The San Francisco call., 1904-03-22
Washington Gossip.
BY s. W. WALL.

WASHINGTON, MdFcn IL i40
United States Supreme Court room is
IN the old and main building of the
Capitol and is entered Immediately on
e narrow passageway that is a part
Of the thoroughfare that extends the
length OF the building from the door
OF the Senate to the door Of the House
of Representatives in the north and
south wings. The narrow passage sep
arstes the courtroom from the clerks
room and opens directly into that ar
chitectural eccentricity known as JEFF
ferson's well. In all the big building
this passage was the most frequented
on the morning Of the merger decision
and the crowd in the courtroom over
flowed into it. Before Justice Harlan
had fairly begun the reading, it was
known in the Senate and in the House
and members from each body Joined
the rush. There had been a hint that
the opinion was to be handed down
and newspaper men already had their
bulletins written to file. The mere an
nouncement that the decision had been
made was hurtled away over the wires
before il was known how il was to go.
This being announced, il became race
between the several press associations
as well as representatives of great
newspapers all over the country to get
10 the wire and the wires to get the
messages away. The reading Of the
opinion was followed n its course by
q constant stream Of bulletins TO the
1n1. nd
fn the press galleries.
The opinion itself followed these and
then the dissenting opinions as quick
ly as they could be had for transmits
sion. Justice Harlan's opinion con-
tanned "a, 600 words and the whole story
with interviews as sent in some in
stances contained 10000 words. The
proceedings Of Congress and all other
matter was sidetracked for the time
being. No such test of capacity had
been applied to the telegraph wires in
Washington for a long time. The
mountain Of words, however, was
licked up in good time and other rou-
tine handled as well. Among the news
paper men there was little time for
talk during the day. but the next morn
ing in the press galleries 1t was the
pride and boast Of every man that had
had anything TO do with it that his
paper had got to the street several
easy minutes in advance Of all Of it's
competitors. The decision was the
topic Of the clOalroOms Of both houses,
the lObbies, the departments and the
White House before the reading had
concluded in the courtroom and so has
continued since with speculation as TO
its wide and deep effect in politics
and business-ss great. say the leaders,
in one as in the other.
The little room where sits the Su-
preme Court formerly, from 1900 to
1859, was the United States Senate
chamber. Here sat Thomas Jefferson
IS the presiding officer i'm 1900 and
John c. Calhoun in 1859. Here fig
ured Webster, Chase. Stephen A.
Douglas, Ben Wade and a long line
OF distinguished men. 1t was in this
room that Preston Brooks assaulted
Charles Sumner. Here the Louisiana
purchase was determined. There is
a bill in Congress now for the con-
structiOn Of splendid building for the
Supreme Court in the Capitol grounds.
but so there has been in almost every
Congress for many years. The bill
cannot muster strength 10 get
through Though the approach to the
courtroom is not imposing the room
itself is deemed adequate and its as
sociations hallow it. Besides. il is
very convenient for the lawyers in
Senate and House, who FREQUENTLY
drop in TO argue case or to listen.
Sandwiched in with all the legisla-
tion that is done this year is great
deal of politics. The Congressional
Record is called upon to do mission
ary work for both parties with its
every days issue. In the House the
routine Of business is relieved by fire.
qUent speeches of a purely political
character and the names of prominent
men and candidates are often ap-
plauded when named. Even Cleve-
land, who has been openly repudiatsd
by Democrats on the floor of botr
houses, got a cheer when eulogized
by Mr.. Patterson of Tennessee re-
Gently But the demonstration thai
followed the enthusiastic reference to
Speaker Cannon by William Alder
Smith as a possible some time Presi.
dent provoked an ovation that leapec
from the floor to the galleries and last.
ed several minutes despite the Speak
er's labor with his gavel. The refer
ence came during the heated discus.
sion Of Mr.. Bristow's famous postof.
fee report and the opportunity so tax.
en- advantage of no doubt relieved z
good many overwrought feelings. as
well as testified to the popularity OF
the Speaker. The story is printed here
that just about the same time thai
Mr.. Cannon was receiving this Presi.
dental nomination by so representa-
tive a body as the lower house OF
Congress his county convention al
home was indorsing Mr.. Roosevelt
And this Endorsement was forwarded
at once TO the Speaker, who transmit
ted II to the President with his com
DIiments and this couplet:
If I was so soon TO be done for
What was ! ever begun for2"
The failure of the negotiations look.
ing to peace in the California delega-
tion and a speedy and satisfactory