Evening star., 1896-12-07
THE HOUSE.

At noon precisely today, and with the
sharp crack of the Speakers Savel upon
the desk. and the penetrating voice OF Mr.
Reed calling for order, the loud hum and
buzz of conversation which for two hours
had been filling the House ceased. In the
stiffness which followed the chaplain offer
ed a brief prayer, while the members STOOD
with bowed heads and reverent attention.
The clerk will call the roll" the Speaker
said. and the second session of the Fifty
fourth was formally under way.
The session started off actively, with
every evidence of lively times ahead.
There's much work to be done and little
time in which to do it. There are great
public interests to be served and smaller
private ones. Smaller in comparison, per-
heps. to others, but great to the men con-
cerned in them.
The representatives of great private IN
terests We're on hand, as usual, chief
among them the advocates of the Pacific
railway funding bill. For days they have
been thronging the hotels buttonhoiing
congressman as they arrive, laying new
wires and tightening old ones laid at the
last session. 1t is well understood that it Is
to be a fight to a finish over this bill a the
present session and the railway men are
marshaIing their forces in battle array.
The usual throng of curious ones packed
the galleries, ladies in the majority. AS
early as IL O'Clock they began to ccngre-
gate in the corridors, standing in line be-
fore the gallery doors. making & rush for
seats when the doors We're opened. BY IL
O'Clock. one hour before the assembling of
the House, there were no vacant seats in
the pubic galleries The diplomatic gallery
was unusually full, the attendance being
larger. perhaps, in anticipation of the Pres
idents reference to Cuban affairs in his an
nual message.
Floral Decorations.
On the floor many desks were decorated
with flowers. sent by admiring friends or
relatives. One desk was draped in somber
mourning. and the seat of a great man
was vacant. MIR. Crisp of Georgia sat in
that seat upon the last assembling of the
House. and the sable drapery was in his
memory while festoon of crepe hung
over the ex-Speakers portrait in the lobby.
The desk of Mr.. Meredith of Virginia
bore a floral tribute from the board of di-
rectors of the Manassas Industrial School
for Colored Youth. presented las q, slight
token of their appreciation of his MANY
acts of kindness to them and the generous
good VIII he has always extended the
schoCL" s.-..Eyf
Mr.. Babcock of Wisconsin, chairman of
the congressional committee, found a floral
chair upon his desk, and MIR. Mercer of Ne
braska, secretary of the committee, re-
ceived a set piece with Secretary inter-
woven In the flowers.
The scene upon the floor prior to the
i.oou nOur was an animated one. 1t was
kind of political family reunion among
the members of the House. in which con-
gretulations and condolences were mingled.
Important events lad occurred for MANY
of the members since the last assembIic 2
OF the House. Many of the Representatives
failed of denomination, beaten at the post.
Others were enabled to finish the race but
came in second. and will not be In the next
House Some increased their rnajorities
and these were the objects Of admira ticn
of those who barely slipped through with
reduced majorities.
AT a time like this the feuds and factions
of the session are forgotten. and men who
a few months ago were nearly ready tc
fly at each others throats In the heat OF
debate and partisan discussion fraternized
cordially and wiped out old scores
The stationery room did as much business
as land office at newly opened reserva.
tton. and members of the House and theiI
clerks We're busy drawing the perquisites
including penknives and the wide range OF
articles that In later years have pertained
to the stationery account. The mileage
clerks were not forgotten, and many in.
quirles were made at the cashiers room oi
the distribution of the mileage one of the
most grateful perquisites of the high office
of Representatives in Congress. Each mem
Der of the House IS allowed twenty cents &
ale for the round trip from his home te