The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1877-02-09
our WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, ID. o., Feb. 3, ~.

lracted a large number OF people
from DIparts al the country. On
Wednesday the Capitol was flock
ed with strangers eager to secure
seats, but owing to the limited
seating capacity of the house only
about 1,2O0 tickets were issued,
and not one in ten applications
for them could be met. Fifty ex
ira policeman were appointed,
and it required their utmost ex-
ertiohs TO keep back the crowds
-of people who focked to the
building only to be turned away.
The rule governing admission be
ing substance as follows: No per-
son will be admitted to the south
wing Of the Capitol unless fur
nished with a ticket. A limited
number of tickets are to be dis
tributed to Senators and men,
bers Of the House to be given to
their friends (about 1900 in alb
and any one that desires to wit
ness the "count" must procure
one of these passports or he will
not be allowed TO enter the hall
of the House of Representatives.
As early as nine o'clock on Thurs
day morning streams of people
were vending their way to the
Capitol to see a "fair count"
The doors leading tothe House of
Representatives were guarded,
however, and no one was admit
ted who could not show the re-
quired ticket. The long flights
of steps leading to the building
were all day lined with people,
many of whom had core with no
hope Of being admitted, but only
to see the crowd. Many others
fingered there awhile after fail
ing to "bull-doze" their way in, as
they expected. Not only were
the doors leading to the House
guarded but the flights of steps,
leading to the galleries, and also
the doors ofthe different galleries.
At all of these tickets had to be
shown. The House galleries bel
gan filing up pretty well by 10l
o'clock.
On the floor Of the House two
chairs were placed, one for Vice
President Ferry and one for
Speaker Randall, behind the lat
ter's desk, while in front of the
clerks desk, are two tables with
chairs for the officers and tellers,
while arranged in rows beyond
them, stand hansome green vel
vet chairs for President Grant,
the Supreme Court Judges, other1
members of the Commission and
counsel for both sides. A large
number of distinguished gentle
men we're on the floor. The count
proceeded without Interrupt
ton until the State of Florida was
reached, when objection being
made, the members of the twot1
retired for consultation,
and consideration of the objec-
The Electoral Commission
at the adjourned session discussed
the subject of rules in regard toll
the hearing argument, &C., and :
adopted the main features of {
those which govern proceedings ;
before the Supreme Court, Their {
sessions for hearing arguments Z
will be held in public in the Su1Il
)reme Courtroom. The duration [
Of oral arguments is limited to- {
.wo hours for each side on objec- t
ions and four hours for each side |
IN main points at issue in each !
Ease. The limitation as to the ]
number of counsel who will be
recognized as conducting a case I
S two for each side. All these
limitations may, however, be en- |
arged on the discretion of the !
Commission whenever a majority t
leem the point in CONTROVERSY I
If Insufficient importance to war &
more extended argument. Id
Notwithstanding the political v
COMPLICATIONS there is plenty Of L
evidence that there is a pretty s
lobby force organized and f
low present in Washington to g
urther the various schemes on il
GOT to draw funds from the ma
ional treasury as soon as the fae S
ToTable moment may be consid- a
red to have arrived. The com a
non belief that on account Of po- h
itical complications and depres. "
ion in business affairs little or
lothing can be done in that line
S an enormous one. In fact, the
!ontrary is the true state of the 81
ase. Hard times affect Con 9,
,ressmen just as they do other 1
'eOple; and between the needy II
mes who were defeated at the
asst election and therefore have q.
title hope.o OF the future prefer 81
1ent and those who were re~-elect-
d and are therefore, somewhat II
adependent Of their constituents d
Or nearly two years, it is thought p
hat quite a formidable party can a.
organized which would not be te
verse to seeing more money put IN
l circulation under the, guise of !.
.enefting the public. Then again 81