The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-12-14
WAsH1NG TON LETTER.
THE FIRST PERFORMANCE. "A VIEW FROM
THE REPORTERS GALLERY.-sPEAKRR
KEFER's TRIALS.


WASHINGTON, D. G., Dec. 10, 1881.
To the Editor of The Morristown Gazette:
A First performance, 4" be it theatri-
cal or parliamentary, always forms
great attraction for the spectacle loving
WashiDg tonians. 1t was, therefore, not
surprising, on last Monday, to find the
galleries of the House crowded within,
and its portals surrounded by throng,
of eager sightseers, intent on taking
sions like this, almost cease TO Dewail
the unhappy lot of a journalist, for, no
matter how crowded the special CALLER
les reserved for the families and
friends Of members, for diplomats,
or the one filled by the pr0fanun1 Cahgus,
your correspondent wages his way
through the jammed Hobbies, and the
dense excluded throng that is striving
TO catch glimpse through the windows,
with an assurance that he will find &
good point of view in the gallery Occu-
pied by what Gen. B. F. Butler once
designated "the forty jackass power
wind machine of the press" But this
gallery, for which all members OF Con-
gress have a wholesome fear, is very
and charlatons in this holy profession
also. Every correspondent Is required
TO file his credentials, which must state,
over the signature of the Editor, that
he is the authorized Washington cor
respondent of his paper. If these Gre
dentials receive favorable action from a
committee appointed by the House, he
is given ticket, signed by theSpeaker,
which entities him to a seat in the Re-
porters' Gallery for that session. The
way to the Reporters Gallery of the
Senate is equally difficult, and, in each
application, the petitioner must sign 4
paper stating that he is not clerk il
any Government Office, and will not be
interested in the prosecution of any
claim against the Government. Having
been duly admitted the correspondent
has position facing the House or Sen
ate, and can see and ht ar everything
going on. 1t is of great Importance to
him to be acquainted with the distin-
guished drGnGtfs perSOHGe on the floor,
to say nothing of the supers and pup
pets. But, since eight or ten tragedians,
and half as many comedians, make
nearly all the noise, if he is sufficiently
familiar with the faces to attach their
names to their performances he will get
along pretty well If he is not, he will
get along pretty i'll, for such sublimity
of impoliteness has, with help of nat
ural bias, seldom been achieved, as that
shown by a w ashing ton journalist when
anyone asks him a question. l have
long since been through novitiate, and
know how it is.
There is nothing unusual in the or
ganization of the present House. Speak
er Keifer was no sooner in the chair
than half a dozen members commenced
talking to the remote inds of wires and
post routes, on points of order, privil-
eye, procedure, and like questions of
little importance. An almost inextri-
cable parliamentary tangle resulted, and
the new Speaker exhibited more pa
thence than skill in his efforts to man
age the unruly House. Messrs. Robe
son, of New Jersey, and Haskell, of
Kansas, fenced for the Republican lead
ership. Ex-Speaker Randall and s. S.
Cox, for the leadership of the Demo-
Gratis Mr.. KassOn locked on in 81.
lence from a remote seat, thinking, pei
haps, how much better he could WELD
the gavel than Mr.. Keifcr, or, if this
thought did not occur to him, it did to
almost everyone present. On Tuesday,
the same disorderly scenes were repeat
ed, and the outlook is not peaceful for
the new Speaker. The House adjourn
ed until Friday, and the committees
will probably not be known until next
week.
The Senate met, duly organized, and |
On the second day, while the House was |
still in the throes of confusion, were
listening to the Presidents message,
.ead by the clerk of the Senate from pa
Der heavily bOrdered with black.