The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-11-26
THE DEBRIs ! OF CONGRESS.
The Litter That Members Hurrying
Home Left Around Their Desks.
From the Washington Star.


From the Washington Star.
1t will take all tho time there is to clean
up things at the capitol and get ready for
the reassembling of congress in December,
Almost before the speakers gavel fell at
the end OF the session, congress was ad-
journed and its elements" were scattered
throughout the country. Congress left with
its trunks unpacked and its rooms in con
fusion. The most CAREFUL members Just
scrdped their papers up in promiscuous
mass in their desks and locked the lids do wn.
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 to-
ward 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 OF
cleaning was to gather up ali the loose pa
pers on the tops of the desks. and some OIL
the floor and put them each in the desk to
which it belonged. Three pages had to clean
the contents of each desk and wrap them
separately in heavy paper, and label tho
packages each with the name of the MEM
ber the contents Of whose desk il contains.
These packages are enough to fill largo
storeroom. 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 a much-worn pocket dictionary or
book OF synonyms, and, it is reported, In one
desk an English grammar. Perhaps an ap-
pie core or piece OF tobacco was found In
the corners of desk here or desk there, or
stuck on the lid, a piece Of gum. II an
empty flask was found. no mention has
been made Of it, But none Of these things
we're saved in the packages They are
filled with miscellaneous papers-old let
nuanHds htflz f1ia
OF manuscript not classified, rejected sug-
gestions for speeches, notes Indicative Of
study or reselrch, witty remarks written
on bits OF paper, to refresh recollection on
occasion; and there may be here and there
a petition the statesman forgot to present,
or delicately-scented billet-doux which he
neglected to destroy. He will find them all
in his package when he opens 1t mex, De-
cember. All the workmen they can put on
it will find just as much as they can do to
got the House ready for occupancy by De-
cembsr. The paints are 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 stamping and irate oratory OF tariff de-
baters. 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 of, and the waterbugs, auts
and spiders must be disturbed from their
domain In the desks Of certain members.
IL Is unnecessary TO name who have not
been in thsir seats much during the session.
The absentees desk is always distinguished
by the spider webs inside of IL. Each desk
is carefully rubbed over with a soft, soapy
looking something that has acid In 1t. Then
the desk is taken out in the middle of the
floor by itself and doused over with water.
IL is given perfect shower bath. Then it
is wiped dry, vanished and set out of the
way. When they are all dono, the carpets
win be put down and they will be put back
in place, where they will wait with a shin
ing and clean welcome for the returning
statesmen The scrubbcrs, cabinet makers,
carpenters, painters and locksmiths are at
work. Big warnings, Paint" are posted
everywhere