Evening star., 1935-08-27
HOUSE MEMBERS
FESTIVE AT CLOSING
Sing and Dance in I'm
prornptu Show on Eve
of Leaving.
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

ward home or vacation resorts a1ter
one Of the longest sessions on record.
The only activity was in the offices OF
q few members of the House and Sen
ate who were forced to remain IN
Washington to clear up last-minute
business affairs.
The exodus started soon after the
eavel fell in the Senate and House
announcing the sine die adjournment
of the first session of the Seventy
fourth Congress at IL o'clock mid
night. Some members took late trains
out of Washington, few left by auto
mobile, but the great majority waited
until this morning to depart.
The House brought its session to a
4 close with the usual end OF the ses-
sion impromptu show, but the more
digniied Senate was forced to listen
to Senator Huey P. Long of Louisiana
conduct a one-man fllibuster directed
toward congressional approval OF
mandatory 12-cent cotton and 90-cent
wheat loans.
Galleries Are Packed.
Packed galleries witnessed the ex-
hibitionS in both the Senate and
House. Spectators in the House gal
leries, however, got more real enter
tainment out of the show than did
those in the Senate. At times they
Joined in the singing and applauded
vigorously the various stunts OF the
House members on the floor.
he House show was strictly
> infamous affair. Representative
Connery, Democrat, of Massachusetts,
and a former vaudeville artist, went
outside the Capitol when the United
States Navy Band finished its regu-
lar concert on the plaza, rounded up
l3 of the musicians who didn't have
to go home right away, and led them
on the House floor.
Somewhere Connery found baton.
He borrowed cap from one Of the
musicians, and like the leader OF an
old German band, mounted a chair
and moved his arms. The musicians
struck up "On the Banks of the
Wabash" The show was on.
The House was in recess at the
time, waiting for the Senate to ad-
%journ. Only a few members were
scattered about the floor, either read
ing or engrossed in conversation. But
the strains of the music were more
effective than the bells which sum-
mon the members to roll call. With
in 10 minutes several hundred men,
bers had come into the chamber.
Some joined in the celebration. Others
reclined in their chairs, smoked
cigars and enjoyed the show.
In the meantime, Connery had con-
Quoted the abbreviated band through
"Old Kentucky Home" California.
Here I Come" and Sidewalks OF
New York"
Rebel Yells Heard.
Dixie" came next to the accom-
paniment of rebel yellS from the gal
leries, and then Yankee Doodle" for
the Northerners. BY that time. the
barber shop tenors of the House had
gathered around Connery. Somebody
suggested The Old Gray Mare and
the band absorbed the diScordant
~ harmony.
Then the State delegations wanted
to sing. Connery directed them to
the well of the House. Represent
ative Otha wearin of Iowa bowed his
head a little and helped Repre-
sentative Utterback of the same State
sing a song about Iowa. A gang OF
Nebraskans started up, I'VE Don't
Give a Damn for the Whole State
of Ioway."
A couple of tenors came on with
Garry Me Back to Old Vlrglnny,"
and Representative Merritt of New
York mounted a table and crooned
when Irish Eyes Are Smiling" COM
ing back with Mother Machree" as
an encore.
Representative Florence Kahn OF
California came along about this time,
took the baton from Connery ana
directed the band through a peppy
version of California, Here I Come"
The real fun, however, did not
start until somebody stuck a snare
drum in front of Representative Bu-
chanan Of Texas, the stern-look1ng
chairman of the Appropriations Com
mittee. He clapped one Of the musl-
clans white caps on his head ana
rave an unusual exhibition OF snare
drumming, while Connery blew a va
riety of tunes out Of bugle, ana
Representative Bloom of New York
tried to keep time, beating on a bass
drum.
Even the reporters in the press
Gallery and the pages were called on
to aid in the celebration. Feebly,
the news men sang THE Man on
the Flying Trapeze." Connery said
the pages could do better. So ne
corraled them in the well of the
House and had them sing the piece.
Mrs. O'Day Leads.
Then along came Representative
Caroline O'Day Of New York, to lead
the band in "Tammany." Representa-
tive Knutson of Minnesota, just
couldn't keep his feet still to this tune.
He grabbed some unsuspecting men,
ber around the waist and tried to
dance In an aisle on the Republican
side.
BY II o'clock, the bandsmen grew
/ tired. picked up their instruments
and left. The Senate was still in ses-
sion So the members in the House
continued their impromptu celebra-
ton without music until about AS
when Speaker Byrns and his retinue
of House leaders marched into the
chamber.
Byrns called the House to order and
proceeded with farewell speech
The clock hands pointed to 11:58 be-
!. fors he had finished, and the House
had agreed to adjourn August 26.
But no word had been received from
the Senate. A page rushed to the
gallery and turned the hands of the
clock back 10 minutes. Byrns con-
tinued to talk, but few minutes after
midnight, Senate secretary walked
into the House chamber and an
nounced the adjournment Of that body
sine die.
Jroy,nad the OoUn1 for the