The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-03-29
WASHINGTON LETTER.

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WAsH1NeroN, D. q. March 26, 1888.
The Capitol was shaken to its very
foundation by the severe thunder storm
of g few days ago, and our Legislators
thought that the day of reckoning had
come. The Senators were all brought to
their feet by the sudden thunder clap,
aud in horror observed the lightning
playing around the ceiling of their
ideliberative chamber, aud were 80 par.
salyzed by the scene that considerable
time elapsed before business was resumed
in its accustomed order.
On the House side the galleries were
crowded, and the members below were
engaged in heated debate over the
eight.hour bill, when suddenly the peal
of thunder and fash Of lightning brought
every member to his feet, and caused the
crowds in the galleries to suddenly dis.
appear. The press gallery was also
quickly cleared BY the ball of fire which
played around the telegraph instruments
and cut them all of. In the rotunda, the
shock was felt more than anywhere else,
because the massive iron dome served as
q play ground for the lightning, and as a
sounding board, so that the people in the
'rotunda ran to the doors, thinking that
the dome Was falling. Besides the fright,
no injury vas done, except destroying
t the telegraphic instruments, and killing
8 horse to a cab standing at the Senate
wing Of the building.
1t now looks sif we will, without
doubt, have the Congress Of Nations to
consider q code of International laws,
and q mode of arbitration to settle dis.
putes which may arise between sAmeri.
can nations, without recourse to arms.
The bill for that purpose has already
passed the House, and the Senate Com.
mittee has reported favorable on it. The
convention. will be held April l, 1889,
and will be composed Of twenty-four
delegates from each country. to meet in
Washington ]. but no nation shall have
more than one vote in the disposition OF
the question. a uniform system Of
weights and measures; 8 common silver
coin for trade purposes, to be used and
redeemed BY each nation, and other i'm
porsant measures will be acted upon by
the Congress.
The House Committee on the revision
| of the laws has agreed to report a joint
resolution providing for the election Of
u. 8. Senators BY a direct vote of the
people, tie same as members of the
House of Representatives. The resolu.
tion may pass the House, but the indica'
tions are that it will never get through
the Senate.
Senator Riddleberger is still peggiug
away at his hobby for open Executive
Sessions, and if the change does not take
place this Congress, it will not be for the
want Of persistency on the part of its
champion. The Senator has just offered
q resolution that the consideration Of the
Fisheries treaty be In open session, and
asked unanimous consent for the imme.
sdiate consideration of his resolution.
Senator Cockrell objected, and SO the
matter has gone over for the present.
Atthe International Council of Wo-
men to be held this week, Miss Rose
I Cleveland is booked for an address on
the subject, "Why is not Woman the
Equal Of Mar" Il will be Miss Cleve.
lands first visit to the city since the
marriage Of her brother, and her host of
friends here are anticipating much pleas
ure from seeing her again.
The sudden death of Chief Justice
Waite has cast q gloom over both social
and politicallife at the Nations Capital.
The death was the result of a cold con-
:tracted a month ago in attending the
funeral of q Miss Brown, who died while
visiting the family of the Chief Justice.
The Supreme Court convened at the
usual hoar on Friday, and Justice Miller,
/ the Senior Justice, after announcing the
death of their Chief, adjourned the court
for one week. The court room was
crowded, ard profound sorrow prevailed
inthe quiet chamber. The Senate and
House both adjourned over, out Of
respect to the memory of the distin-
:guished dead. 81.