Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-10
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR


Just as there Is at present activity on
the part of q coterie of members to Sc
cure the amendment of the
Legislative rules Of the House of Rep
Dele, resentatives in the interest,
as they conceive, of a more
effective transaction Of legislative busi-
ness, so half century ago effort was
being made to obtain a revision Of the
House rules. In The Star Of January 3,
1859. occurs the following:
I'VE hear that the new chairman OF
the committee on ways and means is
exerting himself to modify the manner
of conducting the business OF the House
in particulars of great importance to the
public interest, as we'll as to the MEM
bers themselves. That Is, he aims to
do away entirely with the custom OF de-
feating measures by preventing their con-
sideration. That thing is commonly done
by objecting to taking them up whenever
the words I object uttered by single
member. will under their rules prevent
the consideration of any bill. Such an
objection sends any measure, except the
regular appropriation bills. over to its
place on the calendar, where the chances
are nearly 100 to l that 1t cannot be
reached in the lifetime OF a single Con-
gress in the ordinary course of business
'It is said to be the intention of the
experienced, energetic and intelligent
chairman Mr.. Phelps Of Missouri. to in
sst hereafter. II the House will sustain
him, in far as possible combining the
debates to the subjects actually up for
consideration. In this way three-fourths
of the speeches will occupy but from five
to twenty minutes each and the provo
catives to overspeechfying will be cured
while there will then be ample time for
tI,;y,
worthy Of occupying the time Of the
House"
On the 4th of January. 1859. the Senate
moved from its old quarters. now occu-
pied by the Supreme Court,
Senate to the new Senate cham
Nova. Der. the completion OF
which had been delayed
considerably beyond the time required to
finish the. hall of the House. The occa-
sion was rendered notable by the delivery
of speeches in the presence of a large
attendance which overlooked the galleries.
According to the report in The Star. one
senator moved that the ladies who could
not obtain admittance to the galleries
should be admitted to the floor. Objec-
ton, however, was entered and the ladies
were not admitted. The Stars report con-
tinues:
"Mr Crittenden being called upon by
the chair made an eloquent address. He
said that the place that had known them
SO long would know them no more 1or,
ever. He spoke Of the associations or
pleasure and pride that bound them to
the old chamber He could not help ex-
periencing a feeling of sadness at the
change about to be made. The chamber
had been the scene OF affairs OF great
moment-of questions Of war and of en-
pire Great men had been the actors
there The illustrious dead had conse-
Grated the chamber by their talent and
patriotism. He had seen men In tnat
chamber uneaualed in talent and patriot
ism by the patrician fathers of ancient
Greece and Rome. He spoke of the Web
sters, the Clays, the Calhouns, the
Wrights, the Claytons and many other
of the ilustrious dead that mad con-
secrated the chamber by their presence
and talents.
'Mr. Crittenden was followed by the
Vice president John c. Breckinrldge)
himself in eloquent address In Whlcn
he reviewed the past history OF the gov,
eminent the Senate and the National
capital from its foundation to the present
time He spoke Of the great mission that
the nation had fulfilled and was destined
to fulfill. He urged upon the senator's
a due appreciation of the great response
bilitfes that rested upon them and re-
viewed with burning eloquence the history
of the senatorial career OF the great dead
whose achievements and services in that
chamber were among the brightest spots
in our national history.
Eat the conclusion OF the address OF
the Vice President the Senate, preceded
by that functionary and their secretary.
went over to the new chamber in process
sion. followed by an immense throng of
spectators and the reporters. and immedi-
ately entered upon their ordinary bust
ness"
The population Of Washington fiuc-
tuated heavily half century ago even
as 1t does today, as spe-
Hotel cial occasions attracted
, numbers of visitors to the
SuPpiles' National capital During
the session of Congress the District held
in 1859 an especially large number of
reople and in the issue of The Star of
January of that year is the following
paragraph bearing upon the matter of the
entertainment Of this throng:
'In view of the immense floating popu-
lation thrown upon the city of Wash
ington at irregular periods the question
is suggested. where the supplies come
from to feed the visiting host, together
with the resident population very
cursory survey of our city markets shows
that they are not adequate to supply the
demand, or at least that the supply does
not come from them. In fact the pro-
prietors of those immense caravansaries
the avenue hotels, have long awaited
themselves of other sources Of supply,
sometimes drawing upon distant markets.
sometimes sending out agents to scour
the country and three four of the lead
ing hotel proprietors have their own mar
ket farms and gardens in the neighbor-
hood of the city, from whence they draw
supplies and where stock is kept to be
killed as needed for the table. The Will
lards have a farm north of goth street
where they have at the present time sew
eral hundred turkeys. pigs. etc Browns
Hotel and the National have also their
own supply farms. From an estimate in
our possession we conclude that the aver
age expense of the tables at Wizards.
RroMn,s and the National hotels &C. 80