Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-30

$500 ASas ANon CIV
s. scssiun is Medic Memorable by Remark
able Spcoches-Amos Cummings Remi-
I niscepces Events Behind Closed Doors
8 feopyright. 1900. by Amos j. Cum
Sg mfngs)
s ashtngton, d. c., Dec. 29.-Yes. 1T
s is a red light. In more cities than one
"a re such lights Significant. This, how
i ever. is aglow in the temple Of national
fleBfslation. Stand here in the main
I DOORWAY of the House of Representa-
1 tives and look through the long corri-
dor leading to the august chamber OF
the limited States Senate. 1t is like
locking through a tunnel. DO you see
At rs purple tints are as plain as the
4 red gleam OF u lantern on the rear car
OF a limited express. Now, walk down
+ he corridor toward the north wing of
IL he. CAPITOL. A few steps, and we cross
1 the wonderful hall of statues, with it's
1nysterious echoes. Anon we enter the
great rotunda, with its historical paint
fngs, familiar to every American school
you Craze the shoulder OF an aged
q negro seated in an easy chair. lie
eweags a black skull-cap, and is shield
led from draughts by u richly worked
rosewood screen. He holds Il siken
cord Of various colors. 1t is attached
10 the door of an apartment occupied
I by a body more august than even the
Senate of the United states. II is the
door of the chamber in which the SUI
sIpreme Court of the United States holds
its sessions The African receives $1,000
{ a year for pulling the string for those
seeking entrance. You next enter the
special corridor, beyond the sable guar
j ttciicisti seeea
are facing the main entrance to the
Legislative Sanhedrim.
Above the closed doors appears the
red light. Scan 1t closely and You will
discover that it is n nest of electric
lights shining through scarlet bulbs.
More Significant than the light itself
are the glitterins uniforms of the police
Officials in the corridors surrounding
( the chamber. Two sit on the bottom
: step of each of the marble stairways
leading to the galleries. Every public
s entrance is closed. Indeed, it looks as
though the chamber was Theoretically
= sealed. Awe permeates the very at
z mosphere. Move single foot nearer
the chamber and you will be touched
\ on the shoulder by man in uniform.
With dignity most profound he Will
s point to the red light, and inform you
& in an undertaker's whisper that the
Senate is In executive session. The red
light flashes this impressive fact to Il
Wondering world. The strictest seclu-
n sion is required Jupiter and the gods
and goddesses of High Olympus We're
not better protected from eavesdrop-
pers. You are not allowed to loiter in
the corridor for II single second. So
b deeply impressed are you that Il chilly
4 sensation courses UP your back as you
shrink down the stairway leading 10
L the lower regions.
ANNOUNCED BY ELECTRIC BELLS
Meantime the Legislative deities are
n considering executive appointments
and sitting treaties with foreign gov
/ ernments. When a motion to go into
executive session is carried all the
electric bells are rung and there is
great commotion. The Senate retains
ali its hauteur until the galleries are
cleared and the doors closed. With
neither Stenographers, messengers nor
i pages in attendance and spectators
driven from the galleries, the Senators
proceed to executive business. 1t is
then that punctilo is thrown to the
winds and dignity slips through a trap
door. Personal comfort is the first
considera ton. Lovers of the weed
draw fragrant Uayanas and Pittsburg
intimidads from their pockets and sniff
Ssor bite off the ends. All kinds OF
Z match boxes are in evidence. from gold
down to = IT.,
tiqtIes fish for matches In the pockets
: of their waistcoats, and ignite them on
their boot heels. or with smart jerk
adown the right leg of their trousers
All assume attitudes more or less nom
cnalant. The best Of feeling usually
prevails. You might almost fancy it
WAS q social gathering. Here is n
Senator stretched out on a sofa, with
Shis hands ciasped behind his head.
watching the smoke Of his cigar as it
I purls toward the ceiling. Others place
their feet on their desks and enter into
reminiscent conversation. In their day
Thurman and Edmunds usually took
seats at the desks used by the stenog-
raphers, and essayed the role OF
Damon and Pythias until some ap-
spointnaent in which either was inter
ested came up for consideration. Anon.
sbcth arose and sought snuffbox en-
Scpnced in a niche near the Vice Pres
siHent. 1T is said to be a relic of the
old continental Congress, and ii has
lcertglnly. been in official use since the
days OF Daniel Webster and Henry
Clay Three minutes afterward Thur
afIlsin would draw his old bandana from
his coat pocket and make blast
lSan1lljaT, in Congregatio nal churches rs
eyssara ago. Occasionally they exchanC-
ed cigars, but they We're Wonderfully
and fearfully made. The aroma was
srvsrpowering A gentleman VISITING.
ssiie engineers room in the basement
0aany years ago was surprised to hear
She engineer remark; The Senate is
IN aecfet session again. How do YOU
Know he was asked 81 catch the
.fiavor of old Thurmans cigar" he re-
'4{f5ts3t The secret was casily axr1n;,o,,