New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-08
A FORMAL MEEIING OF The HOUSE.
NOTHING BUT THE ROLL CALL AND A SIGHT OF
FLORAL TMBUTEs'
TBr TELEGRAPH TO TIE TEIBUSE.I

WASHINGTON Dec In the House OF Represent
atives the opening confined TO calling OF
the roll which disclosed the presence OF 3@o members
That done the House promptly adjourned TO permit
Democratic to take the logic OF events from
the shelf once more and set IL on its feet II that were
pl,ssibe. All during the forenoon the galleries ana
corridors leading TO them had been closed to the pub
lie while i'm the hall within the vicors in the election
OF 1890 kept wrangling the spoils 1t was not
until few minutes before that the galleries were
opened and the public took possession Of the seats
looking upon the pit below.
The floor of the Chamber had changed its hue, since
II last saw the National Legislature assembled, from
bright green the time honored color OF legislative car
net to tint known among artists as dragon
blood suggestive Of gore Representatives Oh
the Democracy lay sprawlng in every direction
on sofas and easy chairs catching second
wind after the contest OF the morning, while
fumes OF stale tobacco like the traditional smoke
OF battle toward the ceiling and the odors OF sundry
scores of matutnal cocktails hung in the air. bearing
witness to the ador OF the contest temporarily sus~
pended. For an hour or more wagons and carts had
been dumping floral tributes sent by friends and ad-
mirers Of the weary statesmen In front OF te buidhs'
As they were brought in one by one, by pages stag
cerng under their load, they furnished the crowded
Galleries above with topic of conversation and endless
merrIment Why serious should be exposed by
well meaning but silly friends 10 a treatment similar
10 that accorded ballet dancer after the execution Oh
a difficult pas" puzzle a good many people Dut
the custom Is one which has obtained In Washington
for number Of years. and seems 20 be rather gaining
In favor than otherwise No member Il Congress,
apparenty has the courage to send thee tributes Of
misplaced affection where they belong though most
mus feel keenly the udicrOus attitude they assume
seated behind or buried underneath huge crosses ana
stars and yres and baskets, and wreatlls-n fact
everything that the dollhouse education OF horst
anxious 10 dispose OF his wares could suggest 10
day the number and variety Of these floral pieces ex'
ceeded anything seen before. As might have been
expected Judge Campbell Il New-York, 0ther"i'e
Tim Campbell. led easily all his colleagues IN the
corgeousness and tasteessness Of the tributes SEM
10 him by an admirlng constituency. The Hon. Bourhe
Cochran followed, a close second with the Hon. Amos
Cummings a good third monster harp decorated, OF
dls6gurcd, If you will. the desk Of Western
me mb.r wondrous construc oil piece, w.lcl Nigh,
have been anything between a beehive and bologna
sausage cut short rested upon the desk lately occupied
nv Roswell r. Flower. Some one suggested mat IL
might have been intended TO represent a barrel-in
taci a Saower-ba rel. As already stated the var
ety OF the emblems endless. Nothing Wa
apnropriately have ornamented the desk Of Rep
re-. NATIVE Breckinridge, of Arkansas II was the ONLY
thing lacking 10 make the vision OF the president OF
!Tbe rolJcaIl proceeded without any noteworthy Incl
dent 10 Interrupt it, except burst OF applause which
greeted ex Speaker Reed when his name was called
lie acknowledged the tribute Of ti admirers modesty