Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-02
BY FOXCROFT DAVIS

took place But in the evolution of government the
principle became firmly fixed that there must be abso
lutte freedom of debate, and that could be held
responsible outside for anything said the floor of
either House; and the dueng practice dropped
in Congress long before public sentiment abolished it
elsewhere. No libel suit holds for anything said in open
debate and in every way the freedom of speech ea
otlSy guarded and maintained.
THERE are secret sessions of the lower House, the
business of the people being transacted in the
presence of the people.
Great galleries line the House like those of the Senate
Chamber and are reserved for the same purpose-the
public galleries, the Speakers gallery, the members
gallery, the diplomatic gallery, and the press gallery
The press guards it's rights as jealousy the House
keeps watch its liberty. The press gallery is the
only place sacred from the sugng and encroachng pub
lie occasions when the in the vast
corridors of the Capitol have OVERLOOKED the galleries,
and have been admitted to the floor OF the House.
The press gallery, which tells the people what their
Representatives are doing, remains 1nvIolate Once
only attempt made during the closing hours OF
Congress, when the crush IMMENSE to admit
into the press gallery. The Speaker gave the
order; but it promptly resisted and contest IN
auguraed between the representatives of the press gal
ery and the Speaker which resulted in the Speakers
retirement to private life for long time.
The great Hall of the House in the south wing of the
Capitol presents the of solid splendor as IN
the Senate wing the north side. In it is similar
magnificent roof of stained glass, rich carpets, noble
replaces and luxurious cloakrooms but there the re-
Semblance ends
The House presents scene of constant activity, and
instead of the ninetywo digned and generally elderly
Senators, the House has now membership OF three
hundred and ninetyone This does not include Senators
and Representative from the States OF Arizona
and New Mexico the territorial delegates, of which
the noticeable the Hawaiian delegate, whose legal
and accepted Prince Cupid, OF the late royal
house of Hawaii
At present the Hall of the House, although much
larger has the furnishings and equipment as the
Senate Chamber with its huge semcrcle OF mahogany
desks and chairs. This however, will be changed IN
few months in order to accommodate the addition OF
than forty members, due to the increased repre-
sentation shown by the last census. The desks and
chairs will be removed and will be replaced by benches,
as in the British Houses of Parliament. Every Repre-
sentative will have his numbered seat and on the bench
before him will be small shelf to hold books and papers,
The arrangement nearly comfortable and agree
able the present of desks and chairs but the IN
in membership makes the change necessary. The
resemblance to the Senate, however ceases with the
inanrnate things.
There is great deal of co1tshness in the House, and
the Speaker on his das must be able to WELD the gave
vigorously and often The amenities of debate not
so much observed in the Senate, and much greater
tartness of language permitted; nor 1t often that
passes without personal encounter on the floor
of the House. This, although recognized as an impro-
prety, is by serious as the same thing oc
curing in the Senate
THE House meets usually at eleven o'clock, and IN
general presents lively scene. The pages, OF whom
there many than in the Senate, are kept gay
the trot and the presiding officer whether he be the
Speaker, the Speaker pro tem chairman has his
work cut out for him.
Bills are introduced by thousands of which only
parativey few possibly pass. When the great ap-
preparation bills up they have the right of way and
the track is cleared for them AS in the Senate tariff
legislation is the hardest, and it is old superstition
that the father of tariff bill is generally killed by his
offspring 1t is generally thought that President Nc
Key would have survived his wound but that his con-
stuton had been fatally impaired by his abors on the
Mckinley tariff bill. William L. Wilson did not survive
the Wilson tariff bill many years. did Nelson Dngley