The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-25
A CHARM FOR THE VISITORS.
hurry ALWAYS SEEK THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES,

wiring Letters on Congressional
,otter Pnper-The Floor Crowded
with visitors just Before Noon.
LAW the Floor Is Cleared - Daily
pontfne of That Body - Some of
sneaker Reeds Functions.
Wellington, April 25.-The House of
,ooresentatives seems to have a peculiar
harm for visitors to the national capitol
The reason is clear. The Senate chamber
e always held sacred from their intru-
IA .ions The hall of the House, however. is
.,er open 10 them when the House is not
m session. They tread its aisles early and
late studying it's decorations and paint
ings and eagerly scanning the names of
the members inserted in the desks. Ladies
frenuentlv mount the rostrum and place
themselves in the speakers chair. 1t is
an honor eagerly sought when the House
is not in session. description of the
scenes in the House from early morn I'M
ill nightfall will interest all who have
4 visited the south wing of the capitol.
The doors of the hall are thrown open
4 at O'Clock every morning by John T.
4 Chancey. He is a republican, who has been
a special employe of the House for nearly
thirty-fve years. Mr.. Chancey is suave
and genuemany and extremely popular.
AS soon as the doors are opened visitors
enter the chamber. Some of them are reg
II Mar habitues. They march up the aisles,
Il occupying the chair of some member, and
read the Congressional Record, which is
always placed on files beneath the desks.
There is a peculiar satisfaction upon their
faces as they loll in the easy chairs and
II assume the airs of statesmen. Indeed, one
of them, whom the employees facetiously
call 1.-THE jack of clubs" chided guide
the other day because he did not point him
out to visitors as one Of the members of
the House.
Careless members frequently leave pads
of House paper upon their desks. These
are seized with avidity by the early habi-
tue. He finds pen and writes a letter
# TO some far-away acquaintance. Visitors
imagine that he is a member writing to
his constituents, and this gratifes his
vanity.
At o'clock the pages of the House are
required to be present. They place the
records upon the file of each representa-
tive, 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 re-
ceive special Instructions as to their du-
ties during the day.
Meantime members Of the House begin
~ 60 appear. They hang their hats and
81 overcoats in the cloak room, and assert
I'd their morning mails at their desks. Some
bring their secretaries and dictate re-
81 plies. These are usually members from
a distance. Such members are never in
terupted by visits from constituents.
representatives from Pennsylvania, Vir-
GINA and New York and other nearby
states are not addicted to this habit. Their
constituents would overwhelm them, and
they would find 1t difficult to dictate re-
plies to their correspondents.
BY 10 o'clock there are many visitors up
on the floor. The hum of conversation in
creases as II o'clock approaches. Groups
Of ladies' and gentlemen, under the direc-
ton of the guides, throng the lobby. gaz-
Mg at the portraits of the past speakers
o. the House, and gather with curiosity
nound the maps indicating the tempera-
tlre in every state ana territory in the
mion AT a glance they can ascertain
shether It is raining or showing at their
* hmes or whether the sun is shining. AT
quarter to Il the floor of the House IS
rowded with visitors. The assistant door
teeper appears at the desk of the clerk
the House and in shrill voice says:
Il am directed by the doorkeeper to ask
I'll persons not entitled to the privileges
d the floor to Immediately retire. as the
ules of the House require the same
This request is usually promptly needed
Those disposed to linger upon the floor
ne approached by messengers, who shout;
il is time to clear the floor. All visitors
must retire. Many of them seek the
galleres TO see the opening of the days
hsson.
At 1855 the blind chaplain, Henry N.
Couden, who wears a Grand Army but
ION, is led to the clerks desk by a page.
be was a soldier in a Michigan regiment,
and lost his sight in the war. An assist
ant sergeant-at-arms comes through the
EAST lobby door with the mace and places
by the side of a malachite pedestal. 1t
leans against the wall at the right of the
Steps leading TO the speakers desk. Mean
ume, the speaker remains in his room adj
joining the lobby. Here members gather
around him seeking promises of recogni-
uon and asking his aid in securing the
consideration Of bills.
Two minutes later the veteran John
Chancey leaves the hall by the west lobby
uoor. Going through the file room, he as
Cehds TO the roof, carrying an American
4 nag adorned with forty-hve stars. He ties
4 u 10 the halyards of tine Flagstaff above
4 we house and gazes intently toward the
state, war and navy building. The time
oaI drops there at the noon hour and
chahcey with barred head. as he hears
we sounds of the gavel in the House, pulls
the halyards, and the flag floats above the
S5Uuth wing, announcing to all that the
House is In session
>, Inc speaker has already left his room.
ne walks through the lobby. entering the
rouse by the southeast door. and slowly
ascends the steps leading to his chair. His
Clefk has preceded him, and placed his
BaVel upon the desk. The speaker grasps
H. raises II above his head and gives the
uesK a sharp rap. The ringing OF a bell
ana the hoarse noon whistle OF a South
Washington lumber mill Is heard With
VIC crash OF the gavel come the words
clear slow and distinct: THE House
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