The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-12-15

By Our Regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON. December 1O.-Amid the well
coming of old members, the introductions OF
new and lamentations for those who were
''snowed under" and did not come back, the
fifty-sixth Congress began its career. The
opening was marked by the old familiar
scenes The floral displays were of very
elaborate order and the first day looked more
like convention of florists than gathering
of statesmen. AS usual, the most obscure
mem oers fell heir to the biggest bouquets.
Alas, poor Roberts. With all the rejoicing
and handsha king, nobody has friendly word
for him. In fact, the Moruon is so helplessly
alone that there is something pathetic about it
all that cannot help but create certain sort
of shame-faced feeling in his favor. No
matter how worthless that canine may be
there is always some sympathy for the under
dog.
Miss Adah L. Roberts, daughter of the man
from Utah, who came to Washington as his
private secretary, is not in love with the
national Capitol. The gay and festive sight
seer has marSei her for hii own, and the snap
shot friend pursues her, even to the neglect of
Cousin George Dewey. The young lady thinks
that these denizens of the effete East are hard
" to be compared with the vigorous manhood
of the West.
There is no doubt now that the Robert
goose is cooked. Whilst the other members
were being sworn in, he was compelled to
stand aside. That he managed to secure seat
at all was matter of chance. " hen the space
occupied by seats was cleared for the biennial
drawing. he took his place with the others in
| the rear of the railing, eagerly listening for
his name, but when the balls in the box were
| exhausted his name had not been called.
AS he had not taken the oath no ball rad
| been placed in the box for him, but by some
accident the names of two Republican men,
| bers bad not been called when the balls were
exhausted. The speaker then exclaimed that
| the balls were exhausted and asked if any
members had not rot been provided with
seats. The two Republicans and Mr.. Roberts
came forward. "If there is no objection,
| said the Speaker. ''those gentlemen whose
| names have not been drawn will now select
seats" No objection appeared, and Mr.
Roberts managed to find a vacant seat in the
extreme rear of the hall, in the Cherokee
Strip" There he pitched his lonely tent.
The petitions which Representative Taylor
presented to the House protesting against the
seating of Mr.. Roberts were very bulky.
They consisted of twenty-eight rolls, eact
about two feet in diameter, encased In the
American flag. These rolls were stacked VI
In the area in front of the clerks desk, where
they impeded traffic until they were re
moved. 1'
They were collected by the cock-sure New
York newspaper which thinks it has u contr"c
for running the United States.
The special committee appointed to t:I
Roberts is binting that junketiDg trip q
Utah at the expense of the people would b'
the proper caper. Roberts will appear before
this august tribunal shortly, and will then b.
cast into outer darkness.
The members of the Senate worked like hiret
men this week. On Thursday, the Senate
broke all previous records in the matter of TIKI
introduction of bills and other measures fol
legislation.
There we're 721 bills and 81 joint and Senat,
resolutions introduced, The largest previou
| single days work comprised the filing of les
than 400 bills.
Senator BILLY" Mason, of Illinois, h;u
! brought the Senate face to face with a delica:,
and interesting situation. He presented dur
ing the week a resolution expressing thu
sympathy of the American people with thu
Beers in the latter's struggle for liberty.
In the wording of his resolution, Senate
| Mason stuck very closely to the text OF tn
Republican platform of 1896 in relation t.
|, Cuba. Senator Mason will speak his piece oil
this measure early next week. He expects Il
. give an imitation of Washington. Monroe
: | Henry Clay and Daniel Webster all rolled int
one. His resolution will probably be referre
to the Committee on Foreign Relations, and
is safe to remark that it will never again Be-
the light of day.
, There is weeping and wailiug and gnashin
] | of molars in the little Corbin- Sternber
, coterie over the appointment of Gen. Wood q
| Major General of Volunteers. His nomiDs
ton, already sent to the Senate, will be oppose
violently by all the political influence lin
officers can bring to bear.
S Limo officers see IN it not only too rapid ris
| for n staff officer of the despised medical dc
G partment, but an attempt on the part of tn
President TO give Major-General Wood th
| supreme military comma Id liz Cuba. Surgeon
| General Sternberg rems IS brigadier, W Iii
one Of his junior assistants is passed over h
a devoted head. The design of the Presidcn
say line officers, ia evident because Gencrs
o Brooks can now come he me If he wants TO, An
:, whether be wants to or not he will return an