The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-05-13
A DAY IN CONGRESS.
N xExkKx-s OBSERVATIONS N TEE
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
The Heuse Reisseroes and rnrusy.
the Senate pigrfssc<i and Dull TIE
Departments. and How They are
Managed.

the Senate pigrfssc<i and paii-TMs
Departments. and How They are
Managed.
wsssiSeres. April s,;h.--when
arrived in Washington the streets
were a sloppy and the 'raster Of ths
rain on the root could tc heard until
slunscr shat out all Of real life and
opened up the mysteries ei dream
land. But morning brought sunshine
and the brightest Of green swaris in
view in the many parks and lawns ~
be seen all over this city.
One coming into strange city has
feeling akin to lonescmeness, scr,
of solitude amidst the gsyess crowd of
unknown faces, Ii MAS not hong that
was destined 20 want for familiar
faces, First, before breakfast, Eeils.
OF the fnyallup agency: then Wicker-
sham OF Tacoma, quickly followed hy
three Indians from the reservation, Of
" We ol,icn time acquaintance. and
James Mcknight soon after. ot more
recent date. Yet of quarter OF a CEN
tury' contact in the Western Wilds.
I" Nc looks as II he was well fed. not
oyerworked and good for many years
OF rough and tumble fight in eoart.
VISIT r. rHK norss.
OF course the frs, thing one must do
in Washington. when congress is in
session Is 10 visit the two houses,
whether there is much or little ta be
seen or heard. There certainly was
precious little to he heard in the :. si,.
ting OF the house, except In the start,
save that of the sonoruus voice Of the
clerk in reading the minutes oi the
preceding days proceedings. Sehasiy
paid any attention to il, not even the
speaker sat in the gallery aud
counted but forty-iive members in their
places, very nearly all talking or clap
ping the hands for the familiar call OF
the pages. In the hall, on the iioor,
and from the adjoining Hobbies, there
came a duh roar of voices in conyersa-
tioa, 80 pronounced as 81 lead one to
believe that talking was the main oc-
cupation Of the aSsemhlage below.
Then came a bill for pension to the
widow Of meriiorious officer Of the
army. The proceedings were not
marked with any degree OF decorain.
The speaker raped and raped and
rappcd, vel the noise went OH as the
fifteen minutes speech was read-yes.
read--and 10 which no more attention
was paid than 10 the wifVi that was
gently blowing outside the capitol
building
There seemed to be just little less
noise when Mr.. Randall got up Ia
speak, but the noise soon broke but
afresh, while Mr.. Speaker pounded
vigorously and one might say almost
frantically. vet hopelessly until finally
two gentlemen stepped upon the plat
form and engaged him In conversa-
tion, and 30 there was less noise, for
there was less pounding on the speak
er's table.
THE SENATE.
Going over 10 the senate chamber,
the utmost decorum prevailed there,
but a very thin attendance more
than thirty members In their seats
listening to the reading-ycs reading
of a speech by grave senator against
the pre-emption LAW. One would think
these old-tiue national legislators
would finally come to throw duh man
uscript away and launch out into OF.
hand discussions, but such was not
the case today, with the exception OF
Mr.. Randall, in the house, who spoke
without notes for few minutes.
THE nEpARrarsrs.
Visiting three departments during the
same day, revealed the fact that the
"beadsn Of the departments, are
s'heads " only In name-flgure heads
In fact-the real brains being in the
under clerks and employees. Its here,
that all departmental action originates /,
all departmental business Is reiaEated
TO these thinking machines for &C
ton before anything Is done by the
nominal head Of the department.
The government seems 10 he re
solved into departmental and commit
tee work for the real executive and the
Legislative functions, while the noini-
nal executive and Legislative branches
are simply campaign workers 70 man.
usacture political capital. The real
work OF both houses Is done in the
committee room; the real workers OF
either house, are the active members
of the committees, yet when an ap-
peal IL to he made 20 the country NJ
large for political effect, then the bat
tie, or work, OF by whatever name you
may call il, Is done in open session.
THE TaRIFy piscusstos.
Such o battle is now in progress. the
formal opening Of which occurred yes
terday. I was present and sat for i've
hours in one Of the hardest and most
uncomfortable seats possible 70 devise,
TO listen 70 two set speeches upon the
tariff question, one prcsenting the free
trade, the other the protective side Of
the question.
ings Of the previous day, this
was marked by reasonable decorum.
The galleries were filed with specta-
tors. The members generally were in
their seats and the chairman fefrained
from pounding upon the table a. II he
we're mauling rails. The talent dis
PLAYED upon The floor Was far better
than anything displayed in either house
Of Parliament during the exciting de-
bate upon the Irish question, and !
heard several noted men including
Nj. Gladstone himself. The argument
Of Mr.. NcNulin, Of Tennessee, vas
fIery. declamssory and laborious. He
svest like Turk In 4 hot bath. sub
s,ituting coffee for whisky during the
nearly two hours occupied in the de-
livery OF his speech, and had IN At
tendant at his side = manage the doc
uments. Jndgc Kelly, the veteran
who has seen the longest service oi
any member OF the house. questioned
the speaker mercilessiy, and made
several decided hits that brought the
house and galleries down In applause
by hand clapping. which was invari-
ably followed by pounding by tbs
chairman after the applause was al
over and the noise had subsidized 70 bs
could be heard.
FOR PROTECTION.
Buyxpws, Of Michigan. spoke in re-
ply : ns{ayor of protection. His
styI< meapgeiy to that oi
]! ] ] ] ] E q y y !
and ~
wh
graduating H.
the proceedings ldS
ter the close Of his
which the applause broke o.
invariably followed by the poundill
each time afte. II was al over-ths
chairman was simply performing ,
dusy-not expecting 20 enforce th'
rule Of decorum and silence.
This :" play of words {" upon the tar
Il - t.Sfy "a H.. ,vxxx.x.<J a-fks.x s.xs H.