The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-15


just as the long and short hands OF
the clock In the House of Representa-
tiyes meet each morning, or nearly
every morning OF a session OF Congress,
| under the rules OF the House, the speak
er. or his designated substitute, VINO
must be speaker pro tempore, strikes
his desk sharply with his gayel. ana the
business OF the law makers begins. It
is always an interesting moment. put
IL lacks that activity that prevails Tor
from half an horr to an hour prior 10
the command OF the presiding officer.
Ii Is at this time that the hustle pre-
ceding the session r. greatest, and when
the floor is thronged with arriving
members. with anxious promoters OF
legislation, and with the newspaper
men who employ that last opportunity
Tor their newspapers for the WAITING
telegraph operators in the galleries.
The floor of the House IL open 10 all
visitors until Is minutes before the hour
for calling 1t to order, says writer IN
Lesle's Weekly
At that time the clerks must be IN
their places in the desks, the chaplain
Is led 10 the place from which he looks
out with sightless eyes toward the con-
~ members are examining letters or
reading newspapers, and members Just
released from committee meetings are
rushing in TO be present on time.
Al 1i:45 the doorkeeper Or one OF his
assistants announces that all persons
not entitled to the privileges OF the hoor
will please retire" Until Speaker
Henderson was chosen 10 preside over
the body. this order of exclusion was
by grace suspended 80 far as newspa-
per men were concerned, but insisted
upon as to all others. Now Il turns out
newspaper men, too. These energetic
Investigators stick 10 the field as long
as possible. 10 talk with the best-in-
formed men as they reach their places.
Just at the left OF the speakers desk
is Mr.. Hepburn. of Iowa. one OF the
keenest and most watchful OF Repubii-
cans. a man whose agreeable converse
tional habit is in marked contrast with
his biting partisanship when political
questions are in debate. In front OF the
speaker. nearly at the rear of the sec
ond aisle. on the Democratic side. Mr..
Bailey. the tall, ooth-shaven, hand
some Texan wearing. as always. low
cut waistcoat, is sure TO be greeted
by many members and visitors. Another
smooth-shaven and large man on the
Democratic side is Champ Clark OF Mis-
souri,. a man as clever i'm his use of
ueman, Sibley. OF Pennsylvania. for
whom he is often mistaken.
Other members whose facs have be-
come familiar. Cannon, Dalzell. Payne.
on the Republican side. and De Ar
mond. Richardson. the Democratic
leader, Sulzer. who aspired TO be the
leader, move toward their desks. stop
ped on the way, perhaps. by members
or messengers who look for them.
Assisted by his cane the speaker
climbs the marble steps 10 his place a
few moments before the time OF meet
ing. The loor assumes a more orderly
appearance. The floor reporters come
in and take their places at the little
desks provided for them. Doorkeepers
warn the boisterous to subside. The
whispering in the galleries diminishes.
Every employe stands at attention. The
hands or the clock that lies fiat on the
speakers desk tick thir way more close
together. Just as they lap there Is
sounding "Whack!" A hush fan upon
the floor. In a low voice the speaker
Announces: The chaplain will open
the proceedings with prayer" The ses-
sion has begun.