The National tribune., 1906-12-06

Gratis.
When Vice President Fairbanks,
| looking very fit, tapped gently three
times with his little ivory ball, the Sem
ate smiled at him and became very
still while the Rev. Edward Everett
Hale, in his long black satin gown, Of
fered a profound invocation. Then the
mill began to grind. The Senate
wouldn't have expressed itself by ap-
plause if the President of the United
States had exercised his prerogative
| and walked in and seated himself be-
side the Vice President. The Senate
| is always quiet and adylike-eXccpt
when Senator Tillman gets to going,
which he is liable to do any old time.
Then the Senators leave him empty
seats to talk to.
Not Much business.
Not much business was done. Sen,
ator Foraker introduced a resolution
calling upon the Secretary of War for
full report of the discharge of the
negro troops, and then the President
having sent in stack of nominations
Senator Cullom suddenly moved that
the Senate go into Executive Session to
consider them, and then the women
who had been put to the trouble OF
putting on their best clothes for five
minutes show, were hustled out of the
galleries and the circus was over, so
far as the Senate was concerned.
Then everybody trooped over to the
House side; but Ia! They couldn't get
within hearing distance of the Speak
ers gavel.
The Speaker got round of applause
as he appeared in his pew" and the
Mace went into the socket, and then
the blind Chaplain offered the very
longest prayer in his locker. 1t was
very good prayer, too, but the mem
bers began to shift from one foot to
another before he got through.
There were no flowers, other than
Mckinley carnations worn by Payne, of
New York, Dalzell, of Pennsylvania,
and a few others. Congress put that
silly practice of funeral pieces that
simply cracked with money out of
business year or so ago, and voted
never to have the custom revived,
which is a pious idea. The wreaths,
and gates ajar, the bouquets, and the
pillows came from poor Government
clerks, who thought to curry favor
with their NJ. C.'s that way. Now the
clerks are secure in their places,
thanks to Civil Service, and they do
not have to curry favor with anybody
and have more money to buy -four
now that they do not have to present
flowers to their Influence"
House Adiourns Early.
The House didn't do much business,
because it desired o adjourn in honor
of a number of its members who died
during the past Summer. The Speaker
swore in some new members, who fill
the places of those who died, and the
roll was called by States to see if any
of the members had got away, but they
were all there and ready for their
mileage, and any and all the pie that
can be had at the counter. Although
Gen. Grosvenor does not go out till the
end of this session, 1 heard two Ohio
members wondering if they would get
any of his patronage among their
crumbs Sounded good deal like
burying man before he was dead.
Speaker Cannon got a rise out of
everybody when in the course of rou-
tine business he presented to the House
a request from Representative Bourke
Cochran, of New York, for IAN indefl-
mite leave of absence, owing to impor-
tant business" At least, that is the
way the Speaker read it, and as every
member of the House knew that Mr..
Cochran had started some little time
ago for a -way-round the world
tour with his bride, they gave the mod
est request from the eloquent gentle
man from New York good round of
laughter and applause.
There are nine Smiths in the House,
and here is a story that they tell on
Speaker Cannon as the roll of Smiths
was called.
"once," said Uncle Joe to those
standing by, 'every man was named
Smith. Whenever anyone committed
crime he changed his name. What a
band of blanked rascals we must be.
I'm mighty glad there are a few Smiths
left"
New Members in House.
The roll-call finished, the House
initiated eight members: Saunders
(Dem.), Virginia; Edwards Dem.)
Georgia; Englebright (Rep), Califor-
mia; Reyburn (RepD, Pennsylvania;
Brumm (Rep), Pennsylvania; Moore
(Rep). Pennsylvania; Nelson (RepD,
Wisconsin, and Lowden Rep.), Illi-
nois. Saunders and Englebright sur
ceed vacancies caused by the election
Of Swanson and Gillett, Governors of
Virginia and California, respectively.
Another Governor-elect, Patterson, of
Tennessee, is expected to resign later
The other new members succeed to va
cancies caused by death. Two vacan
cies remain, those caused by the deaths
of Representatives Ketcham, of New
York, and Hoar, of Massachusetts,.
After appointing the usual commit
tees. as was done in the Senate, and
adopting resolutions in memory of the
late Representative Hit, of Illinois,
and other members who died during
the recess, the House adjourned until
Tuesday.
Nominations.
The usual large number of nomina-
tions was sent to the Senate. The list
included Cabinet changes and one ap-
| pointment to the Supreme Court bench,
as follows:
Secretary of the Treasury-George
b. Cortelyou.
Attorney General-Charles ]. Bona
parte.
Postmaster General-George Won l..
Meyer.
Secretary of the Navy-Victor H.
Metcalf
Secretary of the Interior--James r.
l Garfield
l Secretary of Commerce and Labor
Oscar S. Straus.
/ Associate Justice Supreme Court
William II. Moody.
There also were many recess nomi-
nations, affecting subordinate offices in
the Executive Departments, the Diplo-
matte service and the Army and Navy
1t Is said that there is no opposition
to the appointees for the Cabinet and
to the nomination of Attorney General
!, William H. Moody to be Associate JUS
. tice of the Supreme Court, despite the
foo ftat 10 IAta