The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1906-05-03

surmounted by silver ball, and on
top of the ball is a silver eagle with
outstrctched wings. This is the emblem
of authority, and when carried among a
scrimmage of overheated congressman
is guaranteed to send all of them flying
to their seats. don't know just what
would happen to them if they didn't
obey this authority, but suppose they'd
be hanged.
The Supreme Court occupies the room
formerly used as Senate chamber
This court is composed of Chief
Justice and eight associate justices, and
is the highest court of our land. The
justices all wear black gowns, and the
sessions are sedate and impressing in
the extreme. The sessions begin
promptly at twelve o'clock each day,
and just moment before that time the
justices proceed from their rooms across
the hall to the supreme court room,
their path being marked off by crimson
cords and inquisitive people kept at
distance by the guards. AS they enter
the room the crier announces: "The
Honorable the Chief Justice and the
Associate Justices of the Supreme Court
of the United States!" Everybody
stands and the crier then continues:
"Oyez, Oyer, Oyer! (Oyes). All persons
having business before the honorable
the supreme court Of the United States
are admonished to draw near and give
their attention, for the court is now
sitting. God save the United States
and this honorable COURT When bust
ness for the day is finished the crier adj
journs court by saying: "This honorable
court is now adjourned until tomorrow
at twelve o'clock" If Spence Keller
and John Burns got all twisted up in
the simple form of calling our court at
home, wonder what this rigamorole
would do for them.
The senate chamber is in the north
wing of the building, which is almost
identical with the south wing in ar
rangement. Before the main entrance
to the senate room runs, east and west,
the principal corridor Of that wing and
from this at either end runs corridor
north and south which, with the lobby,
completely surround the Senate cham
Der. In the west corridor is the stair
way leading to the galleries. Halfway up
this stairway, which is all marble and
magnificent, is large painting of the
battle Of Chapultepec which battle was
fought during the war with Mexico, on
, the 18th day of September, 1917. The
, most richly furnished room in the
! Capitol is the Presidents, where he
5 comes toward the end OF each session of
Congress to sign any bills that may be
} needing his attention. Another beauti-
, full room is that called the private re-
cepton room, where the Senators meet
+ people for private conflab. This room
3 is finished entirely in marble and is lux
2 uriously furnished.
} Half way down the stairway leading
!, from the east corridor to the ground
: floor, where the restaurant is located
j. is large painting of the battle of Lake
| Erie, which was fought Sept. 10th, 1913
Y in which the Americans under Commo-
t dore Perry licked the daylights out OF
S some Of those same cousins of yours who
Y afterwards burned the capitol. 1t was
S at this time that Perry sent his famous
9 message, I'VE have met the enemy and
S they are ours Coming down this
stairway one day with Mrs. Wood, and
: thinking to kid her a little, said now
y here is a picture of George Washington
e crossing the Delaware. That fellow il
s the water there is George himself. A
r man in front of us turned around anC
=, well, amt he the ignorant fool now
) On this side are also the first fight o
II the Ironclads, March 8, 1862, when oul
e "cheese-box' Monitor surprised tho
d Rebel Merrmac; the electoral commits
e sion which frogged the democrats GU
of presidency; the recall Of Columbus
n by Queen Isabella at Santa Fe; and por
a traits of Lincoln, Garfield, Sumner ant
d Dix.
If The Senate chamber is 113 feet lon!
If by 80 feet wide and seats 600 persons
e The Nice-President Of the United State
e is the presiding officer. The hall i
e richly furnished, and around the gal
e leries are busts of former Vice-Presi
y. dents. The ceiling is Of glass and flat
1T The sessions of the Senate are Away
t) dignitied the Senators wear Prime
le Elaborate coats and an air of import
1t ance, and there is none of the negli
,e gence and carbohydrates that W
Of see over on the other side Of the build
n ing.
ID All through the building, where tn
le passages are narrow from one section
10 another, the stones of the floor ar
lg deeply worn, speaking eloquently of tn
d. countless feet that have trod them i
It. the past. Just think Of the great me
at that have passed through those col
Or ridors. from Washington down to Ed. I
IL Sharp. And how many million schot
es ma ans have tripped through here an
5" all med! and Oh my'd! and giggled an
er rubbered.
le Away down under the center of tn
of dome is what they call the "Crypt
of where was built tomb to receive tn
IL. remains Of President Washington, bu
II L. I
I'd Mount Vernon it was never used for tn