Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-08-12


y NNT cal life he seems to
have pleasant and
a simple occupation. 20 them he appears
sitting In a well-cushicned chair in con-
spicuous place in the House. listening to the
debates and occasionally taking part in
the proceedings himself by putting a mo-
ton and perhaps standing ur. gavel in
hand to count the members who are vot-
ing for or against proposition. Prob
ably they think ne has very little to do
pays him. In fact. however, the Speaker
of the House of Representatives is one of
the th;. hardest workers in Washington today;
he thinks that he is fortunate if he finishes
| 1t by midnight
Mr.. Crisp is as easy of access ordinarily
as the member from Podunk. No one who
has the slightest claim on his consideration
need hesitate to call on him. The door of
wide open. and the Speakers friends go in
and out as freely there they do in the
office of the Speaker at the Capitol The
apartment which Mr.. Crisp occupies con-
| sists of two rooms, of modest size and in
conspicuously furnished. The first Is his
| sitting room, or office. 1t is freshly carpeted
gilt pattern. A roll-top desk stands against
one wall; the conventional hotel sofa. up
There is one comfortable-i ooking i ounging
chair. which is appropriated to the Speak
| er,s own uses. The other chairs are not
selected with view to inducing the visitor
to spend the entire evening. They are stiff
| backed and stiff seated.
Mr.. Crisp's Greeting.
There is no stiffness about Mr.. Crisps
| greeting, though. 1t is unanectedly cor
DIAL 1t was his pleasant manner as much
| as confidence in his fairness that led to
the selection of Mr.. Crisp to be Speaker
Of the House in the Fffty-second Congress.
1t was his excellent record fair-minded
presiding officer that insured his reelection
s o5 dhs ssRb
| stout. but active His face is full and
round. His complexion indicates good
with white. hardly covers his upper lip.
His hair. which he parts on the side. is
thinning out at the top. but he is not yet
with small gold buttons. He wears turn
over collar and small black bow. His
coat is black and cut Prince Albert style
The Speakers manner is direct and bust
ness like, but not abrupt His head Is
clear and he speaks right on without hest
fancy. His voice Is soft and low, with
just a pleasant suggestion Of the southern
dialect
just now the Speaker is entertaining the
members of the House who come singly
and in delegations to consult him about
the distribution Of committee places. 1t is
matter of the greatest moment for a
member who comes from a country tribu-
tary to the great Mississippi river the
great lakes to be on the river and harbor
tural constituency is usually anxious to
serve on the agricultural committee. Each
member has his preferences and his am
billions. II the Speaker could satisfy all
Of the members of the House he would
have to give some Of the committees fifty
members and abolish some Of them alto
gether. AS old member of the House,
Mr.. Crisp knew pretty thoroughly the
grave question of committee selections be-
fore he took the Speakers chair two years
ago. The problem is somewhat compli-
Gated this year by the great number of
unknown men elected to serve In the
pend largely on hearsay for his knowledge
Of these men. Hence his time has been
much given to interviews with members
old and new since he came to Washing
ton two weeks ago. Most of his visitors
talk with the Speaker in the outer cham
interview with any one he invites him into
the inner chamber or bed room.
His Daily Work.
In this outer room office the Speaker
begins his daily work. Most Of his mail
goes to the Capitol and passes through the
hands Of his private secretary. Some of it
he never sees. AS he receives on an aver
age seventy letters day. it would be
physically impossible for him to give per-
sonal attention to all of his correspondence.
His private secretary goes over the mail
and Sits out the letters which concern the
Speaker personally. All of this is done Ut
the Capitol. But a great many letters
sent by messenger to the Speakers hote..
And IL happens not infrequently that there
are visitors waiting to see Mr.. Crisp before
he has had his breakfast Some business is
| usually dispatched before he goes to break
fast. and after his morning meal he goes
almost Immediately to the Capitol. Here he
has two Offices. The Speakers room is at
the end of the Speakers lobby, just behind
the hall of the House of Representa-
A messenger stands at the door to take in
cards. His chief occupation though is to
keep at distance those who have no claim
on the Speakers attention. Members of the
House walk into the Speakers room as
they would into the office of the clerk So
1t is necessary that the Speaker. to secure
occasional privacy, should have a private
office on the fioor below Very few people
know where this office is. There is no sign
| perfectly willing that the public should re-
main ignorant of its whereabouts.
| attend to he goes to his private office: but
| most of the morning hours are spent in
| the Speakers room Here he receives
constant stream of members, most of whom
! come to ask for recognition. Just now the
| Speaker is free from this pressure because
the HOUSE louise has as not got to the voting stage
| well under way the Speaker often spends
the entire morning listening to requests
be considered It is necessary ' to
if bill is to be Considered by
unanimous consent; for, as Mr.. Crisp says,
| If fifty members are on the floor at one
| time demanding recognition, it must rest
with the Speaker to recognize one or an
other of them. The Speaker discriminates
| by learning in advance what bill men,
Der desires to call up for consideration
| f-acn member VINO wishes recognition
| comes to the Speakers room and laws his
bill before Mr.. Crisp. If Mr.. Crisp consid
ers it unobjectionable he says that he will
put the member on his list. If the bill is
| Objectionable he tells the member SO and
declines to recognize him.
Other members come to see the Sneaker
about committee business, for the Sneaker
| is consulted at every important stage Of
legislation. Even members of the Senate
| call on the Speaker to learn what the nros
| poets Of certain legislation are ana to
! urge the consideration of measures in which
| they are interested.
! If the Speakers time is not taken IN on
| tirely by the members of the House there
are a great many details in the manara
| ment of the House wing of the Canifo,
which he has to consider from time to time
| The distribution of the rooms IN that wing
| is In his hands. and he has control of the
| restaurant. Then once a month he has to
| sign the 3S6 vouchers on which the salaries
| Of the members of the House are paid AT
| the beginning Of each session of Congress
| he has to sign the vouchers for the mileage
| of members.
When the House IL in Session.
! At II O'Clock the Speaker calls the House
! to order. He remains in the chair until the
| House goes into committee of the whole for
| the consideration Of an appropriation bill
| or some other important measure. During
| the sitting of the committee of the whole he
| always finds odds and ends of business to
| keep him well occupied until the committee
| rises and he is recalled TO the chair OF
| course, 1t Is a relief to the Speaker In some
| To have the House co into Communities