The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-12-25
CONGRESS HAS DONE
REMARKABLY WELL
Some New Stories From Ma
tons Capital
SOME NEW SOUVENIRS
Handsome China and silvcrwnrc In Sem
ate Restaurant Is Tempting-In-
terestfns Anecdote About
Gov. Judson Harmon
SOME NEW SOUVENIRS
BY RALPH NJ. wH1TEsIDE

Washington, December 24-(SpeciaD
Congress has done remarkably well for
the pre-holiday session. Several of the
appropriation bills have been gotten
out of the way OF the House and II
seems not impossible that some gen.
eral legislation may be accomplished
provided the leaders deem it advisable
to accomplish anything. 1t must be
said In all frankness that the indica-
lions are very mucn against the sup
position that they do want to do any
thing except, of course. the insurgents
on both sides. Two things in connec-
ton with the next Congress seem to
be pretty we'll settled If he lives
less there is a radical change in, feel
ing the committees of the House will
be chosen by the House itself instead
Of by the speaker.
There has been a good deal of fool
ish talk about this committee busi-
fcss. Those who want the old sys-
tom maintained have been crying aloud
that this committee on committees bus
mess means chaos in the House with
nc possibility of the proper dispatch
Of business. They say nothing of the
fact that the system has always OBJ
tanned in the Senate and that body
seems to be able to get through with
Its share of the business.
On the other hand the advocates o,
the new system seem to think Its adop-
ton means the destruction of the power
OF the leaders, the emancipation OF the
common or garden variety of members
and the cure of all legislative. evils.
Again, going to the Senate, We find
tn. grip of Aldrich as firm on that body
as that of Cannon on the House and
the legislative programme of the group
OF leaders is generally put through as
easily in one wing of the capitol as
the other.
II is fair to assume, therefore, that
under the new rules those fitted by MAJ
t,onal ability and experience for lead
ership will lead just about as they
have done In the past
Senator Rayner unconsciously caused
merriment OH the democratic side the
other day. He had called page to
dispatch him for some cigars and had
taken a 81 bill from his pocket when
Senator o, erman engaged him In con-
vorsation. He leaned forward, elbows
on his desk, listening and idly holding
the bill stretched tightly In full view
of the galleries.
Does the senator from Maryland
wish to introduce that bill? quer1od
Senator Bacon, some seats away.
1T would be we'll received" SEN
ator Clark of Arkansas suggested, but
I don't think 1t would pass"
More work then for Chief Wilkfe,
was the comment of Senator Over
man.
Mr. Rayner ended the quips by
thrusting the note into the hands OF
the waiting boy. He didn't know until
afterward the cause for his colleagues
discreet laughter.
Lynx-eyed walters are especially de-
sired about the Senate restaurant now
adays, for the new silverware and china
mas been put in use and its attractive
ness is such as to greatly tempt the
souvenir fiend. The words United
Stntes Senate" now stand out in bold
relief upon every piece of cutlery and
chinaware used on the restaurant tables
and the new china has in addition n
crest painted upon every piece, to-
gether with the picture OF tho United
States capitol. 1t Ia something new In
the way Of table furnishings at the
capitol, where statesmen eat their hu--
ried lunches and where tourists from
all parts OF the United States drop In
70 sit near the tables OF the mighty.