Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-03-25
Copyright, 1900. by Amos ]. Cum
mings)


fair, with a crooked handle. a horse
man would not dismount to pick it
up If he saw it lying in the street. 1t
was cut from n tree on the battlefield
of Corinth. It's owner was desperately
wounded there, and has had three am
putations of the leg since then. He is
now Speaker of the United States
House of Representatives. You hear
the sharp click OF the cane on the tes-
seated floor as he leaves his room and
enters the carpcted lobby on his way 10
the chair, which has sent one Speaker
into the Executive Mansion and made
another the Vice President OF the
United States. Henry Clay, who occu-
pied 1t for ten sessions OF Congress, was
repeatedly Il candidate for the Presi-
dency, and was defeated James G.
Blaine, another unsuccessful candidate
for the Presidency, sat here during
eight sessions of Congress.
as General Henderson enters the
House and ascends the steps leading to
the chair, one foot at tine, with the
ala OF his cane, the members take their
seats and the hum of conversation
ceases The Speaker places the cane
beneath the starry banner above him
and seizeS the gaVel. AT the same time
the scrgeant-at-arms lifts the great
mace TO its pedestal, and the Stars and
b.
the south wing of the Capitol. Broad
Shouldered, silver-haired strong mind
cd and pleasant-faced, the Speaker, in
a manly voice says: THE House will
come to order" He pronounces the
word House" with a good, square
American accent. In this he differs
from Speaker Reed, who drawled out:
The Howus." and from Carlisle, who
termed it House" After n pause,
Speaker Henderson crosses his hands
upon the handle of the gavel, bows his
head, and says THE chaplain will
offer prayer" All the members pres
ent rise and are irreverent in manner If
not in soul. AS the chaplain pronounces
the words "Ah men!" the Representa-
tives either resume their seats or saun-
ter toward the cloakrooms, while the
Speaker says: "Thc clerk will read the
journal"
THE TRUE GUARDIAN.
After this the business of the day
begins. The Speaker lays before the
House whatever executive documents
have been sent to him, as we'll as any
papers from the departments. From
this time on the House is practically
In control of the leader of the majority.
If he desires 10 bring up important
business 1t would be useless for any
one to ask unanimous consent for the
consideration OF any bill whatever
There is usually so much privileged
business on the calendar that the reg
ular pathway of legislation can be
blocked at any time. The rules require
that all bills carrying appropriations.
direct or otherwise. shall be consid-
cred in committee OF the whole More
than half of the time of the House is
spent in committee, the Speaker select
ing the presiding officer. While the
House is in committee, he usually re-
tires to his private apartment, where
q Ivi N ta
Others and discusses proposed legis-
lation. He watches all measures re-
ported from the sixty committees of the
House, and, like the editor of a great
daily newspaper, carefully supervses
them. He is perforca the great brake
on legislation.
Watch dogs are all we'll enough In
their way, but the Speaker is the true
guardian of the Treasury. The rules
are so framed as to give him this
guardianship. The regular appropria-
ton bills are privileged. All others
are practically controlled by the Com
mittee on Rules, where the Speaker is
predominant. 1t will require n special
order from this committee to bring up
the Nicaragua canal bill and thousands
of others cvelled at the Treasury. If
one-half of those already introduced
were passed. the government would be-
come bankrupt. With a correct idea
government under the regular appro-
priation bills and fair estimate of the
receipts OF the Treasury. the Speaker
knows how much more money can be
taken from the Treasury without EN-
dangerinE it. At times the situation
must be appalling With due regard
for the interests of the country, he un-
doubtedly has an appreciation of party
interests Add to this the shower of
personal bills every day, and it will be
seen that the Speakership is by no
means bed of roses.
HENDERSON AND REED.
Gen. Henderson is far more popular
with the members than was his pre-
decessor. He has a natual suavity of
manner that never leaves him. retain
ing the good Will of those whose re-
quests are refused, and granting those
made by others without acting rs
though he were comforting favor. In
these respects he differs somewhat
from his predecessor. Speaker Reed
was blunt and at times almost brutal
in his frankness: Henderson is straight
forward and inclined to be indulgent.
Reed was positive and at times arbi-
trary; Henderson IS equally positive.
but never arbitrary. Reeds bluntness
repealed many an applicant; Hender-
sons good nature oils his sense of duty.
He presides in the House easily and
gracefully. The favors of recognition
are distributed equally and consider
ately. The wound received at Corinth
has never perfectly healed yet he
maintains his equipoisea and retains per
feet self-control. Unlike his predeces-
sor. he is in perfect touch with the adj
minstration. Thus far his sympathies
have never controlled his judgment
Aside from his wound, he has q mag
nificent physique and judgment unex-
cellcd.
20 rf,lt ~. %l.1