The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-02-16

Y
studying H.
saorter rIghs og STEPS -eachss tAs
prozzssra6s whlea enesrcsez the baziaAf9-
Mr. Reed rE0zzss these sss9S ard EasASN
TIE path raz~sez BY cracked ant Sszf1Fssef1
eernTsszstlsz pavaag 20 tne so42h SzHg =
the ear5gcL 4 half dozen 2fegs s~s a. the
e1srance- A eeDhfe swinging 1Dor Gs~sls
% ; hzdzay. n which tern 20 ths Fazst
brings The SPEAKER II 4 few stsrs - 3 Pr
v8fe passage way running east and vest
Ttrasszz takx be cgE1es % ine private star
SAY TIE elevator - 3zss oeyCa1. BIT -
e ou4 Tor exercise this ysornlzg. ana &c
mounts the pirate stairway
TIE door, - xizs speakers room nles osea
as - zpgearS. Ire messenger fs389ws hin
lnta fhe roam ard takes hss hat and eoat
a. - dots them. Half dozen men are
sitting around tas room TIE speaker &C.
ATsrs a comprehensive s-Csoc1 rB0ETzfEg
70 them as he taxes ogT MS haEdserc1sef
and wipes the preparation from Els brow
TIE hrst In Hne - a member o. the
house. who wzEts e BE- recognized 70
make : a10fi1n- TIE speaker mods assem-
and makes a memorandum e his narne-
He Il dismissed very quickly. The next
ts member q the committee On rules
VITO wants 4 brief private conference.
The speaker takes him ever 70 corner OF
the room and talks With him II an under
tone for few minutes Then ~ goes
Son. a stranger 20 him who has btu
which he hopes may ~ Pat through The
speaker tells him kindly. bat firmly. that
he las no power IN the matter that the
bill must 20 10 the Appropriate committee
Bat he ads note q Warusng--this Is going
70 D. q hard congress n get any money
from. h says Ths stranger disappears
through the doorway. and a member who
has just come - appeals 20 the speaker
Tor better quarters for his committee The
speaker makes at appointment with him
for an hour later.
senator appears a. the doorway with a
family paTiy-s man. lis wife and their
Gaughter-who want 10 shake hands with
the speaker. Mr.. Reed does at send them
away with a mere hanashake. tie stands
and talks with them for e few minutes.
ard How MS face Iights up. his eyes twia-
kle, and he smiles for the first time
The officiaI Day Begins.
An electric bell il corner OF the room
rings q sharp warning II = noon. the
sOur when the house assemblies. Mr.. Reed
makes hurried excuses and bids ms visit
oys good day. Then he goes through the
broad passageway between the lobby and
hall OF the house. passes the swinging
haze ard glass door mounts the steps Of
the rostrum and taxes the familiar gayel
IN his hand. The machinery Is all ready
20 SET IN motion. The chaplain Is at the
clerks desk. The reporters are n their
places. The assistant Tceaut-st-arfns j.
ready 20 put The peace compelling mace IN
is place az the speakers right The desk
clerk. who il the speakers assistant. eyes
and ears. stands expectsnt. Few members
are q their seats when the gavel falls. and
with the sound converse ton ceases
The house vii De IN order" says the
sharp, clear. nasal voice of the speaker.
Then he announces the chaplain, who de-
hyers a brief Invocation. the speaker and
most Of the members remaining on their
feet The Invocation concluded. the speak
er SITS down and announces the reading OF
the journal OF the preceding day. and so
the routine OF the days business Is taken
up.
As a rule. the business OF the day IS
mapped out IN advance. II has been plan
ned BY the committee on rules that
certain bill shall be taken up and debated
FOR an agreed time. and the speaker has
on his desk a Iss Of men Who are . be
recognized 10 speak II the bin = 70 be
debated IN committee Of the whole
chairman OF the committee is named by
the sneaker. aad until the committee rises
and tbs may occur a. almost any minute
the speaker s free But he must De
within call
There is morning business in various
forms today-messsgss from the senate 10
be received. resolutions Of inquiry 10 be
considered. committee reports 20 De made
The speaker presides through all Of this,
kept constantly alert by the changing CON
dltions Al O'Clock the house goes into
committee OF the whole. and the speaker
surrenIers the chair to one OF the members
and returns 70 h-s room.
on the way he Is stopped by two MEM
beers one Of them with 81 hfli whose posi-
hHdes he wants 20 discuss with the
speaker. and one with request for trans
feg from one committee 70 another. Mr..
Reed gets away from these tao as quickly
as he can. He does not tarry IN his ,oom.
bat. finding that there is nothing OF import
anee for his consideration there. he goes
down stairs TO his den. TINS IS room a
the foot OF the private stairway. Here TO
one may disturb him as he eats his l9ucn-
con OF bread and milk. Here, too. he fire.
quently comes 10 read In the afternoon
often 70 look up authorities OF parliament
tavy matters.
AZ go today he has an engagement with
the chairman who complained OF his COM
rnsttee room In the morning He is walt
ing for Mr.. Reed in the speakers room.
Together they 50 forth 10 investigate, and
the speaker coavfnces the member that his
committee is much better hxcd than many
other committees. so he agrees &c remain
where he IS The speaker returns 70 his
room, dlsposes % another importanate
member with 8 bsN and man with a claim.
ana then SITS down al his desk and takes
tp the pile OF mail which has been awaiting
his attentson.
Mr.. Allen stands by while the speaker
skins the letters and signs them. Most Of
thefl he takes in az a glance. Some letters
have been held for his consideration. lie
dictates the answers 20 them. Dir. Allen
tells aim Of a request for Interference
which has come from man n the railway
mall service IN Maine who has been re-
moved He has investigated the case and
hnds hat the rem oval was made on charges
Which fhe man admitted 70 be true. The
speaker mods MS approval and dictates
letter 90 the man in Maine. telling him he
cannot have the departments decision
changed. Ana 50 the mai IS disposed OF.
II is rot always disposed % so easily or
quickly. and not infrequently Il acclimu-
lates for several DAYS untouched Some
ters hrousa, 20 the shoTeham in the even
ing.
4 stream Of Visitors.
When the mali is oat of the way. there
are more people 10 be sean-senators. mem
beers - ths house. "a cabinet oficer WAC has
come sa the capitol TO appear before a
comm ffee. and finally the man who wants
Jo shake the speakers hand. Ger Air Reed
is easily approached. He sees almost every
one who calls. AMI y The VISITOR comes en-
business. gives hlm a fair hearing l. you
ever -aa on Speaker Reed and faI 10 see
h.ru. Yea may know that BE IS really oasy
Ie IS n2c excused merely because he does
rat vaut to sac yea
Tae sueceSs soa q visitors continues 1nta
orIe-k when the speaker Is summoned
Oh tha chasr IN receive the committee re-
Fert. 90 pGt n1o5 on. and Cn X 20 ae>iars
. q