The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-25

are required to be present. They place
the Records upon the file of each rep
resentative, and see that the inkstands
are filled. This Is done under the
supervision of the chief page. At 10
O'Clock there is a roll call Of the pages
in the speakers lobby. They fall in
line like soldiers and answer the roll
call. Here, If necessary, they receive
special instructions as to their duties
during the day.
Meantime members of the house be-
gin to appear. They hang their hats
and overcoats in the cloak room ana
assert their morning mails at their
desks. Some bring their secretaries and
dictate replies. These are usually mem
bers from a distance. Such members
are never interrupted by visits from
constituents. Representatives from
Pennsylvania, Virginia and New York
and other nearby states are not addict
ed to this habit. Their constituents
would overwhelm them, and they would
find 1t difficult to dictate replies to
their correspondents.
By 10 o'clock there are many visitors
upon the floor. The hum of conversa-
ton increases as IL o'clock approaches.
Groups of ladies and gentlemen, TN
der the direction Of the guides, throng
the lobby, gazing at the portraits Of
the past speakers of the house, and
gather with curiosity around the maps
indicating the temperature in every
state and territory in the Union. At
glance they can ascertain whether it
is raining or showing at their homes,
or whether the sun is shining. At
quarter to II the floor of the house is
crowded with visitors The assistant
doorkeeper appears at the desk of the
clerk of the house and in shrill voice
says:
II am directed by the doorkeeper to
ask all persons not entitled to the priv
ileges of the floor to Immediately re-
tire, as the rules of the house require
the same"
This request is usually promptly
Needed. Those disposed to linger upon
the floor are approached by messen-
gers. who shout: 1T is time to clear
the floor. All visitors must retire."
Many of them seek the galleries to see
the opening of the days session.
AT five minutes TO II the blind chap
lain, Henry n. Couden, who wears a
grand army button, is led to the clerks
desk by a page. He was a soldier in
a MlculSdu regiment anu lOSC MS S1Slt
in the war. An assistant sergeant-at-
arms comes through the east lobby
door with the mace and places it by
the side of g. malachite pedestal. 1t
leans against the wall at the right of
the steps leading to the speakers desk.
Meantime the speaker remains in his
room adjoining the lobby. Here men,
bers gather around him seeking prom
Uses of recognition, and asking his aid
in securing the consideration of bills.
Two minutes later the veteran John
Chancey leaves the hall by the west
lobby door. Going through the file
room, he ascends to the roof, carrying
an American flag adorned with forty
five stars. lie ties it to the halyards
of the flagstaff above the house, ana
gazes intently toward the state, war
and nary building. The time ball
drops there at the noon hour, and
Chancey, with barred head, as he hears
the sound of the gavel in the house,
pulls the halyards, and the flag floats
above the south wing, announcing to
all that the house is in session.
Ths speaker has already left his