The Benson signal., 1919-05-31


three sides, the fourth side being the
White House side.
Interesting Houses Near BY.
One cen spend whole day inter-
estedly in this immediate section. At
the corner Of III street and Madison
place, fronting Kosciusko's monument
on Lafayette square, is the old Dolly
Madison house, now the quarters of
the scientific club known as the Co.'S
mos club. After James Madison died
his widow continued to occupy this
house for many years and there she
held her famous levees. The main
part of the house is as it was in IDOL
ly's" day. The Cosmos club, however,
has added to the original structure
until now the scientists have plenty
Of room for the increasing member
ship Of their organization.
Fronting Lafayette square from the
north is a brown stone house which
many years ago was the home Of the
British minister, for at that time Great
Britain maintained a minister and not
an ambassador in the capital Of the
United States. In room of this house
Owen Meredith, nephew Of Bulwer
Lytton, wrote the somewhat famous
poem Of Lucille" or at any rate it was
here that he wrote large part Of it.
At the corner of II street and Con-
a large yard inclosed with a high brick
wall. In this house Daniel Webster
lived while he was secretary Of state,
and it was within it's doors that the
Ashburton treaty was considered and
sanctioned by American officials.
At the corner of Jackson place and
FL street, fronting Lafayette square.
is large but plain brick house built
and occupied at one time by Stephen
Decatur. 1t was from this house that
Decatur went forth to his duel with
Commodore James Barron, a duel in
which he met his death.
Gather for Extra Session.
Senators and representatives in
congress wo happen now to be at
home are packing up their belongings
preparatory to moving on Washington
for the extra session. Many of the
members Of both houses already are
here and are engaged in home seeking,
for many q new one has no house ex-
cept the one to which he is elected, the
lower house or the upper house Of the
congress of the United States.
Notwithstanding the fact that the
capitol is Republican and the White
House is Democratic, large amount
of legislation will be attempted this
year, some Of which is certain to be
vetoed and some Of which is certain
to become. the law of the land.
In Washington for some weeks have
been leading representatives Of both
political parties, the Republicans
planning for legislation which they
will attempt to enact and the Demo
Gratis studying what the Republicans
intend to do so that they may know
whether to acquiesce or to fight.
1t seems altogether likely that new
party rule" will be in force in the
senate. Some of the Republicans de-
termined recently that legislation In
the upper house should not be de-
termined upon, pro or con, by hand
full of men, but by all the Republicans
acting together. This rule already has
been sanctioned in advance by the
Republican senators. The Democrats
acted on this principle to some ex-
tent during the time that they were
in control of the senate.
Change From Old Method.
In the old days three or four men
of their party, with power delegated
to them by the other members, con-
stituted themselves into a court to
"try" legislation. If this little group
agreed that certain bills should be
pressed to a passage, or should be
shelved, the party members generally
agreed with them, and the result was
that bills were passed or defeated at
the whim Of the few rather than on
the sanction Of the many. 1t was
case Of a party blindly following its
leaders. 1t is probable that here
after in the United States senate, no
u1dtL0I WHICH, pd1Iy III COALAOl, lAC
entire party membership will take a
hand in suggesting what should be
done and what should not be done.
Congress will meet in extra ses-
sion May 10. The two houses are in
control of the Republicans, although
the upper house is held by that party
by such a slim majority that it may
be difficult at times to get legislation
through. 1t will be necessary to bring
to the support Of Republican bills the
votes of some senators who in recent
years have not been strongly Repub-
lican, but more or less independent. 1t
will take a good deal of diplomacy on
the part of Republican leaders to Sc
cure the adherence of all the mem
bers of the party majority on all oc-
casionS.
Republicans Of the house will start
in at once to frame tariff measure.
1t is as yet undecided whether it will
ho on old-faShiOned Republican bill.