The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-09
SOLONS AT WORK
uEN WHO MAKE THE NATIONS
LAWS.
a COURT MISREPRESENTED.
RULE THAT IS ADHERED TO
STRICTLY.

Tbose Who Have the Privilege of
,be House-A Glance at the Caller
;e.-The Man Who Sometimes Pre-
.ideS over the House-A Gentle
.n Who Has Had an Interesting
career-One who Wns a Barefoot
cd Roy Now "a Congressman-Other
Matters of Interest.
Couvright, 1902, by Amos ]. Cummings.
Washington, Feb. 8.-Stand here at
tbs main entrance to the hall of the
House of Representatives; look back
through the long tunnel-like corridor
crossing Statuary Hall and the great
yotunda, and afar off, in the north end
of the Capitol, you see a nest of red
lights. 1t is above the doors of the
Senate chamber. The lights warn you
that the American House of Lords Is
Il IN executive session, and that all visit
tors are debarred not only from the
galleries, but also from the corridors
surrounding the chamber. Now turn
about. lock arms, and enter the hall
of the House. Privileged persons alone
are allowed on the floor while the
House is in session. They include the
President and Vice President, of the
United States and their private secre-
tares, judges of the Supreme Court,
members of Congress and members
elect, contestants in election cases dur
ing the pendancy of their cases in the
House, the Secretary and Sergeant-at-
Arms of the Senate, heads of depart
.ss,4o -
states. the architect of the Capitol, the
librarian of Congress and his assist
ant, in charge of the law library, such
persons as have by name received the
thanks of Congress, ex-members of the
House not interested in any claim or
directly in any bill pending before
Congress, and clerks of committees
when business from their committee is
under consideration, and no others In
deed, the Speaker is not allowed to
entertain a request for the suspension
of this rule or to present from the
chair the request of any member for
unanimous consent OF course there
are many efforts to break this rule.
They usually end in disastrous failures.
The other day ex-senator Henderson
of Nebraska, was seen sending his
card in to member, while ex-senator
Pugh of Alabama. walked past him
House. The reason for the distinction
was obvious. henderson had never
been a member of the House, while
Pugh was representative away back
I'm 1889. Members of the British Par
lament have sought entrance in vain.
1t is said that the celebrated Lorenzo
Dow once appeared at the door and
tried to go in. The man on duty took
him for a foreign minister, and asked
what court he represented. He replied
that he was accredited from the Court
Of High Heaven. 81 am sorry to in
form you that that court is not recog-
nized here" responded the servitor.
stand aside and keep the passage way
clear"
But you are in the chamber. 1t is ev-
ident that the one-aPmed veteran SOL
der at the entrance takes you for
an exmember. His eyesight is not
the best in the world. Not many years
ago he took Buffalo Bill for an ex-
member, and Bill afterward held a re-
ception in the Democratic cloakroom.
On mounting the three marble steps
leading to the floor you cross your
hands and stretch your elbows along
the exquisite brass railing inclosing the
seated representatives.. Glance over the
House. Speaker Henderson is not in
the chair. A much younger man, with
whiskers a la nTilitaire, fills the chair.
The House is in Committee of the
Whole on the State of the Union, with
James S. Sherman of Utica, N. Y.
presiding. The urgent deficiency bill is
under discussion, and there is much
excitement. Five minority members
are on their feet shooting inteTogato-
RES into Joseph G.. Cannon, chairman
OF the Committee on Appropriations,
IN charge of the bill Cannon's hands
are wabbling in the air in the inten-
sity of his emotions. He is always at
his best in repellng the assaults of
parliamentary wolves. Apt in repartee,
MS answers are pat and enjoyable.
Every eye in the House is riveted on
MN, and waves OF applause succeed
ripples of merriment
Most of the seats on the floor are
hlled with attentive listeners, and the
galleries are bubbing with life, This
ought to be a proud moment in your
HHe. Take in the situation and mar
vel You are touching elbows with the
assembled wisdom of the country. Here
are ~ lawyers, > preachers, Ii editors,
- bankers, 21 manufacturers, Is mer-
Snants, farmers. physicians, Z typos,
eoiIese professors, railroad officials,
coal operators, a miller, a carpenter,
oiacksmlths. am actor, a stenograph-
IL d druggist, an auctioneer, a hotel
proprietor, brewer and a surveyor,
on aspiring statesmen, and all engag-
co IN making laws for the people and
u! distributing the surplus in the
lIeasury. These are some of the great
,n nen attracting the attention of the ma
uon. Ihey are pointed out to the
gouth of the country as exemplars in
Ille. There is an assorted lot of self
,laue men among them, but all are just
now IN intellectual fermentation. Most
VI mem eagerly await future advance
.ient. Here are men whose highest
"nDlllon is to be either senator of
ne united States or the governor of
Sldte. Some win fame by honest work
e. ronlnittee, and others by a super
noIai display of oratorical talent on the
% 'oor' All are engaged in filling the
o,uIrlns OF that great American news
tapeI' the Congressional Record.
tnohs them are statesmen who fur
@ ,r'sn daily topic of conversation in the
,Louhtains, on the plains, and along
@ @ne seashore. Others are quiet from
,,e ssloh oh TO session, and are never heard
J'.ts \, outside the boundaries OF their own
r, mere IS lull in the discussion Can
nh mas taken his seat. and Is mop
nas tas ms brows In the interim a sturdy
aoSolage from Tennessee takes the
lie ls Thetus w. Sims OF Linden
Nc. pam and unassuming as a hard
hlhg farmer, he has the appear
s"o oil a well-fed Judge. His cheeks
bi rosy, and a trim mustache adorns
I'D Apparently imbued with the