Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-04-29

Washington. D. c.. Abr. 24.-One OF
the features of the Capitol is the river
of discussion. 1t has it's shadows, it's
depths. its eddys, and it's rapids. At
| times it broadens into inland seas, and
anon sweeps through canyons as deep
and yawning as those of the Colorado.
Its fountains are the fireside and the
school house; it flows through the val
leys of popular opinion. In placidity it
Is almost unruflled until it reacchs the
boulders of partisan conflict. They
break its currents into eddying whirls,
| creating counter currents and whirl-
pools, until it's waters surge into the
rapids leading to the sea of Congress
| sional legislation. Here there is quite
a settlement. 1t is u broad and at
times an exceedingly stormy sea. 1t is
the center of political commerce, and is
piled by all sorts of craft Here is Il
battle-ship carrying thirteen-inch
| guns; there an armored cruiser of inn
| mense tonnage and surprising speed
| Near by you see Il protected cruiser,
while gunboatS and torpedo outfits are
headed toward every point of the COM
| pass. Aside from these, dorics cat
| boats, dinghes, canoes, launches shar-
| pies with leg-o'-mutton sails. pirogues.
with lanteen sails, and catamarans of
| all sizes and conditions ply its waters.
Disasters occur daily. Some vessels
| break down by overheated bearings and
q too rapid working of their engines:
others catch fire and explode. Cases of
| spontaneous combustion are not I'M
known. Some of the ships carry flour
and other articles contraband OF war,
and are hailed off TO Durham; others are
freighted with combustibles, unfortun-
ately not forbidden. and ships with I'M
iTn aah
paled on sunken rocks. And there are
said to be piratical craft upon this
Congressional sea-real old-time buc-
cancers such as lowered over the Span
| ish main. and rendczvoused in the Isle
| of Pines in the seventeen century.
All these and far more are entertain
| ing features of the river of discussion.
II flows through charming country.
| The scenery is beautiful and at times
| sublime. 1t alternates from pastoral
simplicity to towering heights OF gran
deur. In the valleys the sun writes it.
| self in shadows over the sparkling wa
| ter In the gorges the shrill cry of the
eagle and the everlasting roar of the
cataract are heard. The waters flow as
If they did not know the road The
banks are eternally crumbling. and
there is many n sawyer in the channel.
From the Congressional Sea the river
flows by hundred channels into the
great Presidential gulf. through jetties
OF greed and rapacity constructed by
the wealthy and powerful at the ex-
pense of the people. There Is always a
great freshet on the year of the Presi-
Dental election. The bottoms are flood
ed for miles on either side. Barns fen
oes. chicken-coops. pig-styes, and much
other less valuable material are swept
away. The blue hills of popular favor,
however, remain on the horizon a safe
refuge from those who flee from the
fury of the flood.
The banks of the stream are a haven
of enjoyment for the amateur photo
grapher. He reyels in its beauty. and
his kodak is busy at all hours, day
or night. He is not beyond indulging
in flash-lght pictures. The photographs
are SO Varied thai They are mora than
entertaining. Here is a pat illustra ton
taken by u kodak during the discussion
on the financial bill The Hon. j. II.
stephens, of Vernon, Tex, had the
floor He represents district larger
than England. He was discussing the
economic features of the measure.
me meanest man | ever heard Of"
said he, borrowed his neighbours horse
for blowing. At nightfall he would
feed the horse. but would sneak back
to the stable after dark, steal the corn
from him, and tote ii out to his hogs.
The supporters of this bill are stealing
the corn from the people and feeding
it to the fat hogs-the bondholders and
the bankers"
Another fine snapshot taken from the
bank of the river was one OF Henry S.
Boutell, of Chicago. 1t was on the
Gage resolution. Mr. Boutell looks
like, feels like, and apparently thinks
like Secretary Gage. He narrated an
incident in his campaign two years ago
that illustrates the feelings of some
constituents toward their Coporaes
man. After n campaign speech one
night. he says, he met an old and feeble
constituent outside of the hall. He
stopped and congratulated him on his
ability to be out, and was staggered to
hear him reply:
Yes, Congressman, made up my
mind 1 would hear your speech tonight
If it killed me-"
There Is also fine kodak picture of
Samuel w. T. Lanham, Of Wetherford.
Texas. Lanham is an old member.
with Silas Wright face. He was bit
terly opposed to the swearing in of
Brigham H. Roberts. Suppose" said
he. that there had been an election in
our alleged aDtipodal possessions, the
Philippine Islands, to select delegate
to Congress. and that, coming with
certificate of election issued by, the
pro-Consul, or whoever might be the
proper party to sign a commission.
there should appear
The Sultan OF Jolo,
Fresh from his seragiio,
Hailing from the archipelago.
Claiming an imperlum in imperio.
Accompanied by his chief dato.
Armed with his bolo,
and demand that ne be sworn in as a