The herald., 1897-03-30
IA NEW HOUSE
Some of the Features of
the 55th Congress
THE FRESH LEGISLATORS
A YOUNG AND BUsINEss-LIKE
BODY OF MEN
How They Bear Their New Honors.
Bits of Biographical information.
Striking Individualities


Oldest old-timer in the press gallery,
looking down upon the new congress-.
feels very much like a stranger in a
strange land. The few old members
scattered among the multitude of new
ones in the arena below look unfamiliar
in their changed places. and in total
eclipse beside the self-consciousness of
the newcomers. While the latter are still
painfully posing upon an unaccustomed
pinnacle, oppressed by the conviction
that the eyes of an admiring world are
fixed unwinkingly upon their slightest
action, the veterans long since learned
that they live and move and have thsir
being pretty much like other men. And
what comforting discovery it must be,
though generally a tardy one. No Won
der all Washington swarms up to the
capitol on opening day. 1t was worth
running the gauntlet of the policemen
stationed at the foot of the marble stair
ways and of fighting for an inch of space
in the soldly packed galleries to witness
the same old initiatory ceremonieS-al-
ways new because of the changed per-
sonality of the participants-and to be-
decked the chamber. 1t was worth going
far to see the las new congressman lined
up in squads to take the customary oath,
like school boys toeing the mark before
the masters desk.
BOYS OF ALL SORTS.
There were tall boys, and short. bay
windowed boys, and boys like Caseius.
with a lean and hungry look" long
haired and short-haired boys, and boys
with no hair worth mentioning. Here
and there a white. aristocratic hand,
with a crested ring upon it, was upheld
amid the collection of pudgy fists and
fists like half-smoked hams; some raised
a good right arm so high toward heaven
that the trouser leg on that side re-
vealed a stretch of hose above the shoe,
and said: II do" with the eager vim of
the groom in the marriage service, while
others satisfied themselves-and maybe
their constituents-by lifting languid
digit or two and bowling in the direction
of the Bible And when all was said and
done, 1t was certainly a sight to see
hundreds of honorable gentlemen liter
ally banked up In violets and lilies OF
the valley-gray heads and hairless
pates half hidden behind huge baskets
and towering bouquets of spring blos-
SONS, decorated with yards upon yards
of delicate ribbon, and Speaker Reeds
broad good-humored countenance
beaming over several barrels of roses,
like a professional stage beauty before
the footlights.
A SAMPLE.
The usual little comedy was scrupu-
lously enacted over and over again, in
this wise: The new member from Way
back stalks majestically down the aisle,
takes his seat with the combined grace
of a Chesterfield and the dignity OF
Daniel Webster, thrusts one hand into
the bosom of his frock coat, and pro-
ceeds to look unconscious of the vulgar
gaze of the galleries. Hardly is the
proper pose assumed, however, when
several breathlesS pages rush up and de-
post upon the statesman's desk fancy
basket containing few bushels of flow
ers or tall pyramid of American Beau
ties, or "set piece" of lilies and carna-
tions grewsomely suggestive OF funer-
ais The great man starts in well-feigned
surprise, burrows his noble brow in
thought, pretends to laboriously study
out the legend on the card attached, and
then retires behind his laurelS with be-
modesty. The query naturally
arises: Whence came the flowers? Are
they really the spontaneous testimonials
of admiring constituents-reward for
favors past or bids for benefits expected,
or did the gentleman initiate the foot
light favorites and buy them himself?
for the purpose, or are the rosy fingers of
a. sweetheart mixed up in the odorous
gift?
A CRITICAL SURVEY.
Much speculation has been indulged in
as to what sort of a congress this fifty
fifth will be, with so large percentage
of it just taking up the trade of states
manship. A critical survey of the house
suggests that it's evident newness does
not mean crudity. Two striking impress
sions are produced-first, that the legis-
lative body is composed of good average
men, who will make good average
record; and, second. that it is younger.
as a whole, than any previous congress.
There is an unusual proportion OF men
under middle age, and many yet IN the
twenties. They look. for the most part,
like earnest, straightforward, matter-of-
fact business men, who are here Tor
definite purpose. which they intend to
accomplish There are fewer fops and
dudes than have graced some bygone
years, though it is noticeable that sew
eral homespun members from Wayback
have already contracted the "Brice hab-
it, of the perpetual red carnation in the
buttonhole So far as present indica-
tions go. the Potomac is not likely to be
set on fire by any blazing genius. No
doubt there are fluid takers" as Mrs.
Partington would say. among them
but hardly a Ben Butler, Sunset Cox,
q Proctor Knott or a Henri Watterson.
FATHERS OF THE HOUSE.
The oldest member, Mr.. William S.
Holman of misunderstanding known as
the watchdog Of the treasury" and the
great American objector"-has just now
turned his seventy fifth winter. After
more than half century of continuous
public service and then few years IN
he looks supremely happy 10
be back in his old stamping ground. His
voice is still for war, as strong as ever,
against extravagant expenditure OF the
peoples money Next in point of years
comes Representa- ative-at-Large and ex-
Sneaker Galusha A. Grow Of Pennsylva-
mia, who is IA years young and reads
glasses as readily as youth
of sweet 16. This veteran Yankee (Mr.
Grow was born in the Wooden Nutmeg
state, and is a Pennsylvania only by
adoption) enjoys the proud distinction of
having received at the last two elections
a larger plurality than any other candi-
date for any Office in any state OF the
union. In 1894 his plurality was 2z6, 4s2,
and at the last election was over 297.0 900,
or 1000 more plurality than Major Nc
Kinley had in that state.
THE YOUNGEST AND RICHEST.
rha infant ~ tho house Mr. Thomas