Evening star., 1933-12-17
Fifty Years Ago
i'm The Star

'The presence of desks in the House"
says The Star of December l8, 1883, "is
an anomaly in legislative halls and is
clearly detrimental to the public inter-
Desks in the House are are convenient
of Representatives. tbis IS true; cons,depat paI
ton should not outweigh all others. The
legitimate service they render members
Occasionally they are useful as stands
to rest manuscript speeches or law au-
thoritieS on, and now and then it is
handy to be able to write out reSolu
tion upon them. Moreover, at the be-
ginning Of the session they serve an
ornamental purpose as flower stands.
But for the most part their very merit
of convenience is an objection, as they
make it possible for members to disturb
the proceedings by diversity Of private
occupations altogether out of place in
deliberative assembly. 1t Is not desir-
able to have members of such a body,
while 1t is in session, writing private
letters, franking documents, reading
newspapers, telling stories, eating lunch
or taking maps with heels pointed sky
ward; and these are the fruits Of desks
in the hall. The argument that were
they banished the members would not
attend the sessions is not a good one.
They do not come as it is unless there
is matter of special interest before
the House, and at such times there
would always be a large attendance if
there were no desks. As a matter of
fact the noise and confusion due to these
articles of furniture leads many mem
bers to absent themselves from the hall,
as it Is impossible to hear what is
going on.
The present would be a favorable
time as there is so large proportion of
new members that there would be less
than the usual howl from old Represen-
tatives at finding their accustomed priv
1eges and comforts abridged"
The House Committee on Rules,
meeting on the same day of the fore
going publication, voted down a resolu-
ton to remove the desks. Thirty years
afterward, In 1913, the desks were re-
moved and the hall of the House was
arranged as at present, with benches.
In The Star Of December ls, 1888, is
o reprint OF q letter written December
n. r.L. IS, 1888, to friend
Oasy OAoSAetI by Representative
at the Theater. M1a1sm Hennspvanfs H1fsteg r,o OF
ing sketch of happenings at the Capt.
tai century ago;
"AS was anticipated, and as you have,
OF course, been advised through the
public papers. the removal of the de-
of both branches of Congress. From
the Sk1rmiShing that has already taken
place, We have reason to expect hard
fighting in the chief encounter. Not
withstanding the opposition to the PreSi-
dent and his Secretary Of the Treasury'S
course toward the bank includes by far
the greatest weight Of talent in both
Houses, yet am of the opinion that
there Is a majority, at least in our
House, ready to say that the President
has done right and that the bank must
be put down. You have no idea how
the new members are drilled into the
ranks by the Jackson and Van Buren
drill sergeantS.
During last week we have an anus
ing farce with Col. David Crockett. 1t
was announced that at the particular
request of Davy, MIR. Hackett would
appear on the boards in his favorite
character of Nimrod Wildfire in the
play called The Kentuckian, or Trip
W NCW IOIk. i lllo U1OuSLlb Oub u 1lUucC
full to overdowing. At o'clock the
colonel was escorted by the managers
through the crowd to q front seat re-
served for him. AS soon as he was
recognized by the audience they made
the very house shake with shouts for
Col. Crockett: Go aheadl' 7 wish
may be shotP 'MuSicl Let us have
Crockett's march, After some time the
curtain rose and Hackett appeared in
q hat covered with wildcat skin and
long tail attached, who, after bowing to
the audience, turned toward Crockett
and bowed repeatedly. The compliment
was reciprocated by the colonel to the
no small amusement, noise and graft
fication of the spectators. The play then
went on, through the whole Of which
were used the phrases attributed to
the colonel: Il am a full team!' I can
whip my weight in wildcatsp I am
half horse. half steamboat etc. Really
it was the greatest farce imaginable
to see q grave Congressman the buffoon
Of such an audience, and he apparently
enjoying the sport very much. 7 have
not yet got acquainted with him, but
his appearance and conduct In the
House are good and altogether correct"