The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-12-09
K.NOCK-ABOUT MOTIFS.

Ordinarily there Is far less interest
In the opening OF the last session OF an
old Congress than there Is In the begin
ming Of the first session OF a new Con-
gress. This time the re-aSsemblnE OF
an old Congress Is OF exceptional in
tercst. Everybody realizes that the
closing work Of the present Congress
may be OF vast Importance 10 tn"
country and to the parties. Can an
tariff bill be passed? VIII
the passage OF such n bill be attempt
ed? What would be the attitude Of the
free silver senators toward such 4
measure? Would the Presidcn: let any
measure &c through with q wool duty
In Il? These questions are IN the
minds Of the men who Will 10 the vot-
Ing and OF that considerable army OF
men who take a deep interest In the
proceedings " Congress. This tariff
question is more discussed than any
other. Two points seem 70 be pretty
well settled. that no emergency tariff
bill with protected wool in II Viii b."
tolerated at the whit" house. and that
an early extra session OF Congress is
a certainty. The purpose of the extra
session will be 10 put through with all
nOSSIIAIt SIlffh Il II u 'hl W "'4N.F
the Republican party Will gladly ac-
cent fun responsibility. That measure
will provide revenue and give protec-
ton and rest. Then th" restoration OF
confidence will be complete.
Under the Slde-lIGhts about Wash
inSton are many Interesting little
groups Of congressman. Members are
congratulations each other on their cleo
ton TO TIE next hOnse. In many IN
stances the congratulations cHsS
marty lines. as do some Of the ilrmcst
friendships. Then there are i'm
promptu lodges OF sorrow. Here are
two men exchanging condolences. both
having been left Ii OF the next house.
A Democrat who has been reelected Is
sorry that his Republican Chum Is not
coming back. and vice versa. | talked
with a member vino fell n victim 10 the
free silver craze. He did not care much
about hcinG rc-nominntcd. but he was
re. nomInatcd. and then he went in 10
win, losing by 4 scratch. lie Is n prpl-
lar man and was learning the business
go as to be useful. Keen disappoint-
ment was cut deep IN his face, He can
yet along without n seat in Congress.
hut ali the spirit was knocked out Of
him and the assembling show had little
interest for him. There are more OF the
same kind in Washington just now.
Are the rewards Of public life equal TO
It's dlsappCintmcnts:
AN admiring friend placed on Cap
tain Dovener's desk an elaborate and
very beautiful basket of flowers. which
tho First district congressman sent ut
once 10 his wife In Wheeling.
Anybody who has an acquaintance Of
twenty years or more with Washing
ton must find n sad sort OF interest in
! eome OF the familiar faces. They arc
always IN evidence. tlasG familiar.
aging faces. What are they doing here
what have they been doing here
through all these years? Each one Of
these faces has a hole in II. and every
one OF those holes raises II question
that must be answered often enough 10
keep the face above ground. There
| mist be n way to do It. bean Hickman
| had a way, and for Il long time Wash
!ngtOn seemed to enjoy his way. But
| Beau Hickman Il no more and this Is Il
| practical generation. These faces and
| all that GO"s with them invite sociology
to an Investigation. NJ al events there
| must be something in the HE that
tends to length OF dnys, FOR tho years
| nrr Milling up on some nf chem. When
| these mysteries disappear they fade
| away rs shadows do. and new ones are
always ready to take the places Of tn,
old.
recall a man. once in excellent posi-
ton, who for many years existed. no
body knew how. as n llnnGsr-on IN
| Washington. lie never asked Tor mo-
ncy, either as Il loan or as Il gift. He