The sun., 1894-02-04
THE HOUSE AT NIGHT.
LoYo TARIFF SPEECHES TO AN EMPTY
CHAMBER.
Conrrsss-au Cummings Gives sa Insids
view Iuto the ways Of our Lsw-skers-
IIo~ Two Members Adjourned the House
-Oas Cousre-,pan Earns ITS salary.

How Two Members Adjourned the House
-Oae Cousres.psn Earns Hi. Salary.
w.sHrSaroS Feb 3-Ever since the Forty
eighth Congress, tariff debates at night have
been n speciality. They began In the Forty
ninth Congress, when Col. Morrisons hofiz on
tai tariff bill was brought up. SO many mem
bers desired to speak that It was found i'm pos
sibIs to accommodate them without night ses-
slons. In the Fiitieth Congress the practice was
continued. The Mills bill came before the
House. The debate lasted several months. In
that Congress there were over hundred night
sessions Tariff discussions at night n He'd the
galleries and emptled the hall Indeed. the
chamber Of the House might have been com
pared to an archipelago. The members wcro
the islands and the hall was the sea and the
islands were very few.
In the Fftieth Congress very amusing
scene occurred. A Representative from Mas
sachusetts was addressing the House about 10
o'clock one night. The speech was made in
Committee OF the Whole There wore three
members on the floor besides himself, two OF
whom Intended to spoaE. one OF the Repre-
sentatives asked the other two down into the
restaurant. Ho kept them there By the serenity
OF his m amer and the excess Of his hospitality.
While they wore away the Nassach usetts
member finished his speech. As there was no
other Representative present. he was forced to
move that tho committee rise. He voted yea
on his own notion and the committee which
was himself. did rise. The Chairman called
the committee to the chair to act as Speaker.
descended from the desk. and made his report
to the Speaker pro TEN. iIn then moved that
the House adjourn. The Speaker pro tenn. put
the motion. the Chairman OF the committee
voted yea. The vote was unanimous. and the
House did adjourn.
Thnro wsra many anuainU scanaa vhila thu
Mckinley bill was under discussion in the
Fifty-n -nrst Congress and also in the III ifty-sec-
ond when the Free Wool bill was UP. Tho
tariff debate this session has been very short.
but the night sessions lastcd for two weeks
They we're similar to those that prec edcd them.
Here Ia picture Of a night session for debate
only" Oh Jan. 10:
We are seated In the reporters gallery
which. by the way. Is vacant Below us Is the
hall. bathed In gas light with its green carrst
brass ventilators. silvery cuspidors. oak desks
and cane-seated chairs. Only thirteen OF the
355 seats are occupied. Judge Powers OF YER
mont Is delivering n tariff speech. Mr.. Dock
cry OF Missouri is presiding In Committee ofthe
Whole. The Judges speech Is laid upon pile
OF Congressional! records. His frock coat 10
buttoned to the throat. He egesticulates flercely
with his right arm and looks every inch q
statesman. Near him sits William Ryan OF
New York playing with his watch chain and
listening to his remarks. Away of on the
right you SEQ Mr.. Bailey OF Texas. appearing
like an oasis In a desert. drawing Inspiration
from -ome pu blic document. AMI jottlng down
data for future uso. Forty feet away appears
Lafe Pence. the eloquent young Congressman
from Colorado. twiddling his thumb and hav-
ing an air OF strict attention. Down at the
front is young Harry Tucker OF Virginia.
tipped back In his chair, with legs crossed.
listening in tently.
Over on the Republican side you see Jerry
Simpson. turning over the leaves OF a pam
phlst. and paying no attention to the speech.
On the back row is that great Norwegian
Populist. Haldor L. Boen, awaiting his
turn to speak. and scratching his head
for thoughts. Away of on the extreme
right OF the Democratic section sits Ste
phen Il. Mallory OF Florida. son OF the old
Confederate Secretary OF the Navy He rubs
his polished head. ynwns. and drums his desk
with the fingers Of his left hand. Three aisles
away sits Antonio Jossph o; New Mexico. lie
mas his hands in his pock cts. and wears pep
per aud salt suit. Arrayed In tho costume OF
rho lftsenth century, he would resemble u
Back of the seats there are green curtains
strung on brass rods some are drawn to-
tional church when the second hymn has been
sung and the minister announces the text.
Marx II. Dunnell. elected to Congress from
Minnesota at stated intervals. The desks are
Uttered with HrcordS. blottinG paper. envel-
Away on on the isIt. in what is known as tho
Cherokee strip sit three pages, pen in
Devine. welch. White Ireland. the real stem
ographers. are scattered in seats in various
others readinG newspapers. Welcn is steadily
at Work taking down Judge Powers's words
Whenever he speaks rJIPHpJTe.
Down tho main aisle comes James I. PIgott
oi Connecticut. umbrella In hand. and induces
\ Eyan to accompany him 70 the cloak room.
HoughtGling OF Albany. a reading clerk, John
j. ONeii, and others in front OF q small wood
pre. smoking cigars and telling stories. The
barners appear AT tho door Of their room vainly
looking Tor customers
The Judge runs his speech on without inter-
Tnptlon. he has lust made an allusion {" tho
hawailan Queen that sets Jerry simpson to
m em bers nearest him. Chairman Dorkery
brings down the gavel with a bang and the Ap-
plAuse ceases.
: THO Hon, Lewis Sperry OF Connecticut. who
has up TO the present moment been an indom-
itahI0 opponent OF the Wilson oill. stands at
There are six sofas at tho back OF the hall. and
In tis mellow liehs pouEias through the
glass ceiling, Tor there arc no lights IN tho
Ing. The main tier is packed. You see near
the clock faces tnat have appeared here every
frances are crowded with standiae spectators
There ar" very lew persons, however. in tho
n mem en- 6ers, fanny gallery 4 ons.legged man
the speaker, Four ladies' occupy a front row
> -orDing tho words that fall from tho Judges
llIN. Possibly thsY are relatives OF somebody
WI Ia 20 speak, f!ankinG, the reporters
reservation arc two short galleries
sI"wdru with ladies and gentlemen.
tn, iare IN" Judge and liston 10 him
as II 'lEzed while ho reels OF his peroTation.
Gen cadsrson pl Illinois wanders out Of the
par -: shop on tho Republican side OF tho
Hops". drops into a seat, puts on his spec
tacles, prups his chin with his hand. and ike a
true Republican enjoys the Judges 3 talk about
TIE American and tho foreign markets.
The pages who arc playing At stenogrAphy
beeome noisy. and Uncle Cnauncey, the Cap
"a a Bassrtt ot tho House. wandsrs up into the
Cherokee strip aud scattsrs them to the |
amusement ~ the galleries. Through the open !
door OF the liepublican barber shop you SEQ |
one OF tho coloTed tonsOrs prone on n lounge |
snloyinE InuTney to the Land OF Nod.
Suddenly harry Fucker Rrousss himself. He !
remembers that he has written a dozen or |
more letters which have not been matted. |
Turning toward the Speakers desk. he snaps |
MS thumb and fingers Tor page. boy darts |
to him Ike dragon fly. lie passes the lrt- |
tiers 20 tho naEs. who HES away. fucker then |
crosse his hands over the top Of his head. aud |
again tries to iathom Judge lpWsTs's argu-