The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-09

The Congressional population of Wash
ington is rapidly decreasing. The exo-
dus of Legislators and their satellites
set in within one hour after the last word
of the first session Of the Fifty sixth Con-
gress had been spoken. 1t continued dur
ing yesterday and last night, gathering
force as the time moved on. The fight
of Congressman will probably reach its
greatest height today and then the out
going stream of travel will gradually sub
side. s#
The Capitol reminded one on yester-
day of vast theatre when the curtain
has been rung down and the audience dis
missed. Many Of the men who have spok-
en- pages into the Congressional Record"
and who have inserted very many more
that they did not speak. were in the
chambers. They were no: clanoring for
recognition from the Chair: they were not
solidifying themselves with their consti-
tuents by piling up on the Clerks desk
bills to oe killed in committee: but they
were cleaning out their blue tcpi ed desks,
and asserting and discariing papers.
Manuscripts of extemporaneous speeches,
which the orators did not expect TO be
called upon to deliver, were laid aside for
future use. Letters from constituents.
The answers to which had carried hope
and nothing more, were thrown aside.
White paper was Uttered over the GRIM
son carpet Of the House and the tawney
xanthus carpet OF the Senate. in wild dis
order. Brooms raised from the floor grey
clouds of dust that had fallen from the
boots and shoes Of statesmen and the
cthers-many others. Down into the
dreary Senate chamber the pallid busts OF
dead Vice Presidents looked.
There was a strange hush in the House.
An ivory gavel no longer pounded, pound
ed. as though driving tenpenny nails into
a knot CT seasoned oak. No reading clerk
was crying out with lusty lungs, HoGse
bill number -. granting pension
to -" the plaintive voice Of Mr. Mann
YVES still; no Ethiopian dialect fell from the
lips of Mr.. Allen of Mississippi; the voice
of Mr.. Corliss, with the wiry twang OF
banjo was net hear: the grey name Of Mr..
Gaines had ceased to lash; Mr.. Ray was
not twiriing his eye-slass reuEd his fore
finger and saying. Mr.. Speaker, let us
have order" Mr.. Dayton vas not wTinging
his hands as though having them in in
visible water; Mr.. PAYNE was lot moving
to and fro. padding with his chubby hands
as though he were walrus.
Mr.. Richardson was 70. declaring mir.
Speaker, reserving the right to object,
would be glad if the gentleman would give
us some explanation CT the pending biil;"
Mr.. Sulzer was saying nothing about Beers
and trusts; 10 objections were coming from
MIR. Leutz; Mr.. Fitzgerald was silent on
the matter Of sectarian appropriat ons: the
little voice of big Cy. Sulioway was maxi
ing no effort to be heard: the cry of No
quorum" came not from Mr.. Ta,bert: tas
long sentences Of Mr.. De Almond were rot
rolling round and round; Mr.. De Graffen-
ried, with his right hand resting upon the
biceps Of his left arm and with an I'M
lighted cigar in his mouth was not pacing
about Mr.. Grosyenor was stirring up no
quarrel; Mr.. Ridgely was quiet as to the
Government ownership Of transportation
facilities. and Messrs. Underwood and
Bailey were not fnpounding parliamentary
Law. btss1q
There was some saetivity in the COMMIT
tee rooms. In the Committee on Agricui-
ture little packages Of butter. oleomargar-
inc and stearire we're taken out: in the
Committee on Military Affairs the familiar
blue prints Of the Buak7r Hill, Sullivan.
and Gem Mines. the maps of Shoshone
County. and the plats OF Burke and Ward
ner used during the Occur d'Alene en-
quiry were laid away; the press gallery,
with its acres Of yellow paper. its rasping
pens, and clatter OF telegraph keys and
saunders, was locked.
Nobody talked of bills and resolutions,
either House. Senate, joint or concurrent,
but everybody talked of green fields,
strands with combing waves, purling
brooks, and trout