The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-24
SEEN AND HEARD AT THE CAPITOL

The debate yesterday between Senators
Spooner and Tillman on the subject Of the
Porto Rican Relief bill was listened to by
one OF the largest audiences Of the present
session. The galleries we're crowded, an
unusual number Of Senators were in their
seats, and many members OF the House
were on the floor The debate at times
was amusing, occurring as it did be
tween two men noted for their power OF
repartee. their sarcastic wit, and their
partisanship. and for nearly two hours
they kept the galleries alternately amused
and sobered. but always interested. Mr.
Spooner, ordinarily deliberate and mod
crate speaker, at times became almost as
emphatic as Mr.. Tillman. and when the
debate closed 1t would have been difficult
to get from the audience majority opin-
ion as to which Of the two Senators had
the better OF the argument
a slip Of the tongue on the part OF
Speaker Henderson created great laugh
in the House on Thursday. The House was
in confusion and disorder the greater part
Of the day. and late in the afternoon Mr.
Henderson. who had been wearing him
self out with vigorous pounding Of the
gayel in the vain attempt to preserve or
der. gave harder rap than usual and i'm
pressively announced: The Chair will be
in order" During the laughter which fol-
lowed the remark Mr.. Henderson cor
rected himself and added that the mem
bers OF the House would discover that the
Chair was in order.
This lapsus linguae recalls several 9TH
ers made on the floor by members. One
was perpetrated by Mr. Cochran of Mis-
souri,. who tainted the Republicans with
having ''relished the sweet milk which
flowed from the pens of the writers in ad
Vocacy of sound money"
Another was made by Mr. Dalzell, who
prides himself on his Scotch Irish ances
try. Discussing the tariff, he said: Mr..
Speaker, the Wilson bill is piling In the
Treasury Of the United States a deficit
which will soon be mountain high"
A large number Of children from the
primary schools of the city were at the
Capitol yesterday in charge Of their teach
ers- There were too many Of them, and
they were too young to derive appreciable
benefit from visiting the galleries of the
House and Senate, so they were only
taken through the corridors. They we're
held together by being placed in double
file and kept in a close line and in this
way the teachers were enabled to handle
them with ease. The visit was made in
pursuit Of the plan adopted in the public
schools Of giving the pupils practical in
stTuction whenever possible.
Representative Littleield is one OF the
most muscular men in the House. Yes
terday. with several members. he was dis
cussing the question of athletics and gen
eral physical development. and by way Of
diversion. with his right hand, lifted a
large man from the floor without great
effort.
Representative CaprOn is one OF the
heaviest smokers in the House. He is
rarely seen without cigar in his mouth.
He is member of the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs. which has under investiga-
tion the Occur d'Alene troubles. and he
smokes throughout the sessions.
Mrs Gear wife of Senator Gear of Iowa.
has for the past week been a regular Wis
itor at the Capitol. As soon as the Senate
she takes a seat in the Executive
gallery and sometimes remains until ad
journment Mrs. Gear is one Of the very
few wives of Senators who seem to take
an interest in the work done at the Capt.
tol and the careful attention she pays TO
the proceedings is evidence that she re-
CARDS afternoons spent in that way as being
both instructive and pleasing.
Representative Hull has the habit of