
ing along the golden way that led from
the chamber to the cook shop. An
amazing change after the high words
spoken SO short time before. Strangers
seeing these platoons of statesmen,
making for the post Office in such glee,
might have wondered if they were hope
full of very good news awaiting them in
the mall but if they could have glanced
behind the scenes and have smelled the
savory odors issuing from platter and
bowl they might have said, No won-
DER"
n
Sam" Houston, a Representative from
Tennessee and Senator from Texas,
served under Gen. Jackson in the Creek
War, was adjutant general of Tennessee
in 1920, Governor of Tennessee, COM
mander in chief of the Texas Army,
hero of the Battle of San Jacinto where
he routed Santa Ana and his Mexican
Army. first President of the Republic of
Texas, later Governor of Texas. deposed
because he refused to take the oath of
allegiance to the Confederate States,
He was one of the most picturesque men
of his day in the Senate, "of most gentle
and kindly nature" He sat in a group
of strange contrast" they were ''the
living expression of a wide country's
oAAOO6AAV oAA "AoAl, VIC p1dCC VI tIlClI
assembling was made glorious ground"
There was Gen. Houston-"that great
plainsman, wearing a broad sombrero
and vest of leopard skim Close at
hand was the classic Charles Sumner
of Boston, exponent of the culture and
learning of the gilded metropolis"
Nearby was Judge Wade, who had
hi - M
versity in every guise" Strolling up
came "the Southern aristocrat," Jeffer-
son Davis or John c. Breckenridge, Vice
President and general in the Confed-
crate Army.
Sam" Houston, the gallant gentle
man, day after day spent his spare time
in tireless whiting. He would have a
block of soft pine wood delivered to him
by the Senate cabinetmaker "a Mr..