The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-01-30
CONGRESS SEEN BY A CANUcK.

l Amused by the Bird" That Settles the | Rows in the Lower Branch. To the visitor in the house of repre- sentatves who had been accustomed to 1 the severe discipline and strict decorum of British legislatures the degree of lib- erty indulged in by the members seems somewhat strange. There is a continual hum of conversation, constant nov ing about on the floor the frequent formation of groups of members for consultation, and, what would doubtless be regarded as treason by the attend ants in the gallery of the mother of par liaments applause from the spectators at times. The American politician is of- ten accused of overvehemence and a disposition to shout when ordinary tones would better serve the purpose. After an hour in the big chamber of the popular house, with its continual din, one can well understand that the mem- Der of congress comes naturally by his strident tones and strenuous manner. Without them he would never be heard by his chattering colleagues, and to the galleries he would speak only by ges- i ticulation. The official reporters suffer greatly from the noise. Instead of sit ting at their desks In front of the speakers chair, they find it necessary to skip about to whatever section of the house speaker may be in, dropping, into vacant seat If convenient, but more frequently leaning against desk, pad in hand. Unhappy, indeed, is that mortal in the middle of whose take" there is change of speakers. He may have crept close up to "the member from Michigan" on the extreme left of the huge semicircle in which the seats are arranged, and may have to make run like a baseball player for his home base to the other side to catch the opening remarks of "the member from Arkansas" as he rises to interpose an objection.
 It sometimes happens that members lose their tempers in the heat of debate. The bowie knife and the revolver con- trary to the belief of many of our kins- men across the seas, are no longer the weapons with which these quarrels are settled. They have been replaced by the
 
 are much more convenient and less deadly. When a row breaks out on the floor, and the combatants come to close quarters, it is the duty of the sergeant at-arms to interpose the mace between them. The mace is the emblem of the civil power, but it is somewhat different | in appearance from ours. It consists of bundle of ebony rods bound together with fragments of silver and having on top a silver globe surmounted by a sl- yer eagle. It resembles the fasces borne | by the lictors before the Roman mag's- trates. It is known familiarly as "The Bird" Just before the declaration of | war with Spain ''The Bird'' did duty in | quelling a row. An excited member had | enforced his remarks by throwing the Jaw in a concrete form at his oppon- ent's head. The latter made a rush at | his antagonist, mutual friends held | them back while from all sides of the | house came the cry: Sergeant, bring | the Bird!" The Bird was sent forward ! to the fighting line as rapidly as pos sible and hostilities ceased. The man who would dare strike blow over "The | Bird' has not yet entered congress- The Toronto Globe.