The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-04-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From Our Regular Correspondence
WASHINGTON, April 9, 1886.

WASHINGTON, April 2, 1886.
There are lots Of things to be seen from tb,
House gallaries. Something is always going on
on the floor that is not part of the regular
order. From good point in the gallery an
| obserVant person can see 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 at home there, that many of them
have no idea that their movements are observed
and their purposes guessed at. Some men,
bers, to be sure, are always conscious Of the
eyes Of the gallery, and after s,ying or doing
| something their glances, accompanied with a
smile, will rest for moment upon tho place
over the Speakers head. But these self.con-
seious men are not generally the ones the gall
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 caucuses are held on the floor during the
| course Of q day, and the habitue of the gal
lery are apt to know what they ore 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 a more or less extent, an d in
which he would like to interest other members
It is easy to tell what he's talking about
when he's in earnest conference with certain
members. For instance, ifsome suave member
Of the ways and means committee were seen
talking persuasively with Mr.. Randall, while
that gentleman looked annoyed or had hard,
stony, non-committal expression on his face +,
the abitue would know it was tariff discus
sion, and that "no agreement had been reach ed
thereon" Great men are always watched m st
closely and their peculiarities are best known.
Ifa man is seen to confer successfully with
Messrs. Holman and Beach, the habitue kn ows
that he wants unanimous consent to take up O
private bill and if he includes Mr.. Reagan in his
conference it is known that 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 clques and sets of men all
through the House who are interested in n
certain class of legislation. The hsbitue knows
them well, and sitting long ways out 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 tho cloak room. Conferences
between individual members are n,prs FREQ q en- 3
ly held on the floor, as they are supposed 10
| attract no attention.
"Will the House engage in squabble with
| the Senate as to the number and salaries of the
Senate employees? I asked a 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.
EYES," 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
discussion in conference as to the equality of
salaries, to which the Senate Conferees will re.
ply that they ore willing to equalize the sala.
ries by raising those of the House employee
Finally the bill will pass under protest of the
House conferences giving the Senate ell it asks
| "Do you think" asked, chat each Sena-
tor should be allowed a private Secretary to be
paid out of the Public Treasury?
"Undoubtedly they should" he replied with
emphasis. "Mauy Senators have not only q
private Secretary thus paid, but in addition a
stenographer to assist, such is the great amount
Of busness-public business-that some Of
them have to transact. Every member should
be allowed private Secretary. There is mo-
one who does not have to employ one. So vas
is the amount Of my business in the way of cor
respondence aud departmental business for my
constituents that have always employed
private secretary and paid him out of my OWE
purse, even had committee clerk to help,
and often, in addition, have been compelled t
have stenographer. The general public mr.,
not aware Of the extent Of public business tha
an industrious member has to perform. Neither
do they know whatit costs a Congressman t,
live here who pays any regard to the dignity o
his position. LENox.