The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1883-07-14
THE MEXICAN CONGRESS-.

A Visit to the Chamber or Deputies
Its Methods Compared with Those
of the United states House OF xepre-
! seutatives.
! A letter from the City Of Mexico saws:
! The republic Of Mexico is modelled
closely upon that of the United States.
The central government rests upon a
GENITAL union of 20 states, each of which
sends two senators and delegation of
deputies based on population, to the
congress, which, thus constituted, forms
the legislative branch OF the govern
ment. There are besides, rs with the
United States, the executive and iudic
ial branches. The senate holds It's ses-
sions III an apartment in the palace, a
very large building which fronts the
plaza from the east. The house G dep
uties occupies building formerly used
as theater, in the rear of the cathe-
dral and mt some distance from the
senate. Under the constitution there
are two sessions each year of the con-
gress, one, called the long session, er
tending from the middle of Septe'n Der
TO the middle Of December, and the
other from the first of April to the first
Of June. visitor in the Ca pital might
easily end his stay without being re.
minded that congress WAS IN session.
One discovers upon inquiry that very
little popular interest is felt in its pro.
ceedings, and while the sessions are for
the most part open, very few people
ttend them, unlees there is some spec
asi occasion of extraordinary character.
u - well worth while, however, Cor one
to visit the chamber to study the prac-
tical machinery Of self-government in
operation. The chamber opens direct
iy on the street, and IL not mt all pro-
tccted against sudden squalls of popu-
lar excitement. A soldier or two rep
resents order, and messengers hover at
the entrance TO be of service to the
members and ward off intruders. In
one corner of the porticO sits an old
| gentleman at a table, who checks off
| each member as he enters. A few steps
| further on another 9oorkeeper hands
| the entering member the official print
ed journal, which contains the report
OF yesterdays proceedings and other
matters Of parliamentary routine.
The courtesy of Senior Aijon, one of
the deputies, provided me with q seat
Ill the box reserved for the Justices OF
the supreme court, from which position
a fine view OF the chamber is To be had.
The hall retains much of its theatrica
arrangement. On the space formerly
occupied by the stage il the platform
and desk Of the speaker and the clerks.
| Directly over the head of the presiding
officer, on background of red curtains,
"A IN of
ton. High over all Is q statue Of Mich
ael Hidalgo, the republican patriot,
hanked on either hand by allegorlcal
paintings. For legislative purposes the
pit OF the theater has been cleared
OF seats except the row, which skirts
the outer rim Of the semi-circle. There
are three rows more in what would be
the parqeuttc circle, making accomoda-
tlons III all for about $50 persons. The
full membership of the chamber is at
present 227, but, as with congress, it is
rare that more than a quorum is pres
ent unless the busicess is unusually
important. Ali the rows of seats, except
The one on the floor, have before them
desk facilities, IN the shape of broad.
rlmmed rail-, on which members can
place tnelr bats, notes, papers, or cool
ing drinks. The deputies are provide ed
with the individusl desks which arc mt
once convenience ana nuisance
In the United States hall of representa-
tives.
The sessions begin at O'Clock in the
afternoon, and shortly before that hour
the members begin to arrive. As they
pass through the vestibulo they strike
bystander iavorably. They are for the
mos. part men in the prime of life, ac-
tive in movement but digniiied and very
intelligent in appearance. The greater
part are dressed in English morn
ing frock-coats and wear the silk |
hat which represents respectability all |
over the world. The keen eyed old |
doorkeeper checks them off as they |
pass, and they then proceed to an ele.
CANT retiring room and thence to their |
seats III the chamber. As they meet one |
another they exchange courteous and
graceful greetings, and seem 10 be on
the irlendliest terms.
AS the deputies sit reading The obi
clal gazette or chatting in groups they
suggest in striking measure the Brit
ish house of commons. Most of the
members keep their hats OH and are
smoking. There Is pervading buzz
OF conversation, not aa noisy as in the
hall OF representatives, but of the
air OF listlessnese which betokens Sthe
lack OF stirring topics of discussion.