News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1884-03-20
THE SPEAKER's EYE.
DIf1eulties in Catching 1.-THE Advantage
of Catching the Speakers Ear.

A Washington correspondent says =
| Much depends on catching the Speakers
eve. Strange as it may appear, mem
her in the remote part of the House with
a feeble voice sometimes catches the
Speakers eye, notwithstanding dozen
others near the Speaker are shouting
and gesticulating wildly and doing their
utmost to attract his attention. The
recognition is usually made under an
agreement with the Speaker, made,
perhaps, days before. The favored men,
Der has a bill in which there may be
millions or not; but reasons there are
why he shall have the floor at particu-
lar time. He asks, especially in the
closing hours of the session, for unani-
NOUS consent to call up the bill and put
it on its final passage. Amid the rush
and rumpus members are generally
willing to have this done, as it tends to
create an opportunity for others. In this
way some of the most important and the
worst legislation takes place.
A gentleman familiar with legislation
by Congress forty years ago relates an
interesting incident. 1t was near the
close of the session. The House of
Representatives, sitting in the old hall.
in scores were trying to catch the
Speakers eye for the benefit of favorite
bills. Every one was trying his best,
and nothing was being DONE Our vet
eran recollector, who had the privilege
of the floor, met in the corridor an out
slider deeply concerned for the passage
of bill for which he had labored the
entire session. 1t had passed the Senate,
was not specially opposed, and was
meritorious, as he believed. 81 will give
you so much, naming round sum even
for these days, ''if you will get my bill
up" he said.
The gentleman addressed returned to
the House, where the confusion was
momentarily deepening Seemingly
every member was on the floor trying to
catch the Speaker's-ey "Had l." said
member of prominence, ''a bill for
which 1 cared enough to make the at
tempt, would get the Speaker to recog-
nize me-"
"Wait moment and you shall be
gratifed."
The outsiders bill was produced and
placed in the ha' of the eye-catching
member. "Mr. Speaker p was heard
from his quarter.
''The gentleman from Blank, was the
| immediate response.
81 ask unanimous consent that the
bill numbered blank be put on its pas
sage. 1t is worthy bill. We ought to
pass it.
'There being no objection the motion
is carried" said the Speaker. s'The
! Clerk will call the yeas and nays
The rules were little different from
what they are now. The roll was called.
and the bill passed. Going outside, the
promoter meets his anxious friend. who
was wholly ignorant of what was going
on. ''Your bill is through and the work
is DONE"
"Meet me at Corcoran & Riggs's
banking house tomorrow morning at 10
o'clock and I will give you the promised
fee."
The summons was kept and the money
paid.
After Congress adjourned the promo
ter, meeting the eye-catchmg member,
said !: GLOW did it happen that you
caught the Speakers eye when so many
others were vainly trying?"
81 had arranged for it days before,
but the intended business having been
intrusted to another, who was then trying
to have the Speaker recognize him, and
failing every time, just wished L had a
chance TO show those who took the bust
ness from my hands what mistake they
had made, but had no bill to do it with
If did you any good / am glad. You
must have an understanding with the
Speaker in order to catch his eye when
every body is trying to do it.