Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-28
AS AN AID TO SOCIABILITY
A Plan to Make Members of Congress Known
to Each Other.
LOnE-Needed RefOrm-HOw Senator's
Are Sometimes Embarrassed
by Policemen.

new method for the promotion of so
ciability among members of Congress is
being developed at the Capitol in readiness
for the next session Of Congress. 1t is
original with Sergeant-at-Arms B. T. Rus
sell. who has posted on large board in
his office a cabinet photograph of nearly
every member of the Fifty-fourtn Con-
gress. each picture having attached the
name of the subject and state from which
he comes. Only sixteen photographs are
missing from the collection. and they will
be supplied as soon as possible. In the
center of this group of pictures is a large
likeness of Speaker Reed.
This group of photographs would not
suggest the idea of sociability, although
the members are crowded together within
a space of half dozen square yards. Mr..
Russell found during the last session of
Congress that many Representatives walk
ed about the House and the adjoining cor
ridors unknown by name or fame to their
fellow Legislators. and sometimes to the
officers of the House. Men whose faces
We're perfectly familiar to every one knew
but few of their associates except ''by
face" 1t occurred to Mr.. Russell that
by having the group Of pictures members
could connect the names of Representa-
tives with their faces and SO get to know
every one of the 356 men who compose
the House of Representatives. When the
group of photographs is complete Mr.. Rus
sell proposes to have them photographed on
a single plate and this picture will be
presented to each member. Provided with
this means of Identification 1t Is believed
feeling Of brotherly interest will be pro-
NOTED among the members.
To Aid Visitors.
Another purpose of the photographs is to
assist visitors in endeavoring to recognize
members from the gallery of the House
VISftnrS mr.
showing where each member is located,
but the nomadic propensities o the legis-
lators is SO strong that their occupation OF
particular seat is no proof of their iden-
tity. and many very funny mistakes have
been made by those who have relied on
this method for determining the names of
members.
1t is thought by many who have seen this
device to promote sociability and idcntifi-
cation that it will prove so useful during
the next session of Congress that 1t will he
put matter of short time when 1t will
De introduced in the Senate, where, of
course. there is never any trouble from the
lack of the solons to recognize each otbe,.
IL IS no uncommon thing however for
iiem erected Senators to go through sew
gu weeks or even months. unknown to
"atchmen. doorkeepers and messenpers
and on more than one occasion durin% ~
past TWO sessions members of the nnnar
iiouSe nave been annoyed by being shut ont
seIpoI army from those inner sanctuaries
rom winch the public. and even the mem
=" 49, ul .he other house. are excluded, but
10 Wnlch every Senator has an inaliena HI:
prlviege OF access. 1t is related that sen
a a wilson of Washington ran against
TINS perverse fortune two or three TIM
last winter 'iiiies
ne IS Dy no means a newcomer at tho
Eapltoi, having served several years in
me House. but his promotion to the Sen
a.e st: stranded him for time so to speak
on ,ns SANDS of oblivion. After being
stepped IN his progress about the Senate
wing wing by over-careful policemen two or
1 I llmes he went in good-natureI in
dignation to Col. Bright. the sergeant-at-
arms arm ana persuaded that official to take
,.i n On round of the points of vantage
and formally introduce him TO each Of the
suarus he then felt free, he said. to wall.
abroad, but not until then. " VAIN