Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-12-14
IFrom Our Rexular Correspoudent.l
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. D. c., Dec. 10. 81.

WASHINGTON. D. c., Dec. 10. 81.
A first performance" be 1t theatrical
or parliamentary, always forms great
attraction for the spectacle loving Wash
ingtonians. It was, therefore, not sur
prising on last Monday to find the CALLER
les Of the House crowded within, and its
portals surrounded by throng Of eager
sight seers. intent on taking stock Of the
new congress. On occasions like this,
almost cease to bewsil the unhappy lot of
journalist. 70. no mstter how crowded the
special galleries reserved for the families
and friends Of members, for diplomats. or
he one filled by the ProfanUm uulgus, your
correspondent wages his way through the
,mmed lVbbies and the dence excluded
throng that is striving to catch glimpse
through the windows, with the assurance
that ne will find a good point of view in
the gallery occupied BY what Gen. B. +
Butler once designated 1.-THE forty jackass
power null machine of the press" But
Nuio ShilCllN iOl hll VI
congress have wholesome fear. il very
exclusive. for there are quacks, snides.
and charlatans in this holy profession also
Every correspondent is req ,ired to file his
credentials. which must state over the sig
nature of the editor. that he is the author
zed Washington correspondent OF bis pa
al, l.. l. -.
action from Committee appointed BY the
House, he is gwen a ticket. signed by the
speaker, which entities him to a seat In
tne reporters gallery for that session.
| he way To the reporters gallery of tn
Senate is ,qusl'y difficult, and, in each APP
pho 'lion, the petitiOn~r must sign paper
stating that he is MT a clerk in any CIV
rrnment Office and will not be interested
III the prosecution of any claim against the
government. Having been duly admitted
he corr, spondent has a position facing
he House or Senate, and can see and hear
,verything going on. 1t Of great import
ance for him to be acquainted with the
distinguished dranmtis persOne on the
floor, to say nothing OF the supers AMI
puppets. But, since eight or ten tragedi
tbs, and half as many comedians, make
all the noise. if be is sufficiently fami lar
With their faces TO attach their names to
their performances he will get along pref.
ty well, If be is not, he will get along
pretty i'll, tor such sublimity of imp ,lite-
ness has, with help Of natural bias, seldom
been achieved. as that shown by Wash
Inglon journalist when anyone asks him
q esion. have long since been through
.novitiats. and know how it is.
There was nothing unusual in the or
taniz ttion of the present House. Speaker
K lfer was no sooner in the chair than
halt a dozen members commenced talking
TO the remote ends wires of and post routes
on points of order, privilege, procedure,
and like questions Of little Importance
An almost lnextrcable parliamentary tan
lie resulted, and the speaker exhibited
more patience than skill in his efforts to
manage the unruly house. Me,srs. R DE
son, of New Jersey, and Haskell of Kan
SIS, fenced for the republican leadership.
Elk speaker r .ndall and S. S. Cox, for The
leadership of the democrats. Mr. Kassun
OIL ed on in silence from a remote seat.
thinking. pei haps, how much better he
cOuld WELD the gavel than Mr.. KeIfer or,
f this thought did MT occur to him, it did
To almost everyone present. On Tuesday.
he same disorderly scenes were repeated,
md the outlook is not pea eful Tor the new
'peaker The house adjourned until Fri
by. and the committees will probably not
De known until next week.
The senate met duly organized, and or
the second day, while the House was in
he throes of confusion, were listening to
The Presidents message, read by the clerk
ii the Senate from paper heavily bordered
with black.