The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-05-23

SESSION" AT THE CAPITAL THE
BUILDING FROM WITHOUT AND WITH.
IN SCENES ON THE HOUSE SIDE, AND
PEEP INTO THE SENATE DURING
RECESS - TWO PROMINENT BANK
RUPTs-"sHRINKAG DID 1.-THE
COMING POLITICAL CAMPAIGN 30.
Getty GossIP-oFF FOR EUROPE ON
JUNE 13TH-ETC. ETC.
From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, ID. G. May 4, 1878.
1t was lucky idea of Major rEnfant,
who laid out the plan of Washington
to locate the Capital on q high hill.
close upon the shores of the Potomac
where it may get the full benefit of the
river breeze-and fever and sgue.
Just now the weather is prematurelv
warm aid sultry; the thermometer
stands at eighty-two in the shade. and
straw hats, palm leaf fans aid linen
busters have suddenly sprung into
fashion. Up at the Capital, the recent
night sessions seem to have used up,
pretty efectually, most of the Solons
who sit congregated there; there is a
languor and slespiness prevalent every
where. yswning appears to be the
order of the day. and. somehow or
other. the high-pressure has blown of
without bursting our national engine,
leaving everything very calm and
sedatc i'll the boiler, notwithstanding
the recent shoveling-in of fuel in the
shape of Florida Frauds. Tariff Legis-
lstion, and Montgomery Blair's Resolu-
tions. There is heap of sediment and
scales" in that same boiler. and / sup
pose it will have what the engineers
call q good blow out" some day or
other; but, 30 far, it has let of its
supsrfuous steam in whistling.
TO those who have never witnessed
q Night Session at the Capital. towards
the close of the session. the scene is ex-
tremely interesting. The brilliant
light in the 'tholus" or lantern over
the dome. some two hundred and fifty
feet high, can be seen from almost
evtry part Of the city and for many
miles down the river. looming high up
like huge lighthouse at the point
where the Potomac makes its great
bend to the west. Every window In
the great building is lighted up. and
the transparent glass roots OF the
Senate aud House Wings, below which
hundreds of gas jets are burning. illu-
inmate the sky above as If conhagra-
ton was taking place within the struc-
ture. The national emblem. the "stars
aud stripes" float lazily from the mast,
With a peculiar weird tinge on the
blood.red bars caused by the glare
which shoots up. like zodiacai light,
from the illuminated roof below; ano
in the rotunds within, high up over the
uppermost circle OF gas jets, SITS george
Washington in effigy. with the yellow
scroll inscribed Il Piuri5as Unum nost-
ing over his head and tn. heads Of the
impossible 'allegories" dome In 'fesco
by BrumidD which surround MN.
On tho "House" side. the corridors
and galleries are thronged, but on the
floor rarely ever more than bali OF the
desks are occupied. 1t is hot and close;
the GREAT machines down in the base
ment are tanning cool air up through
numberless apertures IN the floor; but
IL seems all to be absorhej in the heat
of political discussion down there. and
little reaches the galleries. In the
cloak room. just beyond the hall. men,
bers are seen through the open doors
reclining. ia their shirt sleeves, On
the lounges. smoking cigars and
drinking lemonade, iced tea, or
(perhaps) something stronger. Ben
Butler. who is always on hand. walks
up and down the middle aisle chewing
an unlit cigar. and having that off eye
of his on the reporters gallery, over the
Speakers desk; Abram Hewitt. Mr..
Tilden's right bower. sits demurely at
his desk reading the New York World.
and Sunset Cox is cracking jokes with
his political opponent. Mr.. Kelly OF
Pennsylvania -" Pig-iron Kelly" rs
they call him-but the "pig" before the
metal has reference to the material and
not to the man. On the Senate side the
scere is much the same. and during one
of the recesses Of q night session, to al
low the Senators to 60 home 10 their
suppeis. Mr.. Thurman may be seen en-
Toying Q social confab with Mr.. Ed
munds, who represents his exact oppo-