Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1884-05-03

THE EYE.
Dinnculfies In Catching 1.-THE Advantage
of Catching the Speakers Ear.

A Washington correspondent " =
Much depends on catching the Speakers
eye. Strange as it may appear, a mem
Der in the remote part Of the House with
a feeble voice sometimes catches the
Speakers eye, Notwithstanding a 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 mem
Der has a bill in which there may be
millions or not; but reasons there are
why he shall have the floor at a particu-
lar time. He asks, especially III the
closing hours Of the session. for unanl.
nous consent to call up the bill and put
it OH IL final passage. Amid the rush
aad rnmpus members arc generally
wilIil 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
Representative. sitting in the old hall,
was, ~ usual, in confusion. Members
in scores were trying to catch the
Speakers eve for the~beneft Of favorite
bills. Every one was trying his best,
and nothing was being done. Our vet
eran rccollector, who had the privilege
Of the floor. met in the corridor an out
slider deeply concerned for the passage
OF a bill for which he had labored the
entire session. 1t had passed the Senate,
was not specially opposed, and was
n%eritorious, as he believed. II will give
you SO much" naming q round sum even
Tor these days, IF You will get my bill!
mp" he said.
The gentleman addressed returned to
:he House, where the confusion was
momentarily deepening. Seemingly
every member was on the floor trying to
catch the Speakers eye. "Had l." said
n member of prominence. "a bin for
which / cared enough to make the at
tempt, I would get the Speaker to recog-
nlze me-"
"Wait n moment and you shall be
gratiied."
The outsiders bill was produced and
Hood - tbn ho.1 re tbo 40 ookE;~u
member. "Mr. Speaker T. 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 it's pas
cage. 1t is a worthy bill. We onght to
pass it,"
"Thero being no objection the motion
is carried" said the Speaker. "The
Clerk will call the yeas and nays"
The rules were n 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"
infect mo at Corcoran & Riggs
banking house tomorrow morning at II
O'Clock and will give You the PROMISED
fee"
The was kept and the none,
paid.
After Congress adjourned the promo
ter. meeting the eye-catcbmg member
said: "How did it happen that yo,
caught the Speakers eye when = many
Others were ,alnly trying?"
II had arranged for it days before
but the intended business having beer
intrnsted TO another, who Was then trying
to have the Speaker recognize him, an,
fnilingrery time. ! just wished | had
chance 10 show those who took the bust
ness from my hands what n mistake the,
had made. hut I Ind no bill to do it with