The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-03-02
WAITED FOR WORD
and The Treaty
Executive Session.
WAS A FEvERISH ANXIETY
Fifty Writer'S Keen for the First
News-The Senators Guarded.
Getting Off Dispatches.
WAS A FEVERISH ANXIETY

concerned, everything possible is done
to prevent leaks. Guards are stationed /
at the foot of each great stairway so
that no person is allowed 10 be even
in the corridor OF the gallery floor.
The heavy doors into the galleries are /
severely closed and guarded, and just /
what information a person could get |
in THIS corridor. even with a stethos- |
cCpic ear. il is hard to imagine. In |
favor of the members of the press gal |
lery, n certain exception is made. They !
are allowed to go by the elevator. but
not by the stairs. to the gallery floor,
and while there they have the right
to walk through the passageway and
into the retiring-room back OF the press
gallery. In this room they may con-
tinue their work, as il is securely bar
ricaded from the Senate. So much of
the corridor one floor below rs ex-
tenus from the elevator to the lobby
entrance to the Senate is also 1T their
disposal. and IL was here that the
members OF the gallery stood in large
numbers the day the Spanish
treaty was being voted upon. awaiting
some announcement of the result in
side.
At the time the Senate went into eX
ecutive session, probably fifty CORES
pondents took their places there, stand
ing in groups awaiting the verdict. II
was an occasion suggestive OF imagin-
ings. When nothing definite can be
heard, there is every premium upon
evolving conclusions from the inner
consciousness of the individual. The
representatives OF the Stock Exchange
newspapers had all day been in most
feverish anxiety. Every linking that
could be gathered must receive due
weight and no more But to all IL was
an occasion of critical interest. The
only sound that could be heard from
the executive chamber was n somewhat
lsepulchral vocal tone. mCnotonous and
indistinct. which was known to- be the
calling OF the roll. At each new calling
of the roll an electric bell rings. as in
ordinary session. to summon all Sen
ators to their places This served TO
mark the progress of events to- an ex-
tent. although there was no way OF
telling upon what subject, whether an
amendment or the treaty itself. the
roll had been begun.
For an occasion of SO much moment.
the Senate transacted a great deal of
business in twenty minutes. As the
groups were standing, nervously await
ing some sign of the dawn. the eXecu-
tive-session specialist OF one OF the
press associations was seen darling on
dead run for the gallery. where his
wires were waiting for the eyentful
message. The crowd shouted at him
to give up" but as his information
was the capital of his association. he
could not be blamed for remaining un-
communicative.
In less time than il takes to- tell 1t.
and almost simultaneously with this
mans leap for the wires. the round
face Of Senator Wolcott OF Colorado
was seen in the lobby wearing u smile.
1T must be ratified" was the natural
inference. but before deciding To act
upon it the rotund form of Marcus
Alonzo Hanna was seen coming out OF
the Senate chamber on - run. and max
ing mis- way towards the colony OF cor
respondents. Three votes majority"
was all he said. Then the colony turn
ed, and. in a scramble as lively as a
football rush, made a break for the
elevator. Before its conductor could
close the cage more men had crowded
into il than the safety tests recon-
mend, but they were carried TO the
galleries where the wires were in wait
ing.
Another colony of shrewd CORES
pondents had made their stand at the
head OF the elevator. relying upon the
good nature of the first group of cor
respondents for their information. and
so avoiding the risk of being left for
the second trip OF the elevator. These
correspondents, joining with those
from the cage. made a grand rush for
the telegraph desks. where Postal and
Western Unicn operators were await
ing.
In this way came out the news OF
one of the great events in the history
of the United States Senate Not
since the impeachment proceedings of
President Johnson has there been a
Senate vote so closely contested to the
end. From any point OF view. the
consequences are enormous and far
reaching. Equally so would have been
cision. With an incipient war in the