Evening journal., 1902-03-15
BiIlParSOn'S 'SCOIumn
Published Now and Then.
A Peep at Congress

A Peep at Congress
THE House will be In order"
A strong, confident voice rang out
and the spectators in the galleries
hushed their conversation in the ex-
Dectation of hearing the traditional
pin drop.
The clerk will read the journal,
said the same voice. and q young man
steps to the front and begins in a
sing-sOng voice to recite what may
have been words. but which sounded
like a senseless combination of gut
terals.
The Chaplain will offer prayer,
and the blind officer arose and turning
his sightless orbs toward heaven be-
gan an appeal for Divine guidance in
the deliberations of the House. OF
lcourse the members arose. but the
spectators in the galleries kept their
seats as though Divine grace were a
thing to be invoked only by members
loi Congress.
So this is the House Of Congress.
one of the branches of the greatest
Legislative body of the world. Take
a look over the floor and illusions
vanish. On his elevated throne with
the American flag as a background
sits the man of Iowa who wields the
gavel. He is large and commanding
and his eagle eye looks out over the
waste places before him as though or
der and decorum must follow that
glance"
The House will be in order" says
he. but the House pays absolutely no
attention to the decree. That is the
way It acted when Car Reed held
the gavel. and that is the way it will
probably act to the end OF the chapter,
But few of the members are present
land these are moving about chatting
. and laughing and sending pages on
. their messages.
Across there a member rises, holds
aloft his hand and evidently addresses
the speaker. That dignftary announ-
ces the gentleman from Michigan,
land we settle back hoping that those
in the parquet seats will keep quiet
: and allow other spectators to hear the
performance.
Then a member rises and moves that
the House resolve itself into a com
mittee of the whole ION the state o
the Union" Surely now order vii
prevail The welfare of eighty millions
lof people is in the balance
But strange to say the noise an,
hubbub continues. A member rises, anC
spreading an imposing array Of docu
ments on his desk begins to throw hi
arms and to shout but no one pays am
attention. Members sitting six fee
from him loll in their chairs, writ
letters and engage in conversation.
When he concludes. another membe
begins to interrOgate him; they shak
their fingers in each others faces an
scream. but their words are unintel
ligible. The Chairman raps for order
b and the pandemonium continues.
9 @ @
Despairing of hearing anything @
interest here, J passed out, crossed tn
great corridors under the dome of tn
rotunda, where hang certain monstros
, tiles on canvas which were execute
by our earlier artists, and enter th
= Senate ganery.
, On entering one recognizes a differ
ent air; quiet reigned save for a pen,
trating and sonorOus voice that ran
! through the chamber Chauncey Dc
: pew was making a speech. Here wa
lhe orator personifed, and here, to-
o was the attentive audience.
Behind him sat Mark Hanna. a yer
pleasant looking gentleman who migl
y pass as a clergyman or a philanthr,
u DIST. The dollar marks of the cattOc
e are absent The presiding Officer
. PRESIDENT Pro TEN Frye, and he is Ii
tening to the speaker with evident il
y terest.
e The reason is apparent. Chaunct
= Depew Is speaking on the shfpDing bi
d ana is evidently warmed IN to q
r work. In keen, biting sentences he
!. telling of the difference between Dem
IS cratic principle and Democratic pra
'e tiee. OF how Democrats oppose &c Wer
mental aid for all enterprises sa
T. those which individual members diesi
L for their own localities.
al Then he sums up by a few bu
% strokes in which he expresses his bell
e IN protection to American indus tri
+ including those ON the high seas.
)t lie IS a pleasing orator; his vo
'e is resonant and penetrating, anIl !
S, hands move to give emphasis ID ]
" words. He gives evidence of pa iiti
Of conviction, perfect seif-control an a
ot a certain nervous energy is evlden ?.
BIT AS he concludes he glances at {
gallery, mods, and a lady, the II C,
b. Mrs. Depew arises and goes fort
ry greet her lord and master
to The session drones on. The val
e. able Cockerell presents a bill. as II
no wise does the leonine Scott of w,
m Virginia. Senator Clark, Of Monta1
xt tho man who once was rejected
te bribery and who came back aga
p. with improved credentials. sits at
desk in the rear alone ald apparent
neglected.
There is the venerable Allison. o
of the Oldest and mo st respected
ell the group, looking ter years youna
est than he really is. Tn at striking fgt
Ice over there is German. who is aim,
ne as much Senator n is said as thou
ic, no had been alread y sworn in.
est Bills are introduced and REFER
without objection onl- 41,o -s