Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-29
THE DEBRIS OF CONGRESS-.
The Litter That Members Hurrying
Home Left Around Their Desks.

It will take all the time there is to clean up
things at the Capitol and get ready for the re-
assembling Of Congress in December. Almost
before the Speakers gavel fell at the end of
the session, Congress was adjourned and its
elements were scattered throughout the
country. Congress left with its trunks un-
packed and its rooms in confusion. The most
careful members just scraped their papers up
in promiscuous mass in their desks and locked
the lids down. Many left private letters, old
bills, reports, and important papers on the tops
of their desks. At the tardy close of such
long session there was not much disposition
toward order. Since then employees, some at
night as well as day, have been busy getting
things to rights. The first thing that had to
be done before there was any sweeping or
cleaning was to gather up all the loose papers
on the tops Of the desks, and some on the
floor, and put them each in the desk to which
it belonged. Three pages had to clean the
contents out OF each desk and wrap them sep
arately in heavy paper, and label the packages
each with the name of the member the con-
tents Of whose desk it contains. These pack
room: The contents of some of them
would shame the traditional 'small boys
pocket" There are quill pens, old steel
pens, penholders, and pencils, erasers, occa-
sionally much-worn pocket dictionary or book
OF synonyms, and, it is reported, in one desk
an English grammar. Perhaps an apple core
or piece OF tobacco was found in the corners of
desk here or desk there, or, stuck on the
lid, piece of gum. If an empty flask was
found no mention has been made of it. But
none OF these things were saved in the packages.
They are filled with miscellaneous papers-old
letters, some not opened; bills, reports, pieces
of manuscript not classified, rejected sugges-
tons for speeches, notes indicative of study
or research, witty remarks written on bits
OF paper, to refresh recollection on occasion;
and there may be here and there petition the
statesman forgot to present, or delicately-
scented blllet-doux which he neglected to de-
stroy. He will find them all in his package
when he opens it next December. All the
workmen they can put on it will find just as
much as they can do to get the House ready
being gone over, the carpets are taken up to be
cleaned, the floors are being scrubbed
and repaired where the boards have
been loosened or split by the stamp
ing and irate oratory Of tariff debaters.
The desks are being given their annual bath.
They are covered with ink, both in the cloth
covers and the woodwork. On the polished
oak edge OF the tops of most of them is written
names, figures and all sorts Of odd memoranda.
All this has to be washed off, and the water
bugs, ants and spiders must be disturbed from
their domain in the desks of certain members.
1t is unnecessary to name who have not been
in their seats much during the session. The
absentee's desk is always distinguished by the
spider webs inside Of it! Each desk is carefully
rubbed over with soft, soapy looking some
thing that has acid in it. Then the desk is
taken out in the middle of the floor by itself
and doused over with water. 1t is given per-
feet shower-bath. Then is is wiped dry,
vanished and set out of the way. When they
are all done the carpets will be put down and
they will be put back in place, where they
a clean mr.
the returning statesmen. The scrubbers, cabi-
net makers, carpenters, painters and lock-
smiths are at work. Big warnings: paint"
are posted everywhere.