Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-30
TYPICAL MIDSUMMER DAY IN THE
HOUSE

Members Sleeping. Lounging and Smoking
Vile Cigars.
Fred. Mussey in Cincinnati Gazette
WASHINGTON, July 2s.-ProceedinRs in the
House of Representatives came very near 70,
even If indeed they did not, invade the farce
limit today.
They could hardly be called proceedings, as
there was no progress and none was intended.
The heat was exhaus tive, but it was not suff-
Gent to affect the energies Of the flibusters.
who are engaged in about as mendacious a
piece OF business as WIS over heard Of in Iegis-
lative halls
party Of three or four English tourists sat
In the Speakers gallery and watched the per-
formance on the floor. They saw Reed asleep
In his chair, with an immense palm leaf fan laid
on his big bald head tout ensemble produc-
ing a ludicrous effect. They saw Mr.. Doan o. Ohio
with his head laid back till his face looked di-
rectly up to the ceiling. his mouth open, aud
the calmness and peace of innocent slumber
marking his Brother Jonathan features,
They heard a great roar Of cheers and cries
that greeted the appearance Of Mr.. Holman, as
he came walking down the broad aisle from the
cloak room. wearing neither coat nor waistcoat
to resume which had slipped hisinind, 50 intent
was il bent upon schemes of econome.
They Joined in the laughter that followed him
as he double-quicked back TO the cloak room
with gait as graceful as that Of turkey hen.
They saw the members gather in cIumps all
over the House telling stories, laughing, and al
smoking more or less vicious cigars, while they
elevated their feet upon the desks and expecto-
rated over their shoulders
They saw the whole House turn in at one es-
pecially hot, wearisome and monotonous period
to guy" the Speaker (Mr. Dockery) with alb
surd motions, unheard-of points of order, i'm
rlra,.
breaking questions of personal privilege.
They saw the Speaker SO mixed up and CAB
bergasted in the parliamentary squabble that 1T
one time by his rulings he brought the House
OF Representatives to a complete standsnll,
without the power to take any action whatever
or do business of any sort.
Then they saw Reed go UP to the Speaker and
say: "You have been right, Dockery, several
times, but you don't know enough TO STAY
right" and the big republican car planked
his ponderous body down beside the demo-
cratic Speaker to coach him
Then they saw Mr.. Holman apologizinR for
coming on the floor in bis shirt sleeves and blue
jean gaiiuses and laying the blame for il on
Wheeler of Alabama. as il is the custom Of the
House to .'blame everything" on that unfortu-
nate gentleman. Gen. Wheeler, though only
about as big a. a minute, ID profoundly inn
pressed with the awful seriousness of thingx.
he is so constituted to make il impossible
for him to know that there is q humorous side
Of life, and he would devote no more serious
consideration to the process Of the suns than
he would to the progress Of q tumble bug.
Today he becomes the center Of . great
crowd, who cluster about him in the center
aisle and gesticulating like jumping jack, his
voice drowned in the Shouts and cheers and
laughter Of the statesmen and the pounding Of
the Ravel. Just before O'Clock the House sud-
denly adjourned Cause why? The base ball
game between Washington and Chicago was to
he IN Cd AZ Al ands h.
boards and grand stand was mustered pretty
near quorum Of members.
This Is . specimen Of . hot summer days leg
islation in Congress-