The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-04-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(Fron, Our Regular Correspondent J
WASHINGTON, April y, 1856.

There are lots of things to be seen from th'
House gallaries. Something's is always going OIL
on the floor that is not part Of the regular
order. From q good point in the gallery at
observant person much, and after
awhile learns to know the meaning of what he
sees. 1t is in this way that private conferences
are frequently discovered. The floor of the
House is such big place, and the members
get so much ut home there, that many of them
have no idea that their movements are observed
and their purposes guessed at. Some mem
berg, to be sure, are always conscious of the
eyes of the gallery, and after saying or doing
something their ganccs, accompanied with a
smile, will rest for moment upon the place
over the Speakers head. Eut these self-con-
seious men are not generally the ones the gal
| lery gods are watching. 1t is the man who is
unconscious of his surroundings, and is acting
naturally, who calls for their attention. Many
| little caucuscs are held on the floor during the
course Of day, and the habtue of the gal
| lery are apt to know what they are about by
| noticing who are engaged in them and which
ones are taking the lead. Nearly every mem
| Der has his pet hobby in which other members
are interested to more or less extent, an i'll
which he would like TO Interest other members.
1t is easy TO tell what he's talking about
| when he's in earnest conference with certain
| members. For instance, fsomc suavc member
of the ways and means committee were seen
| talking persuasvely with Mr.. Randall, while
that gentleman looked annoyed or hal a hard,
| stony, non- -committal expression on his face,
the h abituc would know it was n tariff discus
| sion, aad that "no agreement had been reached
thereon Great men are always watched most
closely and their pecuiarities are best known.
If a man is seen to confer successivcly with
Mcssre. Holman aud Beach, the habituc KIN
that he wants unanimous consent to take up o
private bill and if he includes Mr. Reagan in his
conference it is known hat the bill is to give
| an increased pension to some officers widow
or TO increase rank on the retired list. 1t is
pretty safe also that he isn't going to get it.
There are little cliques and sets Of men all
through the House who are interested in
certain class of legislation. The habitue knows
them we'll, and sitting long ways ont of car
shot can discover the meaning Of their little
secret conferences. When State delegations
| hold caucuses they generally assemble in some
quiet corner in the cloak room. Conferences
| between individual members arc more frequent
II held on the floor as they arc supposed to
attract no attention.
"Will the House engage in squabblc with
the Senate as to the number and salaries of the
Senate employees? | asked u member who has
served for many years in Congress. aud is rich
enough and broad enough in his ideas to speak
| his sentiments about sham economy.
"Ycs," he replied the same farce will be en-
acted this session as for many sessions past
The House will pass the appropriation
bill, making its own estimates of the
needs OF the Senate Then the latter body will
add to the bill what it wants. and there will be
q discussion in conference rs to the equality of
salaries, to which the Senate Confcrccs will re.
ply that they ore willing to cIualizc the sala-
rieS by raising those of the House employees
| Finally the bill will pass under protest of the
House conferences giving the Senate all it asks
do you think. asked, THAT each Scna-
| tor should be allowed \ private Secretary to be
| paid out of the Public Treasury:
"Undoubtcly they should" he replied with
| emphasis. Many Senators hayo not only n
| private Secretary thus paid, but in addition n
stcnographcr to assist, such is the great amount
| of business-public busness-,hat some of
| them have to transact. Every member should
| be allowed private Secretary. There is not
one who docs not have to employ one. so vast
| is the amount Of my business in the way Of cor
| respondcncc and departmental business for my
| constituents that | have always cmployol q
| private secretary and paid him ont of my own
| purse, even had committee clerk To help,
| and often, in addition, have been compelled to
have n stenosrapher. The general public are
| not aware of the extent of public business that
an industrious member has to perform. Neither
| do they know what it costs n Congressman TO
live here who pays any regard to the dignity of
his position LrSox