Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-04
SCENES IN THE HOUSE
EVERY ONE ON THE FLOOR AP-
PARENTLY IN GOOD HUMOR.
Strains Of a Rollicking Chorus Came
From the Cloak Rooms to the
Ears Of the Spectators.

The Capitol building was the Mecca for
the vast crowds that thronged the avenue
and the other streets IN the downtown sec
ton Of Washington last night. and 1t Is
safe to say that seldom, If ever, has night
session of the national legislature been
viewed by such a multitude of Interested
spectators. All day yesterday the floors
and corridors and galleries of the Capitol
were thronged with crowds Of interested
visitors from all over the country, and as
night came on the crowds increased instead
of diminishing. From the first shade OF
dusk until after midnight six great shafts
of light from searchlights on high buildings
in the city-one on top of the monument
were turned on the Capitol. and the great
dome with the American flags waving at
the feet of the statue of Liberty could be
plainly seen from all sections Of the city.
From a point near the Treasury building
the sight was a beautiful one. The Capitol
grounds and the streets in the vicinity were
enveloped in darkness, for the ordinary
electric and street lights looked like glow
worms as compared with the white glare
from the searchlights, and the dome stood
out prominently against the dark back
ground of the night under the touch Of the
six white shafts of brflliancy.
Packed With Visitors.
Perhaps 1t was this prominence given
to the Capitol by the effective scheme OF
illumination that moved the throngs to
turn from the minor attractions of the
avenue to the great edifce on the hill.
At any rate, 1t must have been something
potent, for all evening long. even more SO
than during the day. the great building was
packed from wing to wing with the visit
ing throngs. In the basement and On the
main and gallery floors the corridors were
packed. and around the doors Of the pub
lie galleries of the House chamber hun
dreds of persons waited patiently for
chance to squeeze into the coveted seats
that they might watch the lower branch of
the national legislature completing the
work Of a session.
ing enough, although there were no great
matters to be fought out there with the
weapons of debate. There was a large
attendance Of members. as is usual on
the last night of the session, and some
thing of the eager spirit of the throngs in
the galleries was apparent on the floor.
Members left their seats to crowd around
a representative who happened to have the
floor. and there were Interruptions and side
remarks and frequent outbursts of entflu-
siastic and good-natured applause. And
everybody on the floor seemed to be in q
good humor. Representative Baker Of
Brooklyn, the no-pass statesman and prin-
cipal "objector'' of the body, who retired to
private life at noon today, got hand OF
and Representative Payne Of New York. the
republican floor leader, and Representative
Williams Of Mississippi, the minority chief
tain. bowed and scraped and smiled at one
another every time they got chance.
Cloak Room ChoruA
About II o'clock the attendance of MEM,
bers on the door had thinned out consld-
erably, and the visitors in the galleries.
were under the impression that they had