Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1922-09-01

rs that of a menl-
Der who is on the floor
On that trip Il member friend took
me In TO see the late speaker. Champ
clark. II was in the beginning of the
great war. Ny friend said to Mr.. Clark
Mr.. Hardy has come down to Wash
ington to see what we are doing" Mr..
Clark replied in his characteristic
way: III he can find out, ! hope to
God he will let me know" And II Is
ever SO. We are all seeking information
about the congress, oven the speaker
Of the house sometimes
We have got to start from some
place, so we might as well assume
that You have come to my Office In the
house office building. Every man who
comes to Washington should call on
his congressman. The representatives
are always Giad'to see folks from back
home; especially 50 are the members
from the West. 2ome members from
nearby states have more callers than
they can we'll fake care Of
The bouse office building Is q fine
structure, built " marble 1t has 40
office and committee rooms in it. Each
member Is entitled to an once room
II he In chairman Of . committee he
gets two, sometimes. The building.
covers a large block OF ground with q
grass-coyered curt q IN the center.
There Are Eve floors and 8 basement.
II Ia mile walk around the corridors
on the feur sides Of the five floors
Through the Tunnel 70 the Capitol.
After we have had q little visit will
take you over to the capitol. You
have already seen that magnificent
building from the outside and will see
1t many times before you leave the
city, 80 we will go over underground,
just to show you the tunnel. This
tupBel. which is large. we'll lighted
and spacious. runs for about two
blocks, I should think. BY the use Of
IT member can go back and forth in
winter or hot summer time and dur
ing bad weather without putting his
hat on, If he wishes. II isn't used
much in good weather. Over on the
senate side through Il similar tunnel
@ little electric car system carries the
senators back and forth between their
office building and the capitol: but
the representatives of the people have
to walk.
Arriving at the capitol, we will go
up In the gallery and look down on
the house for a while.
You will be disappointed at first by
the small number Of members present
Every member doesn't sit in his seat
all the time every day If he did, he
all
office business. and besides that. he
would grow nutty. Much Of the time
Is spent In general debate. and much
of the debate is very general SO when
a definite time has been set for general
debate-two hours being the usual
time. though 1t may he II hours some
times-a member not interested can
safely get up and go to his office or
visit ont In the cloak rooms for
while. During general debate 1t often
happens that not more than - or 100
members are in their seats After
while some one will probably call for
n quorum. and then we will see thr
house fill ny with members. ms most
Of them like to answer as many roll
calls as possible.
We will sit here in the gallery for
q while. This is a historic old room.
II has been occupied since 1877. so II
has seen much history made. II used
10 have desks In il. but when tho num-
her of representatives. was Inst in.
creased the desks were taken out and
plain comfortable rows Of seats put in.
member has no special seat. He
may sit anywhere he pleases. The
Democrats sit on one side and the Re-
puhliCans on the other.
Speaker GiIlett Presiding.
The mace is in its place, so we know
that the house is In session. II II
were IN committee OF the whole. the
mace would be resting on the floor.
Tie mace Is the symbol Of the speak
er's authority and 1t has been doing
duty ever since the American congress
was organized.
The speaker is In the chair. behind
fne-carved marble desk. Mr. Gil
lett makes an excellent speaker In this
modern day Of great freedom In the
house. He Is fair and nOnpartiSan
lie lets the house run itself merely
acting as its presiding officer. He is
seventy-"nc years Of age and has
served In the house 90 years He comes
from Springfield. NJ" So. and is a gen.
tleman Of parts. Ills district thinks