The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1886-02-03
washington Letter.
[From or Rerul.r correspondent.l

the Drst Time TINS session since the
opening day, every seat In every
gallery Of the Chamber was Occu
pied with the exception Of the
small gallery reserved for the Dip.
lomatic Corps, and at every door
and place Of approach was gather.
ed a group of spectators.
On The floor Of the Senate every
Senator who was in the city wasin
his seat, an attentive and respect.
full listener. Settles and chairs
we're provided for Members of the
House and other privileged and
distinguished people who we're en-.
titled to the floor. Over both
Houses of Congress the National
colors aoaLed at half mast; over The
Senate for Mr.. Hendricks, and over
the House for Representative Ran.
kin, Of Wisconsin, who had died
the day before.
Both of the Indiana Senators,
Harrison and Voorhees,, paid glow.
ing tributes to the dead statesman,
that Of Senator Voorhees, being espe.
cially striking and free from the
trite forms Of expression common
on such occasions. Other Republi.
Gun Senators besides Harrison,
among them Evarts, Sherman and
Spooner testified TO the uniform
courtesy and integrity Of Mr. Hen.
bricks, and above all to his devo.
lion to the principles Of his party.
Mr.. SpOoner being the new Sen
ator from Wisconsin, this funeral
Grafton was his maiden effort in
the Senate. He said Mr.. Hen.
bricks was heart and soul a Demo.
Crat, who believed thoroughly in
his party and in its principles
"He Was no trimmer in politics.
continued he, land indeed, | think
if he nigh! give direction to our
words today he would bid US To
say Of him that be was a partisan
Democrat. He rightly thought
that politics should be a matter Of
conviction, and that every man OIL
firm political faith owed it to him.
self and to his country to be a par.
tisan to the cxtentof labOring earn.
estly in all honest way to promote
the principles in which he be.
lieves."
Senator Voorhees, mentioned tina.
elOquence in the forum and in the
sacred desk had paid its richest
tributes to the exalted abilities
and stainless character of the dc.
ceased. The telling bell, the
mournful dirge, the solemn minute
gun, the mighty multitude oil
mourners, had all attended the
funeral Of Thomas A. Hendricks
and had borne witness to the
deep love and grief with which
be was lowered TO his last rest.
ing place. All the honors due
TO the dead had been paid by The
Chief Magistrate Of the Govern
nent, by the authority of States
and by the unrestrained affection
Of the people. "ln the Senate
however" said he, i've NAV not be
silent, even though the cup Of hon
or to his memory be OVERLOOKING.
Here, 90 this brilliantly lighted
stage, he fulfilled his last official
engagement, and closed his com,
handing public career. Vest,
Ransom, Hampton and Salisbury
were the other Democratic Senators
who paid tributes to Mr.. Hendricks.
On Tuesday of next week the
House Of Representatives will de.
vote itself TO similar eulogies in bis
memory.
The House adjourned immediate
ly upon the formal announcement
Of Representative Rankins' death
This was, Of course, the proper
thing 10 do in the absence of any
rule requiring different action. II
could not have made any lnvidious
distinction. But the country is
indignant that Congress should
waste time under every possible
pretext, and it is high time for the
adoption Of some plan whereby re,
spect may be shown for the mem.
cries Of deceased Congressman with.
out interrupting public business.
Announcements of deaths, should
be made at the close Of a daily SEES
sion, and either Sunday or evening
sessions should be held for eulogies
A reform Of this kind has been pre-,
Sented in the House, and will come
up soon for discussion.
Representative Rankin came tc
Washington in a dying condition,
He had an intense desire to take