Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-12-12
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Relief from Shi


that - Carnack, ECO, well known here
Is the contractor with the Government for
carrying mail between New Orleans and San
Francisco via Vera Crus, (Which was never
put in operation, the present chief OF the Post
Office Department having availed himself Of
his privilege of refusing to sanction the ar
rangement, we think much to the benefit of
the public interest," Is here this winter to in
duce Congress to pass bill granting bounty
to all persons who may save life from wrecks
on our coast. The idea is good one, and We
shall be happy to do our best to induce some
such legislation. We have heard of the case
Of wrecker on the coast of New Jersey, who,
in the last four years, has himself taken safely
of wrecks two hundred souls, for all which
services in the cause of humanity he did not
receive penny.
The wrecker's pay Is too often just what he
can 6lch, or what the saved person will vol
UNFAIRLY accord TO him out of the slender
means left him by the ses, which often
amounts to just the clothes the saved may be
wearing. When the ships are totally lost, q
not unfrequent occurrence, though the wreck.
er may save the lives Of those on it, he re-
ceivss nothing for his services by law, there
being no " salvage" on human life.
We trust that Mr.. Carnack will promptly
present his project for a law, and that it will
promptly 90 through Congress; as it is emil
nently philanthropic and will be of essential
advantage to the future of those who approach
our Atlantic coast in the winter season.
Keep Cool.-The game in the House Hall
yesterday had arrived at point of great in
terest to the knowing ones, indeed. We are
among those who believe that it was not in
tended from the start to permit Mr.. Banks to
be elected Speaker. That is, by those who
are cutting, shutting, and dealing out good
hands" first to one gentleman of the Opposi-
ton and then to another. The federal ele.
ment is overwhelming in the composition of
the aggregate of the Opposition majority, and
we have no idea that it intends to deny itself
q substantial victory for the sake of q tri-
umph for anti-slavery or any thing Of the
sort. We have repeatedly expressed this con-
viction in the course Of the ballotings, as be-
fore they began. We are, therefore, by no
means surprised at the turn matters took in
the Hall yesterday. Notwithstanding the un-
toward result of the days balloting, 80 far as
the huge Opposition majority were concerned,
we have no idea that any other member Of it
can ever reach the highest vote-107-polled
for Mr.. Banks. Nous verrons.
The Season.-Ws have heard Of no prepare
tions as yet for a gay winter in Washington.
The delay is the result of the absorption of the
thoughts Of all in the current proceedings of
the House. Most of the strangers, not of Con-
gress, now in W ashin gton, are northern poll
ticians Of the " conscience stripe" who come
hither to doctor weak legislative back bones
They are pious gentlemen whose minds are
above the frivolities of Washington life in many
respects, though their souls do SO thirst after
the contents of the fesh-pots of the national
legislature. After the organisation may be
eonsummated, they will retire to their r.speo-
tive homes, leaving only sufficient guard here
to look after their general interests. The
close Of the approaching hold avs will bring us
our usual seasonal quota of gay folks, much
to the qualification Of all classes of persons in
this city engaged in business, whose prosperity
depends in great part on the presence of such
people among US when we have Congress here
European Literary Statistics According
to data lately received at the Smithsonian
Institution, 1879 works have appeared in Ger.
many during the first half of the present year,
Of which Prussia has 1 ,242. Saxony ia, Aus
tris us, Bavaria 397, Wirtemberg go, Han
over 100.
According to the Brussels journal Lie Nord,
the first Russian newspaper was founded in
1903. Only two complete copies of the first
years impression of this journal exist, and
both are at st. Petersburg.
The departments in France possess 33S pub
lie libraries, Offering weekly an average of
1000 sittiDgs for readings, and frequented on
an average BY 3,649 readers. In these are
found 1888, 439 volumes, of which "A, O7O are
manuscripts. The contributions to support
them, made by the cities, amount to 407, 781
francs, Of which 223, 564 francs are salaries 10
persons employed, and 1S4, 227 francs for the
property. Of these 50 are exclusively circu-
lsting libraries.
Parker b. Frenoh.-TheN New York Express
discoursing on the last arrival from San Juan
del Norte, says:
"Among the passengers is Col. Parker H.
French, accredited Minister to the United
States, in place Of Mr.. Marcolletti, recalled.
"Col. French is vested with extraordinary
powers, to enable him to settle Immediately the
difficulties between the United States, England
and Nicaragua.
"He also brings with him the ratification of
the new treaty, made by the government with
Col. Wheeler, United States Minister at Gre
NADIA"
Now, it strikes US that there is just 1t this
time greater likelihood that the President
will recognise the legality of requisition"
for the apprehension of this Mr.. French, from
tho Governor of the State wherein he did those
things for which he fed its jurisdiction not