Show snuff takers of the U S senate Z are two snuff takers in the T theale united united states senate mr overman of north carolina and mr carter 0 of f montana for the benefit of these two men the senate still maintains the official snuff boxes which are kept carefully with fresh material forero due ducong ing sneezes these boxes are little lacquered affairs about four inches long two and a half inches wide and an inch deep and 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 ser geant at arms in four eight pound jars at a cost of 75 cents a pound and it takes an average of about five pounds a year to replenish the boxes twice a week during the sessions the work of refilling the boxes was for years one of the duties ceremoniously performed formed by the late capt caal bassett the venerable assistant doorkeeper of the senate and inveterate user of the powdered weed but since his death five years ago the task has fallen to the lot ot of one of the pages who naturi naturally ily does not bestow upon it the loving care of Ms IM aged predecessor capt bassett when he died had completed nearly sixty years of continuous service in the senate and wo was 9 almost the sole relic of the days when 1 the use of snuff was general in that body for many years before his death his dignified almost ous manner of indulging f the hapit habit excited the wonder and awe of the modern page ho he was waa very proud of a gold snuff box presented to him by the senators upon the fortieth fort leth anniversary of hla his entry into their service and he kept kepi it filled with a S choice brand of the powder he ae carri carried ed it in a tall pocket of the frock coat in which he always appeared and the force of his bis habit of 0 reaching for it caused a laugh faugh at his expense it was during the troublous times attending the hayes tilden contest and it was thought best that capt bassett as custodian of one of the boxes con ta ining the disputed electoral votes should be armed he was waa accordi according ng ly provided with a revolver which he carried in the pocket of the empty coattail coat fall As the procession was about dostart to start on the march from senate to the house capt bassett was asked it if he ha had his revolver with him yes he replied here it Is and diving into the wrong pocket he produced not the revolver but his cherished gold snuff box there had been threats of attacking the procession on the way to the ho house se an and d the members oftie party part were in rather a sober frame ot of mind i but the tension was relaxed relace d f for 0 r the moment by the langh laughter ter which was waa cau caused seiby by the mistake Perhaps the most noted of the senators who wha were addicted to snuff anuff with in the memories of the old employed empl late allen alien G thurman ol of ohio mr thurman was a frequent visitor of the official snuff anuff box on an them the democratic side vice president wilson who died in his room at the capitol was another noted patron of the senate snuff box and so BO was senator edmunds of vermont |