Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-03-05
WAsHfHeT ON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
The Last y. ight Of the session WAS. a. r,sus

commune. scene Of excitement and confusion
N snd a. Ound both halls of Congress, with
very rsheral manifestation of droWsinsss over
tHs Hobbies during the small hours Of the
Upfning. The throng in the rotundo was
very great until late hour, nearly half found
there being deeply interested in more or lees
Measures that were pending, the rest being
gaping observers; strangers for the most part.
Nothing of An unpleasant nature occurred in
either hall among the members, though all
thought of the usual dscorum exhibited there
mot always remarkable by the by-was laid
aside for the nonce, according to the custom
prevailing in The Capitol in the expiring day
of each Congress. 70 -gft.
Amongths most note worthy events transpir.
ing, was the unanimous adoption of resolution
by the Senate Tin quasi executive SESSION. ex.
pressive of the deep regret of the body at the
retirement Of Senator Badger. Such legisla-
ton is without a precedent on their journal,
and speaks volumes for the esteem in which
that gentleman is held by all his late fellow
Senators, and for their deep respect for his
character and their admiration Of his re
markable talents and attainments.
On the whole, we never saw Congress die
50 gracefully and quietly,-so decently; not
a symptom of rowdyism wes manifested with
in the bar of either hall, nor did we see
single honorable member even slightly intoxi-
Gated, which tells we'll for the personal char
| acter Of the Congress. One very tired gentle
man, who had reclined on a settee in the
House lobby for nap, rolled Of on to the
floor, where he snoozed cozily enough for an
hour. Until he was reused by friend, It
was thought by the bystan ders that he might
have been intoxicated; but on awakiDg, it be-
came evident that real fatigue only had been
the cause of the extraordinary soundnesS of
his sleeping. 1t was with great difficulty that
the leading appropriation bills were saved,
down moro than usual with amendments, into
all Of which some member Of the House would
insist on inquiring
The opposition to the resolution of thanks 10
the Speaker which was duly passed, was rot
as great as usual, though some fur or five
AooAS fobSA SoiSSt tASbA' IL 10 impOsSiOte
for presiding officer Of the House to satisfy
every man on the door. So, in the course of
our experience with the House, we have never
failed to fad more or less political friends and
foes OF the Speaker anxious TO testify against
him on such an occasion. On this occasion.
as befoEs remarked, they were fewer than
usual.
The Washington Water Works-Our fol-
low citizens Of the District Of Columbia are to.
day rejoicing over the action of Congress in ap
propriating $4,000 to continue the work on
the Washington Water Works. The measure
was engineered through both Houses only
through skilful and delicate management
Thus it was necessary that those laboring to
procure the appropriation, should move as
quietly as possible, in order to prevent the
Spectators who wore hoping to procure the
adoption of water works schemes designed
rather to put money in their own pockets than
to furnish the District Of Columbia with the
needed supply Of water on the advantageous
terms to our fellow citizens at large, embraced
in the so satisfactory plan of Captain Meigs,
from defeating them.
We may Lot justly forget to mention that
the whole District is under deep obligation
indeed to Captain Meigs, who has defended
himself and his plans against combinations of
demagogues onihs one hand, and speculators
on the ether, which would have ground aImos,
any other man to powder. He. has nothing
whatever to make in connection with the wa
ter works, except reputation professional
reputation. Their continued prosecution in
wolves intense labor in his part, without del
lar more of pay or emoluments than he would
receive for doing one-teath as much actual
work If assigned to other duty lie struggled
In all conceivable ways from the beginning
to the end Of the session to compass the en-
actnent OF the successful appropriation; now
replying to the charge Of some demagogue
WHISPERED into the lug OF this mem Der; now
explaining away Misrepresentation or mis-
apprehension of some portion ef his plans or
administration Of the work iginating with
somebody or other, who. claiming to To an
" expert" had failed to get his paw into the
I.
Thus, he has 50 soon lived down the trem.n-
dous opposition Of disappointment, malice,
demagOgueism, and timidity, the latter arts.
ing from the misrepresentation Of the disap-
pointed, the malicious and the demagogues.
We feel that we have perfect right to call
the attention of the citizens of the District in
this way to tie debt of gratitude they owe to
this talented, energetic. and 50 accomplished
engineer; inasmuch as we early enlisted for
the war, for the water works On the very best
possible scale for tho permanent interest Of the
Government and the people Of the district. We
dedicated the columns of the Star to the tri-
umph Of the great plan on which the improve.
ment is to be constructed; and We have
struggled for inch by inch, speaking out fer il
when that policy was best, and working under
cover when that plan became necessary. We
have therefore had occasion almost daily to
witness the uncxaInpled labors CT Captain