Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-02-08
Washington Correspondence.
CAPITOL NOTES.


Washington, is the National Capitol,
for from there, issues all our country S
veal or woe, either from Judiciary or
executive: whether a man shall have
to stand the infringement of his right
to patent suspender, decided by the
/ [. 5. Supreme Court; or whether low
tariff or protection be given to the
people by the Executives yea or nay.
/ Capitol Hill is only noticeable as an
elevation, on account of its proximity
+ to the Potomac Flats. which are only
short distance to the South. The
principal entrance now, is on the
| East side, but the West side, facing
down Pennsylvania avenue, is being
elegantly terraced with white marble,
and on its completion will not be in
ferior to the East entrance. save for
the fine esplanade. which one fingers
to gaze upon, after mounting the
marble steps. and before entering
through the magnificent bronze doors,
which were cast in Germany, at cost
OF many thousand dollars - through
these doors into Il corridor, then, to
the right into the t. : Supreme Court
room as this is on the first floor. This
room seems hardly worthy the dignity
Of its occupancy - the baize doors
swing noiselessIy and the timbre of
your voice is left outside, for, except
the voices Of the Justices. and the
pleader. there is perfect silence. As
soon as the crier calls, "Oyez, Oyez,
Oyer, the Chief Justice, and the Asso-
ciate Justices Of the L. :. Supreme
Court everyone in the room rises.
and the Chief Justice enters first, fol
lowed by the other Justices in their
black silk gowns, taking their seats on
the bench: Chief Justice Fuller in the
center, and the others in their order of
seniority on the Bench-,Justice Lamar
sitting at the extreme left, as he is the
last Associate Justice appointed. At
the back Of each Justice stands a page.
ready TO hand him a glass OF Eichy
or to carry a message, Your cores
pendent would like to introduce and
have passed, a bill in Congress. to
Oblige the Justices to wear white wigs.
for with the exception of the Chief
Justice, who wears his long iron gray
hair parted in the center, and Justice
Lamar, whose black hair reaches to his
shoulder, the polls of the justices are as
sleek and shiny as school globe, and
the veins stand out like the water
ways on the globe-so for the intro
duction of these wigs, we will lobby
with the next congress. First, was the
request of lawyers for admission to
this court, then at the call of case by
the clerk, arose man whose face and
name is familiar to everyone in the
land Senator EyartS as he is called
he speaks very quietly and without
gesture, but SO anxious is everyone to
hear what he says, that you could hear
a pin drop on the carpeted hoOr-he |
seemed to combine extreme courtesy
to the Bench, with terseness and great
of language; those who |
came afer him, using him as a criterion, |
seemed very tame, and visitors and !
counsel Were inattentiye, though
Malone of Virginia was among the
speakers.
Before going into the various rooms
of interest You must go to the Senate
and House, as they adjourn at four
O'Clock, and You can wander among
the pictures and statuary when you
are gorged with the intellect of great
Senators and jolly Members.
Only little below the dignity of
the I. :. supreme Court is the L. :.
Senate As a visitor enters the gallery
of the senate Chamber he is opposite
the Presiding officer. now Senator
ingalls, of Kansas. Although the
room is not large. you feel that YOU
need field glass, to find and place
Senator ingalls,, he is so small. slight
and trim, with dark hair parted in the
middle, sloping shoulders, and so
dressed that you would think he was
on the point of taking a Kansas belle
on the floor for a waltz-he ALWAYS
wears boutonierre, and seems restless
and nervous, but he has shown vast
courage in attacking the tall Svca-
more of lndiana-he has a pleasant
voice and gesture, and his speech is
rhetorical and logical. The floor of the
Senate is divided into two main parts.
with aisles running through-the seats
in semi-Circle - beginning at the
right hand of the presiding officer. and
extending to the middle aisle. is the
democratic side. while the left is the
republican side - every desk seems
neat and orderly, and pages were
lounging about the steps Of the dais.
Over the Presidents desk is the re-
porters gallery, facing the entire SEN
ate. Other galleries are occupied by
the chief Executive, lined with red
plush, the Corps Diplomatique. lined
with blue plush, and for ladies and
gentlemen when visiting the Senate.
After leaving the Senate Hall. you can
lunch in the Senators lunch room, be
fore going into the Representatives
Hall; for, in contrast with the Senate.
it is so noisy and disorderly, that you
need 4 tonic for your nervous system.
The arrangement of this Hall is similar
totheSenate Chamber. only much longer
democrats to the right of the speaker,