The National tribune., 1885-12-10

effect. IT is the same with Congressman.
During a heated contest on some party ques-
tion they sit up nights thinking Of bitter
philippics with which to paralyze the oppo-
sition After it is all over they meet in the
ante-rooms and restaurants of the Capitol and
DRINK, SMOKE, AND EAT OYSTERS
together, while spirit of grace, mercy and
peace broods over them.
At precisely ID minutes before IL o'clock the
Sergeant-at- Arms bearing alott his mace, the
emblem of authority, and looking good
deal like the drum-majo jor of brass band,
moves abolt the hall warning all persons ex-
cept Members to withdraw. Precisely at noon,
in each assembly, there is sharp click oil the
eavel upon the marble desk, and the session
has begun. There is a hush for few minutes,
while brief prayers are offered by the respect
i've Chaplains, and then all is buzz and excite
ment.
The Senate is a body Of continuous existence.
about a third of its members being elected
every two years. The Vice President Is, eT-
offcio. its presiding officer. Under ordinary
circumstances, therefore, the Senate convenes
fully organized and ready for business. On
Monday, however, the Senate met without a
presiding officer, in consequence of the death
of Mr.. Hendricks 1t was necessary to elect a
President pro temp0rs OF the Senate, who by
virtue OF his ONCE. becomes acting itS-l tta'i-
dent of the United States for the remainder OF
the Presidential term. There is no provision
in the Constitution or the laws for actually fill
ing a vacancy in the Nice-Presidency.
The House of Representatives passes entirely
out of existence on the 4th of March, once in
two wears. The Members of the new House
are elected by the people at the Fall election
preceding, bat they are not sworn till the CON
yening OF Congress on the first Monday in De-
cember following the adjournment, so that
during the interval of eight months
THE HOUSE HAS NO EXISTENCE,
unless, as very rarely occurs, the President
calls an extra session of Congress. AT the be-
ginning of the first session the Honse elects
Speaker and a full complement of officers The
organization becomes complete when the
Speaker, a few days later appoints the stand
ing committees All business is filtered through
these committees before it is acted upon, and
nothing can be accomplished without them.
As soon as the Speaker is elected the oath #
Office is administered to him by the oldest
Member in continuous service, who is termed
the Father of the House. Hon. w. ID. Kelley,
of Pennsylvania has held this post of honor
for many years. He entered Congress In lodl,
and since that time-24 years-hiS seat has
never been occupied by another. If ne lives
to complete the term upon which he has just
entered be will have served longer than any
The Members are qualified by the Speaker.
They are summoned to the area in front of the
Speakers desk, in detachments of 20, where,
with upIfJed hands, they receive the oath of
Office. Now and then Quaker, or other per-
son having conscientious scrupleS about taking
an OATH appears. For sueh form of atirma-
tion is provided, less rigid in phrase though
not less binding in its obligation During the
war Congress prescribed for its Members what
is known as
THE "IRoNCLAD" OATH,
which required the person to swear that he had
never voluntarily borne arms against the
United States nor afforded aid and comfort to
its enemies. As the Southern States one after
another, were reconstructed" and those who
had zealously served the Lost Cause" in mill
tary and civil capacities, began to form III pro-
cession and march on Washington, they could
not, of coarse, take this oath, and another form,
called the modified oath, was made for their
benefit, by the terms of which they promised to
support the Constitution, etc, and behave them
selves in future. This distinction was main
tained for 20 years, and the singular spectacle
was presented of two different forms OF oath ad-
mnistered TO citizens OF the same country, on
becoming, in all other respects, equal members
of the same body. The last Congress abolished
the ironelad oath, thus laying another plank in
the bridge across the bloody chssm." Now
the same oath is given to all-ex-tederals and
ex-Confederates alike.
As soon as the organization of II Houses of
Congress is complete joint committee is sent
TO wait upon His Excellency, the President of
the United States, and inform him that Con-
gress is ready TO receive any communication ne
may have TO make. Then he sends to each
House matter of 1900 or $4,000 words,
known as the Presidents Message. The read
ing Of this always
sTAMPEDEs THE GALLERIES.
Up to this point the spectators have watched
the proceedings with interest, but they do not
care to sit for two long hours while the clerks
reading by reiefs, work oil the Message. In
fact the members, themselves, generally lack
the fortitude to sit through H. They furtiyely
slide out, by twoS and thTees and smoke and
tell stories in the cloak rooms and Hobbies, or
60 to the cafes for "a dozen on the half SHE'LL
1t is not often that quarter of them are in
their seats when the reading IS finished. They
prefer to read and digest IL at their leisure.
The drawing for seats in the House usually
takes place on the second day. This is done by
placing all the names of the Members on slips
in box, and blind folded page draws them
out one at a time. As each name is announced
the Member chooses his seat It is a customary
courtesy, however, to first allow few Mem
hers who are stricken in years, or are suffering
from partial deafness or other physical infrm-
ity, to make their choice without compelling
them to take their chances with the rest. Po-
liticaily the House is divided by the center
aisle. The party antagonists are separated as
in Scri pturc,
THE DEMOCRATIC SHEEP
on the Speakers right, and the Republican
goats on his left. The similarity ceases at this
point, as the classification is purely voluntary
one, on the principle that birds of feather
flock together" As the number of seats in
each half of the hall is the same, whichever
party is in the majority must encroach upon
the domain of the minority. After the draw
ing there Is always more or less trading" OF
seats for mutual accommodation, as in the case
ofpersonal friends who may desire one anOthers
company. This system of seating gives ali an
equal chance TO secure the desirable places and
prevents the serious friction that would be in
evitable were a general scramble permitted.
This completes the work of organization save
the appon tment Of the standing committees as
before mentioned, and the Members get ready
TO pour into the hopper the grists of bills and
resolutions that they have brought TO the Con-
gressi0nal mill.
STATESMEN WHO "GoT LEFT"
OF the 325 Members Of the House. l12 Demo-
Gratis and 67 Republicans. l19 IN ALL We're re-
elected. One hundred and forty Dem
ocrats and 10 Repubiicans--are novices in the
science IF national law making. Among those
classed as new Members, because they were not
in the last Congress. are several who have been
there before. Notable among them are Mckin-
ley af Ohfa. Sessions of ke,y York and Pur