Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-03-22
Newsy Letter from Our Special Cor
respondent Touching Upon the EX-
ira Session and Other Matters
of Interest in and About
Washington.
The TRIALS OF A CAMERA CRANK
Events and Scenes Ushering in the Tar
if Debate, Upon the Fate of Which
Measure Depends the Prosper
ity of a Nation.

States, in extraordinary session assem-
bled, made its first bow to the public
yesterday. One would think that con-
crosses in Washington are such common
occurrences that "opening day" would
pass almost unnoticed. Quite the con.
trary, however, and yesterday was repe-
tition of the same old jam and jostle and
grumbling that each recurring session
brings. From 8 O'Clock in the morning
until in the afternoon, there ives a
restless stream of men and women
seeking admission to the galleries and, as
usual, the individual who was unprovided
with the necessary card was indignant
and protesting and the life of his, or her,
member was made burden for the time
being if the card was not forthcoming
upon request. The corridors adjoining
the floor of the house were swarming
with visitors seeking cards. And they
did not restrict themselves to their own
representative. I saw women-not es-
pecially attractive women either-fran.
tically rushing after members to whom
they were entire strangers and, almost,
| demanding JlCKeGs,
The rule which now obtains is not q
just one by any means but it does pre-
vent the providing of galleries as used to
be the custom. Americans do not take
kindly to the shutting of the doors of the
capital against them on field days, but
what are the "hai polloi" going to do
about itf 1t seems that these men vested
with brief authority have no right to
reserve all the seating space for their kin
and friends, but they choose to do it and
that settles 1t. That rule isn't quite 80
bad as one heard of the other day, that
if anybody wants to stand out in Gods
free open and take picture of the capl-
tol or the library, that BODY must have a
permit to do it. And after he-or She
has obtained the permit, he, or she, is
quite liable to have to receive permit
to use the permit.
That sort of a case happened last week
when man received the necessary writ
ten permission to take few views of the
exteriors of the two edifces. With his
permit stuck in his pocket he gally, and
confidently, hied him to the east front of
the capitol and proudly caught the
proper light on the library. His shot
told, but just then capitol policeman
touched him and informed him he couldn't
"take no pictures on them grounds"
But I have permit" said the still
confident man, drawing it forth. The
polite policeman called his polite supe
rior who corroberated all that had been
said and cllnched it by saying, "It's Dick
Bright's ORDERS"
"But Mr.. Bright is only sergeant-at-
arms of the senate and he certainly can't
run the whole business. My permit is
from the superintendent of the capitol"
"Can't help that. Old Dick Bright
thinks he owns the whole shooting
match and I'll have to take your permit.
| propose making test case right here
for the police are pestered to DEATH" and
he walked off Mr.. Mans protective pa
Election and wonder "what sort of free
country is this anyhow"
Next day he was graciously accorded
permission to take pictures for the time
designated in the bond, ten days.
1t was a good humored set of repre-
sentatives who stood around the lobby
Yesterday and waited for their names to
be called to select their seats. There
| we're over 100 new faces among the 300
odd peering over the railing, listening
for their names to be called. There was
roar of chatter and laughter and every
one was shall fellow we'll met" but look
out there is trouble ahead and the next
few weeks will develop animosities and
engender bitter enmities that will be
more than "skin deep" Before the seat
selecting was over the president sent his
"kindly greeting" and moment later his
first message was announced. The ma
jority went wild and the minority "didn't
do thing"-its waiting for the tariff bill
The usual. The absurd carrying in of
huge flower monstrosities was gone
through with, but in more aggravated
form than usual. Nothing could be more
meaningless, nothing sillier, than laying
a bunch of violets or heap Of white
lilacs or sheaf of lilies before great
bearded, brawny listed fellow who doesn't
know one posy from another. It was funny
the different ways with which they re-
ceived these tributes. The gentlemen to
whom the violets we're sent glared at the
page and for five minutes let them lie
before deigning to notice them. Then he