The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1897-04-22
NEW CONGRESSMAN.
HIS MANNERS AND THE LACK
OF THEM.

HIS MANNERS AND THE LACK
OF THEM
Some Of His Ridiculous Breaks.
Norfolk Virgimian.
The new Congressman is just learn
ing his status in the House. He Is not
vet entirely aware of his status outside
He still pays cents fare on the cable
cars. He has not yet found out that
he can get six tickets for quarter. He
has finally ascertained that it costs
money to live at hotel, and he has
sought the comforts of family board
1ng-house. He has found his way to
the only variety show in the city: but
has not yet been seen at the Smlthson-
Ian Institute. If supporter OF the
administration he has learned the path
way to the White House, but he has
not yet mastered the iabyrlnthian In
tricacies of the State, War and Navy
and Treasury buildings. If from a
rural district he is astonlshed to learn
that his predecessor has drawn his quota
of seeds, and that there are none to be
obtained at the Department of Agri-
culture. The new member from the
Squeeze district called on the Secretary
of Agriculture the other day. He want
ed his quota of mushroom seed. When
informed that the mushroom was prop
agated from spawn and not from seed,
he asked if the Secretary took him tor
an idiot. An older member assured
him that the Secretary was right, and
sent him to the Fish Commissioner for
the spawn.
NEARLY RUN DOWN.
The new member finds much dit
ficulty in keeping out OF the way OF
wheelmen, and more in avoiding the
negro hack drivers at the rounded cor
ners of the Streets The Washington
monument still fills him with awe, and
the exquisite beauty of the new Library
building charms him beyond descrip-
ton.
The fedgling member appeared at
the Capitol early in February. The
more he saw OF legislation the less be
learned about it. The ways seemed
devious, and he was unable to under
stand why some members assumed the
right to talk whenever they pleased,
while others were unable to secure the
floor at any time. The scenes that
followed the reading of the journal
awakened his interest. When fifty
members tbronged the arena in front
of the Speakers desk, waving printed
bills and resolutions, and shouting
"Mr. Speaker" the din to him was
deafening. On no theory could he ex-
plain recognitlons, and it was not until
some stentorlan voice demanded "the
regular order" that the puzzle was
solved.
Dazed by the hot disputes over ap-
preparation bills, he found the cloak
room a quiet retreat. There the story
tellers abounded. Seated by the coy
crate, he drew inspiration from the
north and the south, the east and the
west. Introductions were numerous,
and he formed acquaintance that may
prove of value IN the present Congress.
Statesmen of national reputation made
him feel perfectly at home and more
than satisfied with himself, and made
remarks that convinced him that they
were far more human than divine.
IT IS ALL NEW STILL.
Now that the extra session of his
own Congress has begun, he still finds
that everything is new to him-even
the Capitol itself. He takes the eIey.
ator In preference to the stairway, fol
the latter may mislead him. The docu.
ment and stationery rooms elude him
when in search of bills and pads, and
he frequently misses his way when
looking for the restaurant and its con.
comitants, or seeking an exit from the
building. It is only by following the
beaten track that he can reach the
main entrance of the House. Months
will elapse before every byway and
passage in the immense structure be
comes familiar. Even then he may a,
times require the assistance Of a guide
But it will take him a longer time te
master the rules of the House. Patient
" has he listened to debate ON the
Dingley bill, and ardently has he conn.
ed the speeches in an effort to CLEAN
new ideas. He has failed because there
are no new ideas to CLEAN. The legis
lative husbandmen have been thresh
ing straw that has been threshed since
the foundation of the Government. Al
yet he is not conversant with commit
tee work. The committees haye MOI
been named, and the assignments have
not been allotted. When made, hi
will find tbot coro roitfao worfr Ia f,,1lx