The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-13
mouse RULES Violated.
Members Who Seem 20 Have Little
ReEnrd Tor the ProprIetIes.

Washington. Feb. 2.-Representative
Dockery OF Missouri. who. for several
months past. has posed as the bright and
shining light Of reform In the executive
branch OF the government. has not con-
WINGED many Of his colleagues Of the sin
cerity Of his intentions. IN his management
Of the legislative. executive and judicial
appropriation bill now pending in the
House. Some Of his associates contend
that so pronounced a reformer should en-
deavor 10 set his would-be followers a
good example. A great moral and economi-
cal reformer Is not calculated to inspire
much confidence when he sits in the halls
OF congress. conducting the deliberations
over one Of the most important appropria-
ton bills, with a cigar stuck IN the corner
OF his mouth. taking vigorous puhs be-
tween his remark 10 the presiding officer
and members who are interested ia the
pending measure
A democrats senator was In one OF the
House galleries Friday. with party OF
out-of-town visitors The legislative, ex-
ecutve and judicial Appropriation bi 4 was
under consideration. There sat Mr. Dock
cry, with the clerk Of the committee at his
right hand. The MANAGER Of the bill had
his head tied up with a white cloth, which
suggested that he might have been out
late the night before and come in col
hsion with resisting force. In his mouth
was lighted cigar. occasionally forget
ting to remove it when addressing the
House OF the speaker: He was not alone
in the enjoyment OF violating the rules,
which prohibit smoking with the bar of
the House. On both sides " the chamber
members were resting their feet upon
their desks, smok MS away with the great
est freedom. The atmosphere was heavily
charged with smoke and vile odors, so that
It was difficult to recognize persons sit
ting in the opposite galleries.
The friends of tIs senator expressed
much surprise that members paid so lit
tie attention TO the rules of propriety. but
they were further shocked when mem
Der, who was requested to act as a teller
on rising vote. took his position right
under the eye of the speaker and pro-
ceeded to make the count, and at the
same time putting away on his cigar. The
present congress has paid less Difference
to the rules about smoking and ordinary
deco-um than any previous congress with
In the past quarter of century. There
was a time when the speaker of the
House would not hesitate 10 call members
to order who dared attempt to smoke
within the railing during the sessions of
the House. The late Speaker Randall
never hesitated to remind members of the
rules on that subject when an offense Of
that kind was committed. There was n
time when members were Obliged to re-
main in the cloak room while smoking
but now they sit at their desks and dis
gust the average visitor in the gallery,
who would like to think that the House of
Representatives is a dignihed and orderly
body.
The rules in the Senate are very strict
on the subject of smoking Senators
never think Of entering the chamber with
a lighted cigar in their mouth, although
II is said that they some time smoke when
the doors are closed in executive session.
50 far as decorum is concerned, the SEN
ate is far in advance Of the House, even
with its present mixed membership.
1t is quite apparent that the present
congress will do nothing but pass the
general appropr alton bills before final
adjournment. One of the democratic
leaders in the House, in commenting
upon the ''do-nothing policy OF the pres
ent congress. yesterday, remarked that
the suit Of the last election democrat
lied the Democratic party, not only in
congress, but everywhere else, and IL
seems impossible to induce It to put forth
its hand to help revive II. Said he: I'VE
act just as though we. considered our
resurrection, and We are but waiting to
be carried out and buried"
The republicans in The House and SEN
ate are organizing Their forces prepara-
tory to an extra session, should the
President conclude to call one. In the
Senate Senator's Aldr oh, Chandler Lodge
and Platt compose a guard always on the
alert to turn a political trick to the ad-
vantage of the Republican party. 1t is
well understood that much of the delay In
connection with the consideration of the
district appropriation bill was arranged
10y the quartet above mentioned pending
the election OF several republican, sena-
tors in the western states. Some of the
tactics played by these. genilmen have
greatly embarrassed Senator Allison, who
has presidential notions. As member
Of the committee on appropr alton he is
inclined to vote with the commit ee, hut
he hates to oppose his political friends.
lie has not INDUCED in the debate on the
various questions that have been pre-
scented to the Senate in connection with
he financial and other matters, ex-
cept when forced to do so. He Is supposed
20 be a silver man, yet he is not I'M
friendly to sound money, hence he IS NOT
very pronounced on either side of the
subject at this particular juncture.