Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-04-03
THE SACRED SENATE-By Frederic j. Haskin

is divided into eight galleries. Visitors who
attempt to enter are first catalogued and then
assigned to their proper section. Only per-
sons bearing pink or green cards signed by
the secretary of state are admitted to the
diplomats gallery. The senator's gallery is
reserved for families and friends of members
and it's doors are also open only to bearers
of special cards.
The first and second rows Of this section
are reserved for use of the president and
vice president respectively. Admission here
must be by order Of these executives. The
presidents chairs rarely occupied except
on days of unusual interest or when some
innocent friend of a senator wanders into
the front row, wondering why the best seats
are left vacant 1t is only about two min
utes, though, before "Pop" Moore, the vet
eran custodian of the executive chair, is upon
him. Pop" as the doorkeepers all call him,
is said to weigh 80 pounds, but at the sight
of any unticketed mortal reposing in the front
row of his gallery he sprints down with the
agility of a puppy and urges the intruder in
agonized tones to move to less exalted quar-
terS. .'.
The press gallery is just over the speakers
desk. This section is reserved for the 225
newspaper correspondents. Back of it are
the press offices, outfitted with typewriters,
DESKS telegraph apparatus, and operators,
and telephones. Local Washington papers
have their own private phones here and the
big news associations have private telegraph
OuLIlCS. Inc press is dCCOIu6u SpCCldl priv
ileges in the senate. Even in the gallery it
may write, and in fact, stools, desk space,
and paper are provided there.
Besides the sections rallied off for special
classes there is space for people in general.
There is section. for men, and one primarily
for women, to which men are also admitted.
At first we are told, the senate transacted
it's business behind closed doors. Then, at
the insstence of the public, men were per-
mitted to be present. but then it was not
thought fitting or necessary to PROVIDE
place for the ladies. Later, however, women
indicated an interest in the nations law
making, and the rules had to be amended to
admit them.
The galleries are thickly populated these
days. for spring is coming, and that is the
open season for tourists in Washington. Con-
gress is not so entertaining as it once was
Members no longer wear curled and powdered
wigs take snuff, or draw revolvers on their
adyersares Neither do they keep their mats
on, as we are told they did up to 1923.
Instead, on an ordinary day, the senate
is rather prosy place, where little boys rush
about with glasses of water and notes, and
senators sit chatting or wander in and out,
while clerk reads something or a lawmaker
defends a routine measure in long and in
volved sentences. From the slack attendance
and air of inattention people sometimes get
the idea that senators do not attend to bust
ness. The truth is that they have commit
tee meetings to attend, bills to investigate
correspondence to answer, and it is easier
to read the proceedings of a dull day in the
Congressional Record the next morning than
to spend the entire afternoon in the chamber
On days of Importance, both chamber and
galleries present very wide-aWake appear
ance. When the peace treaty was considered
by the senate not long ago, every chair was
occupied, while the galleries were packed,
and overlooked in long waiting lines in the
Corridors Although the session did not open
until IL o'clock, people came at o'clock t.
obtain seats, and stayed until adJournment
at o'clock that evening. They had nothing
to eat or drink during that time, for to ahaAe
don chair for moment was to lose It.
Even in such circumstances the guards man.
age to keep spectators reminded that one can
only "sit'' in the presence of the United States
senate
1t has been suggested that the senate and
house galleries be enlarged and tickets sold,
when important debates are on, at prevailing
theater prices. This would be an important
source of revenue and might result in a
great improvement in the style and quality
of senatorial debate.
What has become of the old-fashioned
Mexican statesman, who proved his govern
mental ability by starting a revolution?
After having lady kiss "cold sterilized
plate" doctors have decided that morning
kisses are insantary. For other germ tests
live men have been used Are Volunteers
running short?-St. Louis Globe-Democrat.