Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-06
CONGRESS A DIsAPPOrNTMENr.
The First Session Was without Any Particu-
lsrly Exciting Incident.

IT WAS DULL. But SoIsY-THE DESCENDANT ELE-
MESTs THAT WERE EXPECTED TO MAKE TROUBLE
WERE KEPT UNDER coNrRoL-rHE CLOSING OF
THE SESSION WAS UNINTEREsrINa.
This Congress has been y disappointment.
The ending of its first session last night was
disappointing. Not that 1t has not been as
good a Congress as the average-there is no
complaint on that score. Not that 1t has failed
to do much work as could properly be
pected of it-as much was done by the pre-
cedng Congress-or that it has done things
which mastery craftsmanship required should
not be done. 1t has done its fair share Of work
and has avoided many things Which it was
feared at the start it might do. 1t is not in this
that the disappointment comes. 1t is the fact
that it has been destitute of conspicuous Incl
dent, and its close for the first session was in
keeping with its career. There was some heat
and excitement attending the ending OF the
session. but it was less than usual. The disap-
pointment il found in the fact that the dis
cordant elements which composed the House
have not caused as much trouble rs was antlci-
pated and have not given as much eccentricity
to the Congress as was expected and as might
well be expected, all things considered.
NO EXCITING SCENES.
Even in the disagreements and the flibuster-
ing there has been nothing unusual, and the
exciting scenes of the last Congress were con-
spfeuo,fsly absent in this. On the whole it has
been sober. quiet Congress, exciting no in
tense public interest after 1t was found not to
be Congress of cranks. 1t has had its quota
of cranks, but for the most part the cranks
have been Of the passive or negative variety, or,
at least have seemed to be.
With the effect of rendering the session unin-
teresting the democratic managers OF the House
have endeavored to keep in control, without
too great display of power, those elements ca
pable of mischief. To accomplish this it has
required a skill and subtlety which will proba-
bly, never be appreciated.
They claim that there have been manv rough
places that had to be passed over with great
caution and that careful study of the record
of this session will show that the greatest states
marship has been displayed in avoiding dangers
that threatened on every hand from the very
organization of the Congress. review OF the
things that have not been done. which it WIS
feared would be done. will. it is asserted. be
very instructive to the conservative mind.
THE THIRD PARTY MEN.
The third party members, who were going to
turn the House upside down. have not been
conspicuous except for the Intellectual character
of their efforts Disturbing notions. as n rule,
have failed of that airing which is necessary to
drawn into a conservative channel and radical
ism has been expressed in words only. The ses-
sion has for the most part been dull and unin-
tereSting but busy.
There has been an almost entire absence Of
excessive partisanship. There have been very
speeches have been made to furnish material
for a campaign book. There has been an I'M
usual display Of good feeling between the
majority and the minority. In number Of
conspicuous instances important questions
have been decided on divisions where party
lines were obliterated.
No SYMPATHY WITH HOLMAN.
Mr.. Holman's efforts to cast additional
reproach upon the "billion-dollar Congress"
by making this Congress conspicuous for re-
trenchment has failed. though there has been
saving in many directions. One of the most
conspicuous things has been the lack of SYM
patty between Mr.. Holman and other members
on both sides of the House, and the general
confession that his plan of retrenchment was
not true economy
The conspicuous third party men have been
Simpson and Watson. but Simpson has done
nothing in particular. and since it is made
evident by the white between the tops of his
trousers legs and his shoe tops that he really
does wear socks he has ceased TO be an object
of interest. Watson has measured himself up
in his inglorious effort to gain notoriety by
charging the whole House with drunkenness.
Mr.. Reed has not taken a very active part in
the proceedings of the House. Here was an
other disappointment There were many per-
sons who thought when this Congress opened
that Mr.. Reed going to perform for the
public throughout the session, and that all his
spare time would be devoted TO thinking up
new plans for the embarrassment OF speaker
Crisp. He has done nothing of the sort, but
has been uniformly courteous to the Speaker,
who has returned his courtesy with good grace.
fharh aya evAf oil rail- vhn oy.1
the two three little passages that have Oc-
Cured between them in the House have not
been personal unfriendly in intent. Mr..
Reed has confined his hostility mostly to
brief speeches and bright bits of irony, such
he put upon Mr.. Holman the other day when
he complimented him for that courage which
would take him through Indiana to-fire."
He has devoted himself on the occasions of his
characteristic outbursss to certain members for
whom he feels an antipathy account of a con-
victon on his part thas they are fools, frauds or
demagogues.
THE LOBBY QUESTION.
The efforts made by the worlds fair people
to get their money out of the treasury has re-
newed the discussion of the lobby question.
Nobody knows how much money they had to
spend In the lobby in order to get the two and
half millions appropriation through the
House. but the lobby was most conspicuous
and of character that stands for fees, and the
general belief is that the fair people contracted
to pay oat q good round sum. The question
naturally arises, Are Congressman Influenced
in their votes by money? There may be few
who are, but it is doubtful. The votes Of
members.are undoubtedly sold and the money
received for them. but this is done without
their knowledge and by men who have no c.n-
troll over it. The votes sold on futures
The lobbyist finds out best he can how q
member is going to vote, and if he can con-
vince The interested parties that he has an in
huence over the member he may be able to get a
contingent fee if the vote goes the right way.
1t is mere gamble which the member knows
nothiuC of