The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-12-18
WASHINGTON.
What They Are Doing at the Capitol
rho Office misunderstanding About
Congressman Wakefield.-Notes.

~ AaS SSAO /
Congressman Wakefield.-Notes.
Especial Correspondence To THE FREE PRESS.
The first week OF Congress has been rather
uneventful The opening ceremony, OF course,
attracted Ia the Capitol large crowds. and the
galleries of both branches were filled with
spectators. | never noticed so many strang-
ers, in fact, nor such a rush IA ut the opening
day this session. The sombre decorations of
the Senate chamber IN memory OF the late
Vice. President Hendricks, threw an air of
solemnity over that usually grave body, and
the formal proceedings of electing Senator
sherman to the Office of President PRO ten of
the senate were conducted with the dignity
and dccorum always characteristic Of the pro-
cccdings of the upper house. Several of the
Senators had their desks ornamcnted 10y floral
tributes, which shed somc degree of brilliancy
upon the scene.
IN TuE HOUSE
the picture presented Il convention
on the first day for nominating Il presidential
candidate. The old member shook hands and
IN some cases Rugged one another, igurative-
~ speaking, and were introduced IL new men,
bcrs. Pages dartcd hithcr and thithcr and the
hum of voices sounding like II beehive, would
carry one back To the opening day in II large
college.
THE NEW MEMBERS
who come here fresh from the fields OF their
local fame, crowned with the laurels of their
local triumphs, soon discover that a man may
be powerful i'm the Tenth District of dor
%eNamplcJ and yet be II mere cipher at the Ma
tional Capitol. Tn snubbings which these
legislative would-be Webster's receive at the
departments make the first month of their
experience here seem a period of almost un-
mixed disappointment and misery. Their
ambitious day-hreams OF advising the admins
tration are dispelled like i~nfantile illusions,
aL.d instead Of obtaining offices for the polite
al retainers who have followedt them here, they
nave IL loan them the wherewith In get back
To their homes. Banners OF red tape arrest
their progress in every direction, and they
have about us much freedom OF action rs a cat
allows n captive mouse.
AN AMUSING STORY
Is told Of Il new member who came here be-
fore Congress met. II is well known that al
seats are drawn for by lot in the House. no one
having II choice. This particular one came
early in order Ia get n good seat. (He did not
know the ruleD He strolled carelessly into
The Capitol with the air of satisfaction and
proprictorship, AMI II look that seemed TO say
II own the place, but rub me the right way
and | will not be hard on YOU" He struck 4
half dozen pages, whose propensities for guy
ing" are irrcpressible, and asked which seats
were vacant. They of course told him the,
were all vacant, but neglected to inform hin
of the rules, and. immensely pleased to thinl
OF how he had got the best of his brother mem
bers, proceeded To select n seat II
{ font and directly under the eye of the speak
er. The bows carried nut the joke and put hi
name on the ticket, which 50 pleased him that
he generously m presented each with Il knife
from the stationery room, which he though
!, cost nothing, but which were duly charged Il
his account. You can imagine the sequel
especially ~ all the memoers were made nc
r quainted with his good fortune
During the past week ] tad the pleasure u
meeting FOR the first time
CONGRESSMAN }. b. WAKEFIELD,
who represents the Second Minnesota Distric
in the present Congress. Minnesota Away
does things well as a State, and in this particu
lar instance she susfains her record. ] fee
/. guaranteed In saying that the gentleman from
the Second District of Minnesota is the mos
I dignitied and imposing loo king statesman o.
the floor of the House. | found him Il yer.
: genial and entertaining gentleman, and | pre-
dict good things from him this session. Hi
constituents need not fear To trust their inter
: ests in his hands.
THE OFFICE ERE
I are here in iull force, as would naturally b.
expected. They come from every section
from the Atlantic to the Pacific. At frs
backed by the Hon. John Fresh, of RuralviliC
they expect 10 get a foreign consulate; they
soon conclude that they will be satisfied with
an Indian Agency, from that to a clerksh II
and finally in the agony of this great disaI
pointmcnt their cry is: Anything, Oh Lord
anything At last they are glad to get cas-
enough to get home. where they moralize an
think of the coy decciver 'ofii ce."
NOTES.
The senate will, the coming week, I think
, pass the Hoar presidential succession bill
which provides in case Of the death of tn
President and Vice President that the success
ion shall descend to the Secretary Of State, an
down To the various members of the Cablnet !
event Of his death. This would not affect tn
present state Of affairs, and in case OF the de
mise OF President Cleveland, the nation woult
bc governed 10y Vice-Presidcnt pro tsm Shel
man.
BY the wa. the Presidents message Is NOR,
favorably commented on generally by tn
newspapers than that of any of his predeces
Sors.
! Washington promises To be unusually ga
this Winter. There are q large number of ne'
arrivals. and in a stroll on Pennsylvania ave
nue. one will meet more handsomely dresses
ladies than in any other city in the country.
Washington hopes To have the pleasure o
seeing the great tragedian Edwin Booth In III
near future. He has not played here sine
his brother, John Wilkes, assassInated Pres
dent Lincoln, In 1865, although requested to d
so by the leading legislators and citizens of tn
District.
On the Democratic side.it appears To he Nor
rison versus Randall. The versatile Colone
Will have a pic ME If he attempts to down tn
honorable Samuel.
Gen. Logan had his weather eye open in dc
: Ginning the Vice-Presldency. He IS II hustle
ali the same.
q l.. III.