The National tribune., 1888-10-04
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOings at the Ma
tiOnal Capital
A GLIMPSE oE TIE CAPITOL.

this unfailing little monitor he times the five
minute speeches Of the Senators. One day re-
Gently a speaker, who was loaded TO the muz-
zle found himself not half through when time
was called on him, and he declared his time
was not up. and be did not believe the Chair
man was right about it. Mr.. ingalls, exhibited
his glass with the t0p-half empty. and declared
its llibility, saying, at the same time Con
gress is run by sand now
This seems indeed the literal truth as far as
the House IS concerned at any rate.
If the scarcity of votes in the House now is
q premonitIon Of the supply next November,
there viii hardly be sufficient quantity oelect
half President.
The daily scene from the galleries Of the
House is few scattering Members talking aud
laughing together, writing at their desks, read
ing the latest political news longing on the
sofas in the rear Of the Chamber standing in
groups in different parts Of the hall, winding
in and out Of the cloak-rooms, waiting hat in
hand, 60 cast ono fugitive vote on the fly and
BOW and then when by the hardest labor
auOrum has been developed moving the busl-
Ress along till some evil-minded party who
ends the vote against him briags everything
70 a sudden standstill by the cry OF . No
quorum" These are the faithful few but for
whom Congress could not be said 70 still be IN
session. and il is a great thing for Congress TO
be in session. whether it works or motor the
boarding -hoUse keepers
In fact, the proceedings of the 50th Congress
seem made up of /" Diyision!" No quorum ~
object" moves 10 adjourn, and calls of the
House
This latter feature IS the greatest circus of
all. and u is an uDfailinE source Of amusement
70 the boys IN the gallery 20 see our digni-
fed Statesmen brought in by the Sergeant-at-
Arms and arraigned before the bar Of the House
till he makes proper excuse.
A few days ago, when there was call being
da Ind Ia fran 81
-ado, who is nothing If not dignifed, having
been warned by one Of the pages, who arc sent
flying ali over the building for that purpose,
Sas leisurely approaching, keeping up his Dig
atty 70 the last; for as his name is the very
last Of the letter s, and that letter almost the
last on the list he had plenty of time, as II
takes about tAree-quarters Of al hour to cali
she roll. Just as the Judge arrived at the
door, however, lady acquaintance happened
20 be passing. and after bidding him gOod-day,
further detained him by asking Z question.
Symes! +" called the Clerk.
"Yei" shouted the Judge over his shoulder
10 the lady, and Here" 10 the House, as
with a 1yiag lesp up both steps al once he
landed just inside.
Once in a while there is a diversion in the
form OF a Eve inmates speech, which usually
breeds tail an hour or more is consumed in
these small samples OF OratOry that make up IN
noise what hey lack in length.
The Oklahoma bill has been an unfailing
standby, and develops more generous senti-
mentamong Members than even the temperance
question. One SIDE cbanp ioHs the poor, abused
Indians, and the other as earnestly espouses
the cause OF the settlers-those who have any
ssslps left.
Occasionally some irTeverent statesman re-
veals q want Of the proper appreciation OF the
rights Of the original lords Of the soil, and
amuses himself by an untimely jest, sueh as
occurred the other day.
The Clerk was reading an amendment, which
said:
After the word Indians insert"-
just az this juncture a Member sung out
quite audibiy:
S0ldiers."
Most Of the sitting Members on both sides
are being renominated. and let US hope that
when the District conventions have all done
tbeir work We wil have Members enough to
capture that elusive quorum, which, even when
disclosed on 3 roil-caIl, cannot he depended
upon on vote; like the IrishmaR's lea. you
put your finger on him and he is not there.
Senator Al1Tich says there viii be a coutinu-
Gus session till the 4th OF next March, with q
recess no# and then for important business, /"
aud perhaps the boys VIII get some work in
after al wacn . cold snap comes aud puts
them on their mettle.
Il Is reported. however that the Senate tariff
pill VIII be laid before the Senate inside Of 10
seem 10 - zIiy good reason why the session
should b. longer than some time in October at
the fsrthest, and il is not believed that it
will be-
One OF the features in the House is how the
BLENDERS take their morning dose Of prayers.
The majority Of them, ] an glad 10 say, do not
treat il as a dos" az all and when they are
there on time you viii see ar. BItterwOrth d.
B. Henderson, Mr. Davidson Of Florida; Gen.
Hovey, Owen Of Indiana, Reed, Mckinley
and both Breckinridges. staBd with heads rev.
srently bent. Gen. Tom Browne and Cheadle
Of Indiana pay their reverence while sitting
As soon Is the amen is pronounced there
is a sudden in1ux Of those not quite on time
alo M. Hayson, the homestead champion,
Gov. Gear. Morrow Of San Francisco. and Ezra
j. Taylor lead a crowd that soon scatter 70 their
seats
Much Of the past week has been spent shalr-
ing hands with the absentces, who have been
assisted in their joyful return to duty by the
uBtirinc efforts OF the Sergeaut-at- rms and
every one Of them is primed with news from
the fields Of action.
Reporters have been +" conspicuous by reason
OF their absence" for they know il IS easier ID
find Congressman anywhere else than in Con
gress, sc they seek out their boarding house:
and other places Of resort at light. and CLEAR
their views IN the fence-corners. as 1t were
aud thus manage 10 serve their papers, though
the dearth Of news is appalling.
The Senate IS ieisarsiy body, however, and
nobody seems 70 be ia a hurry. Senators walk
around with pace tempered to suit unlimited
time, as though they had the greater part q
their lives Ia front instead Of behind them
The groups they make are sometimes suggest
We. few days since, As Senator Stewart wa
sitting in front Of his desk, Mr Jones, the othel
Nevada Senator, leaned over it, talking to him
Presently Senator Sawyer came up, and restin.
5n the back Of the desk, joined in the CONVEX
sation, Thus bringing three OF the baldest heads
IN the Senate into iuxtapositiOn, wonderful,
suggestive Of pawnbroker's sign.
LIFE SACRIFICE.
There are plenty OF heroes in everydav.lifi
who deserve the name every bit as much a
the man who calamity stands by his eolors Il
battle
/ know man here, born IN the Distric,
who has for years been employed IN one of Ia
Executive Departments, whose whole life Ia
been a sacrifice for others
His father, who died here some wears agc
was an old West Pointer who had drifted at,
Of the service, and, like many others Of his pro
tession, into Government elerkship, where d
married and raised considerable family. A
age grew upon him the father dropped ont :
Government employ, and also, ike most sue
cases. was poor.
Old Array friends Of the father obtained
place for the eldest son a. an age when he sholI
have been expected 20 enter college or stud
Eru4p Fraffezinfa aud be safslad G,.s,-,,