Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-12-24
A Talk With Mr. Murphy, the Official
Reporter.
WHEN CONGRESS FIRST BEGAN TO ADJOURN ovKR THE
CHEISTaAS HOLIDAYS.

Reporter.
CHEIsTaAs HOLIDAYS.
'Now this custom of both houses adjournin1 dur
ing the Christmas holidays was not adoutnd untt
about the beginning of the war" remarked MIR. ID
F. Murphy, Official reporter Of the Senate To Sr.
reporter; "and," he continued lit Is rather Singh
lar, too, that the change came In with and was
brought about by New England men who as q
rule, do Not pay such observance tn Christmas
time as the south, section that had dominated
up 10 that time Oh, yes; Congress used to ad
Journ, practically, during the holidays, but each
mouse scteu LOT Itself. The Senate for instance
would adopt resolution that when IL adjourned
that day it be until the following Monday On
MONDAY some or the Senators, perhaps very few
or them, would meet and extend the recess until
IuuiSudy InoSe who wanted to go home did so
as there was scarcely any business-none OF apy
InPotance-tranSacted during the holidays. The
nouse also would take receSses, three days at a
uIne, 10 extend through the holidays. In 1858
or %, Senator Collamer, OF Vermont protested
aSdlnst that method OF adJourning, and the
pfesentcuStom OF concurrent action was adopted
QUESTION RAISED IN WAR TINES.
During the recess, including Christmas 1862,
and New Years OF 1863, the bill constituting
West Virginia state was before President Lin
coin, and the question was raised that he
could not legally sign it, as the ten days
limitation would expire before Congress would
again be in session That question was submitted
10 the cabinet and In accordance with its decision
the bfll was approved. IL was held that as IL was
not an adjournment OF Congress, the President
could afX his signature. When the bill reached
the President Congress had adjourned for the ho-
days and the ten days he horned 10 retain
bll for his consideration and action would expire
before the reaSSembling of Congress. Hence the
question as TO MIR. IincOlns signature. But he
did sign 1t, on the 2eth or 29th of December.
HOW HE SENATE USED TO BE PACKED WITH sPECTA-
TORS.
ssTbere are M S,,cb crnvris in the Senate these
days" continued Mr.. Murphy, "as used to pack the
old chamber. I've seen ii packed almost to Suf1O-
cation day after day. Then it was customary to
adopt resolution 10 admit ladies to the floor and
they would be accommodated until every foot of
space almost was occupied. During the Lecomp-
ton debate In 1853 people would come In as early
as 10 O'Clock 10 secure seats and they would re-
main in sheir seats until perhaps 10 or IL O'Clock
at night. l remember once Douglass was to con-
clude the debate or one branch or il and as early
as 10 a. IN. there was rush TO secure seats in the
gallery.
HOW LADIES LIFTED THEIR LUNCHES.
II was IL O'Clock that night when the senate adj
journed and during that entire day those fortunate
enough to obtain seats held on to them tenaciously
They would not leave to get lunch for fear of
losing their seats, and such was the scramble that
any person who vacated seat could not expect to
recover it. Twas amusing to see the expedientS
resorted to by persons In the galleries to obtain
refreshments. Ladies would tie handkerchiefs to-
gether and with money secured 10 one end. let the
string thus made down to pages on the floor. The
pages would 90 out and buy sandwiches or fruit
and these refreshments in small quantities were
lifted 20 the gallery by means OF the handkerchiefs
knOtted together.
CONGRESSIONAL ROWS On CLOSING NIGHTS
Speaking OF the anti-bellum period, Mr.. Murphy
said it was customary to anticipate at least one
row during the last night OF session. Then it
regularly expected, he said that the officials
OF each house would have an extensive lunch
spread in some convenient room for the members.
such spread was not complete without a plenti-
ful supply OF liquor, and as consequence some Of
the statesmen would get drunk The row usually
occurred in the House." continued MIR. Murphy,
.'but II was not often that any serious outbreak
occurred In the Senate Though have witnessed
SOME SHARP TILTS
between senators. senator ToombS once got into
an alteration with John Bell. Of Tennessee.
ToombS was the larger man and every body ex-
pected TO see Bell wilt. But he did nothing OF the
kind. He stood up calmly and without evincing
any symptoms OF fear, and gave TOombS the lie
right in his face. The men were not more than
two three feet apart and many supposed that
TOonbs would fairly eat Bell up. But on the con-
trary Bell made Toombs retract. After that
TOombS was not regarded as half so dangerous as
his reputation implied.
Mr. Murphy, In reviewing the traits of some Of
the great men whose public lives were largely
passed under his very eye, spoke very kindly OF
the late Gen. Breckenridge as a genial. courteous
gentleman and Zone OF the finest presiding officers
the Senate has ever had" Gen. breckenridge, he
said, had the faculty OF never forgetting a face.
After his return from his exile in Europe and only
few years ago, While In Philadelphia, he met a
gentleman who had been Officially connected with
the Senate during his Disadvantages yice-presi-
dency. He spoke 10 the gentleman, called him by
name and through him sent his regards to MI.
president Arthur had that same faculty of re-
membering faces" remarked Mr.. Murphy and
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The Scarcity OF Domestic Help.
HOW IT NAY BE RENsDIED-A GRAND FIELD FOR
PHILANTHRoPIC WORK.
To the Editor Of The EVENING STAR:
read with not a little interest the thoughts of
your correspondent respecting the scarcity OF do
nestle help in the west, and OF the superabund-
.ance OF bone and sinew In this city-a subject
which invites patriotic consideration. Nav it not
be possible that some of the states WILL from sheer
necessity, be induced TO relieve the District from
the abnormal burden OF poor population thrown
II may seem preposterous now that the taking
OF destitute children into families kindly nurture
OF half-grown BOYS and girls could be spared and
that these suffering Tor careful training such
as would make the best OF servants. / anticipate
the ready response: I'VE want help that has been
already trained"
Newspaper notices that help is wanted in GER
tain localities make faint impression on persons
who cannot read Moreover, those who have wit
enough and money enough 10 find such distant To-
caiiJies. have usually intelligence sufficient TO get
back again. as In fact so many OF them do. To be
In place where they seldom never meet a per-
OF their color is we'll lust as satisfactory
10 I1el1 As 1L NOGlu 10 Us j Surer method 10
give permanent help Is TO gather the young, take
them 10 families not too remote and make them
feel at home expecting TO bear with ignorance just
a. we do with our Own children, exercising the
same patience and hOpefulness that all youths
require OF those VINO would lead them on TO useful
ness. i am no impractical enthusiast but know
somewhat OF the care and trouble incident to such
an undertaking.
My mother, the wife OF a country clergyman
with small salary, and with a numerous family
OF her own- brought up no less than six poor chill
dren, white and negro and Indian have no re-
Ine'nbrance or = time when there was not one or
more IN the household TO be taught TO work and
Instructed III all the ways to lit them to support
themselves. Yet such Is the decline In the prac-
tice OF his virtue OF bringing up children that
with this holy example. have found 1t almost all
Was equal TO, all dared undertake. TO bring up
Che little Indian waif from six years to twenty
one.
IL occurs TO me IL some Congressman. beneyo-
iently inclined, VIII take up this matter confer
with constituents who NAV be willing 10 assume
the tdsk take time 70 select such children as are
promising and vigorous and willing to go-sO that
some kind hand viii lead theul-iU would not take
long 20 start colony or TWO that might carry re-
nci 10 many household commensurate with all 1t
costs
But Congressman are so busyr' Grant II is So
but they have the sundays; and does not our
Lord declare II is lawful 10 do good on the sab
bath day? What a good work could be achieved
during thc ten or twelve SUNDAYS ere the 4rh M
March III one Congressman would start the ball
rolling ana ten more statesmen be induced 10 int
tate The example, and even han OF our Dhilan-
thropic orators on the Hill DE convinced OF the
Residences Oi such work, what double blessing
X might prove.
hay hafsr1 lad