Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-12-29
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Futility.-The country will comprehend,
from the tenor Of yesterdays debate in the
House, the utter futility of the current pro-
ceedings Of that body so far as their business in
hand-the choice of Speakers concerned
Up TO the hour at which we left the hall they
were engaged with the exception Of the time
devoted TO balloting) in the discussion of
abstract questions having, rightfulIy, little
bearing indeed upon their business in hand
The country is evidently losing its patience
with their impracticability. According to the
professions of the opposition men identified
with all the factions opposed to the present
National Administration, the majority of the
present Congress were elected to reform abuses
in public affairs, alleged to be in existence at
the time Of their election. The country will,
doubtless, read in the manner in which that
majority has triaed the past month of precious
time, their utter ineficiency to carry out the
pledges upon which they came to Washington
We are not among those who believe in the
pretepces upon which most of those gentlemen
expected little else from them, than what has
occurred since the opening of the session; and
we now call attention to their glaring short
cOnings, only as afording IN illustration of
the tendency Of the times. Surely there
never were elected to the Congress of the
United States men, new members who made
more Profuse promises to the people, nor was
there ever sent to Washington set of gentle
men, as representatives, who in the same space
Of time accomplished so little.
The Hon. Mr.. Pearce, of Pa, assures us
that his conversation with his colleague, Mr..
Millward, which became the subject of dis
cussion in the hall on the day before yester-
day, was plsyfully designed; that being per-
fectly willing to vote for either Mr.. Fuller or
Nj Banks to make an election, ne asked that
gentleman (Nr. Millward) whether he had
conscientious scruples against voting for Mr.
Banks and without knowing anything more
concerning the binding and engraving CON-
mittee than he derived from incidentally hear
ing some one mention, shortly before, that it
was good committee to be on, by way of in
ducing Mr.. Millward to aid in efecting an
organization, he asked him how he would like
to be on it, "as it was said to be good commit
tee" and told him that he thought Mr.. NJ comld
be placed there, if Banks should be elected
He adds, that he did not assume, as Mr. Mill
ward asserts, to pledge him the place in Mr.
Banks's name or behalf, and that Mr. Mill
ward did not leave him under the impression
that his conversation involved anything like
an effort TO bride him; but that he took I'D
that unwarrsnted idea wholly through what
was said to him subsequently concerning it by
those with whom he conversed before essayinr
to bring it to the notice Of the House
We cheerfully give Mr. Pearce the benefit
of the publication in The Star Of thi, explana-
ton.
We intimated, yesterday, that public opin-
ion here was unanimous in condemnation Of
Mr.. PeaTce, and have now TO add that we sub
sequently find that many members take the
same view Of Mr.. Pearce's intent, expressed
in the explanation presented to Our readers
above.
Absurdities about Postal Matters.-We
observe in a late number of the New York
Herald. an article entitled "Absurdities,
Anomalies, and Inconveniences, Of our Postal
System, under the signature Of Pliny Miles
As specimen Of this writer's facts and COM
ments on postal matters, we make the follow
ing quotation relative to one of the tables of
rates
xprH to he la L
strous table given above-the postage on peri
Odicals that print advertisements You are
aware that our Postmaster q eneral has decided
that when the publishers of magazines or De-
riodieals have the audacity to exc out their
profits by putting advertiser ents into their
publications, they shall be charged letter
postage. What right has Putnam TO announce
TO the world, in fy leaf of his N aga zine, that
the Buncombe Flagstaff is about to be resumed
OF that distinguished poet and critic, Il N
Pepper; Esq
why should LittelI Co have the i'm.
pertinance to print an advertisement of the
Boston Post or the American Almanac on an
extra leaf Of the Living Age, and pocket five
dollars for 1t, without asking the consent of
the Postmaster General? Of course il ia alb.
surd to think they should be permitted to do
II on any conditions. But don't you think
there should be severe penalty-say a fine
Of q thousand dollars and seven or nine years
Imprisonment, in addition TO a confscation Of
the property that is thus ruthlessly ATTEMPTED
to be scattered over the land through the
mails special act Of Congress would soon
bring these fellows that print advertisements
to their senses One simple question allew me
ask How could any sane man out of the Ro
man lnquisition, ever imagine that the ma kers
Of the postal law fixing the rates of post
age on monthly publications could intend
that there should be any distinctions on peri
Odicals that contain advertisements, and those
that do not, except in the one essential con-
sideratiOn Of weight Why should not the
publishers of Harper's and Putnam's Maya
zine have the same privilege of printing ad-
vertisements. and circulating them in the
numbers Of their periodicals just a much as
you should print them in the New York He
raid. L won't insult your readers by looking
at the subject further. We are all concerned
In the postal law and its administration, and
intend both shall have full notice and dissec
ton"