The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1908-01-02
CONGRESS in SESSION
Some Interesting Observations at
National Capital.

Washington. d. c., Dec. 21.--Precise-
ly at midday the flags over the United
States Senate and House OF Repre-
sentatives are hoisted, indicating that
Congress is in session.
1t is interesting to a stranger to
visit the House before they convene
and see the 800 legislators as they
gather for their work.
Before IL M. ladies and other visit.
ors are allowed on the floor. but at
11:45 the clerk from the center desk
announces in loud voice (hardly to
be heard above the din of talkfng):
"All persons not entitled to the priyil.
eyes of the floor are requested to re.
tire"
This thins out the crowd somewhat
and exactly at12 O'clock the mace is
set up in place, at the right of the
speakers desk Mr. Cannon, minus
his cigar at an angle as he is so OF.
ten pictured, and with a pink carna-
ton in the lapel of his coat, strikes
the gayel sharply on his desk, which
silences the throng, who all stand
quite motionless, wherever they hap
pen to be at the time, and the blind
chaplain offers the opening prayer
1t is short, and the instant it is con.
cluded the hubbub begins again and
the clerk at once reads the minutes
of the previous days session.
1t is quite pathetic to watcn the
chaplain, Rev. Henry Noble Couden,
ID. D., as he lifts his sightless eyes
heavenward for the morning invoea
ton, and he certainly seems sincere,
if anyone is. He is tall, slender and
erect, with snow white hair and nous
tache. A little page escorts him IC
the clerks desk and after the prayer,
guides him to the chair of one of the
members, wnere he can sit and listen
to what is being said and DONE
Before the opening. Capitol guides
brought in several groups of a dozen
tourists, who were doing the town,
seated them in the gallery and then
ratified off the descriptive and stats
tical speech for their editication, and
almost before they had time to grasp
it all, said; Now. let's go over to the
other side." (meaning the United
States Senate, at the north end OIL
the building) You see, they want tei
lose no time with the strangers, for as
soon as one flock has hastily done the
Capitol, the guide may take another
lot through and pocket another in.
stallment of cash.
The members were all much inter
ested in studying the large diagrams
of the new House ONCE building which
stood in front of the reporters desk.
One hundred of the new committee
rooms will be ready for occupancy
after the holidays and the chairmenI
will draw for them.
Two of the most conspicuous mem
bers on the republican side of the
House are Hon. Joseph w. Refer, OF
Springfield, Ohio, former speaker OF
the House, in the Attn Congress, 1881
1883. He is large man, with snow
white hair and beard. The other is
the Hon. Serent Payne, of Auburn,
N. Y, the House republican leader.
They sit near each other. He is also
big man physically; his hair and
moustache are white, and they each
wore pink carnations on the lapel of
their coats. ....
With Mr., Payne, nomination is
equivalent to an election and he has
represented the 31st district from the
state of New York continuously since
the 4Sth Congress. They say he is
noted for his moves to adjourn" and
the other day when | was in there,
he was the first to be recognized by
Speaker Cannon with his move toI
adjourn" for the holiday recess, from
Dec. 81 to Jan. 6, 1908, to which, Of
course, every member said aye"
Not much is done in Congress aside
from assigning members to commit
tees, before Christmas, but after
the holidays they usually get to work
in earnest, and this being a long SEES.
sion, our lawmakers may be with us
until sometime next June.
Louise Hopkins Elder.