The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-16
A CONGRESSIONAL MACE.
Its Effect in Cooling Hot Blood
During a Tempest in the
House.
A Symbol Of the Authority and
Of tho Dignity Of the
House.
fsotsbIs Instances Of Its Magic Effect In
Scenes Of Wild Confusion on the
Floor,

Especial Csrrespondence Of TIE INDEPENDENT !
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.-A stranger, stand
ing in the speakers lobby at i've minutes
OF ie in tie forenoon, will see much Of in
terest. Tho walls of the long lobby are
covered with pictures of tho former speak
ers of the house. A portrait that never
fails 10 command the admiration of even
the Oldest members Of the house il that of
Samuel J. Randall. The Roman nose, the
firm set mouth, the square jaw. the flash
ing eyes and the black curling locks mark
the born leader. His face stands ont
among the faces Of Blaine. Stevenson,
Boyd, Polk. Clay, Pennington, Mullen.
burg, Kerr and others, like the face of Ma
poleon among his marshals At Versailles.
Between the swinging. bsize doors q
venerable man with gray hair, q gray beard
and sightless eyes. He carries q hat in one
band and a cane in the other. A page
leads him by the arm. He IL the Rev.
William II. Milburn. author Of the Rifle,
Ak and Saddlebags," the chaplain of the
house. He passes into the hall OF repre-
sentatives from the lobby and IL lost TO
view.
Look back toward the east entrance. You
see another page. with hands in front OF
him, clasping what appears to be q massive
silver-bound ebony club. It il surmounted
by . globe Of silver, upon which the hemis-
phsres are traced. A silver engIs, with out
stretched wings. is perched upon the globe.
The whole resembles the fasces carried by
the Roman IictOrs before the tribunes. in
time Of pence, and before the consuls, re-
turning from war. II is . bundle of thir-
teen ebony sticks entwined viii q silver
hand Tuaao thtYtAop ~houw ~&s~L- -
sent the thirteen original states. This club
il the mace representing the authority and
dignity Of the house. It's custodian il the
ssrgcant-at-arms. IL Is kept in his Office
when the house il not in session. Ths page
carries il through the lobby and into the
chamber. II 10 plnced al the side Of a NAL
nchite pedestal. This mace was made in
1894. although it bears the date of 184I. The
latter date Was engraved upon il nc the
time it was repaired and remountod. IL
weighs about twenty pounds.
Anon, the speaker leaves his room. which
il beyond the east entrance. A he passes
the swinging doors and comes down the
lobby. with q heavy step and gait of a sal
lor every eye il upon him. The eyes Of the
former speakers OF the house look down ND
on him from the wallis. They are the
speakers whose precedents he has set AZ
naught. He acknowledges this and Rlories
in II. None Of them ever counted . quo
rum under parliamentary law. The spcak-
er enters the house and climbs the steps
leading to the dais: He leans his elbow
upon the marble desk, and Qazes NJ tbs
clock below the main gallery. When both
hands mark high o he steps behind his
desk snd scizes ths gavei. Al the sams in
slant ths great mace il elevated TO its pe-
destaI. II indicates that the house IL in
session. There Isl crash AZ the speaker
brings down the mallet.
The house will BE- in order.- hs a.vs.
with the nssal twaEg indicative Of the zen,
uin Yankee. Ths blind chaplain rises At
ths desk Of the clerk below him. The