The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1881-02-16
oun WASHINGTON LETTER



Page, of the Z. 5. Navy, has beer
prevailed upon to withdraw hcl
''rebel claim from the House calan-
dar, and now every sil.a2 will glide
slowly on until another one o.
Hancock's ''bugbcars" are reached
in the rebel course OF business-On
withdrawing the bill at the request
OF the widow Mr. Goode denied
that it was 4 war claim, and that
he himself or the Southern people
did not expect pay for losses incur
red during the rebellion. The South
crn people, he said, had gone into
the war with their eyes open and
had staked all upon the issue and
lost.
Mr. Conger said: If it be true that
the gentleman did represent the
Southern people, then let theii
representatives collect express wa
gons and wheelbarrows, go to the
committee room on Var claims and
cart away the thousands of papers
filed there awaiting the action of the
House to the tune of Garry me
back to old Virginny's shore" Mr..
Goodies book of nature revealed a
beautiful world, and Mr., Goodies
proclamation here to-day would, If
it were believed, relieve the hearts
of millions Of people ofthe Northern
States from a fear of future action
by Congress. If the Southern Rep
resentatives would, like the gentle
man from Virginia, stand UP and
make the same declaration, there
would never again be occasion for
the venerable old man who was
held forth as a hale, vigorous old
man for the campaign of 1S8i-Mr.
). J. I'ilden-to write terrible let
ter to his brethren OF the South, to
be met with irowning brow and the
silence of dispair.
The will of the people was form
ally ratified by Congress yesterday
and Garfield and Arthur officially
declared elected.
The back-down from the position
early assumed by the majority to
count under the Morgan joint rule
or no count at all, while it brought
peace and pleasantness to the cere-
mony detracted largely from its in
terest, and stripped it of much of its
attractiveness.
Nevertheless it was an event OF
sufficient consequence to attract to
the Capitol crowd of sightseers
much larger than that which daily
lcongregates to listen to the unintei-
igible roar of the animals of the
House side or subjects itself to the
soothing soporific influence OF the
solemn birds of night, whose hooting
are hourly heard in the aviary on
/ the Senate side.
1t was promiscuous throng, the
ladies being in the majority. As
early az ten o'clock the crowds be-
gan to arrive, many in carriages and
hundreds foot Those favored
with cards of admission experienced
no trouble in reaching and entering
the galleries up to the time when
/ the limit Of the seatihg capacity in
| the reserved space WAS completed.
After that there was trouble and
the doorkeepers had their hands
full | can assure yeu. In the public
gallery some of the seats were taken
as early as s o'clock and by II
O'Clock a jam was no name for it.
The count was all the talk among
I the people and everyone wondered
what was going to be done about the
vote oi Georgia,
II was five minut ties after twelve
o'clock when the Sergeant-at-arms
of the House announced - "The
Vice President and Senate of the
United States" The senatorial pro-
cession marched slowly up the centre
aisle to the seats assigned to them,
the members of the house remaining
standing as it passed, The Senate
was proceeded by sergeant-at-arms
Bright. Vice President Wheeler
and Secretary Burch were locked
arm-in arm, and were followed by
Senators Hamlin and Thurman, the
tellers on the part of the Senate
The mahogany boxes containing
the electoral votes were carried by
the Yenerable Isaac Bassett. who
has performed this service for more
than a quarter of a century, and
were guarded by four special po-
licemen. Then followed the body
of Senators in pairs. Neither Sena-
tor Conhling mar Senator Blaine ar
rived in the House with the other
members Of the Senate. The ab-
sence of the latter was particularly
noticed, and it was stated that moth
ing other than important business
or temporary absence from the
city could have prevented his pres
ence on this occasion. The non-ap-
pearance of Mr.. Conkling with the
other senators created no surprise !;
indeed, it was generally expected.
There were predictions in every
part Of the gallery that the New
York Senator would not be absent
long, and that he would certainly
niake biz appearance when all were
seated and after the proceedings in
cident to the count were fully under
way. Those who were of this opin-
ion were not deceived. About
twenty minutes after II, while the
certificate of the State Of Arkansas
was being read, the commanding
form Of Senator Conkling was nosie-
ed at the main entrance. He stood
there for a minute, towering over
the heads of the crowd gathered at
the door. Presently one of the as
sistant doorkeepers came forward to
receive him, and, under his escort
the Senator slowly and solemnly
walked up the aisle, stopping now
and then 10 exchange saiqtions with
some favorite member. Although
he came unannounced his coming
created quite a ripple Of excitement
in the galleries. Upon reaching the
area In front Of the speaker, he stood
for a moment until red morocco
chair was brought him from the re-
tiring room. He sat down slowly
and at once entered Unto a pleasant