Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-04-21
DUTIES OF THE SPEAKER.
Unquestionably the Busiest Man
in All Washington.
Tbs Omcial Room Set Apart for the
Autocrat OF the House of Represent
atfves-How Orators Secure
Recognition.
especial washington Let,er.1

Especial w washington Letter.
No man in either house of congress
has less time to himself for the trans
action of personal or private business
than the speaker of the house of repre-
sentatives. Indeed it may be truthfully
said that that official has not sufficient
privacy to enable him to attend to his
official duties with the carefulness and
accuracy as to detail which would seem
to be most desirable, not only for his
own satisfaction but for the welfare Of
the people for whom legislation is car
ried on. A room in the southeast cor
ner of the house wing of the capitol,
very near the elevator, is set aside for
the especial use Of the presiding officer
of the popular branch Of the national
legislature; but it is a popular fiction
that when the speaker enters that room
he shuts off all annoyances and cares of
the outside world. AS a matter of fact
the speaker is never allowed to have
moments peace in his own official
room.
Mr.. Randall and Mr.. Reed were very
much alike in some of their official
characteristics. They would at times
absolutely deny themselves to all call
ers, no matter whether of high or low
ted to enter their rooms and evinced
a disposition to remain top long, Mr..
Randall and Mr.. Reed would respect
fully, but firmly, invite them to call
some other time, and lead them to the
door. Mr.. Carlisle, who is not only one
of the most learned and able men of
his generation, but also one of the most
courteous and refined, was unable on
many occasions to properly attend to
public business because of his inability
to deny himself to callers or to shorten
obnoxious interviews. The present
speaker of the house. Mr.. Crisp, is very
much like Mr.. Carlisle in this regard.
At the commencement of his admins
tration he was so harshly criticised by
many, even among his Own Political
friends. that he has unbended official
dignity so far as to permit himself to be
imposed upon in the absorption of his
time by self-seeking members of the
house. His protracted Illness. however,
was another reason why he should now
give more Of his time than he otherwise
would have done to those members of
the house who desired and demanded
permission to see him upon public affairs
and pending legislation.
The speaker usually reaches the cap
itol and enters his room at nine o'clock.
or earlier, every morning. The house
is not called to order until noon, so that
if he were permitted to have few
hours to himself every day he might be
better able to plan and outline the
work of the day. But he usually finds
one or more members of the house
standing in the speakers lobby con-
versing with the colored messenger,
who has been guardian of the door of
the speakers room for the past sixteen
years, and, upon the arrival of Mr..
Crisp. they enter his room with him,
with cordial handshakings and greet
ings of the day. 1t is usually ten
o'clock or half-past ten before the
speaker has an opportunity to take a
seat at his desk and handle his mail.
From that time until noon, however, he
has some chance to work. Fortunately
for himself, the speaker appointed Mr..
Barrett, of the Atlanta Constitution, to
be his private secretary. Mr.. Barrett is
an experienced Washington correspon-
dent, well acquainted with public men
and affairs, and able in nearly every
case to receive and satisfactorily con-
verse with the members who call and
are met by him in the speakers lobby.
When measures of great Importance
are pen ling before the house of repre-
sentatives, it is customary, under par
liamentary precedents, for the house to
resolve itself into a committee of the