New-York daily tribune., 1856-03-26
FROM WASHING TON.
STATE AND PROSPECTS OF THE LOBBY,
Editorial Correspondence Of The " Y. Tribune.

WASHINGTON, DlOnu5y, MATCH ~, iOvo'
| believe there is no question as to the fact that
the Lobby is much thinner and weaker in Wash
inpton this Session than for many preceding.
There are, Of couree people here with "a1es to
grind" as heretofore; but they are st once tar
| fever and quieter than formerly, The sumptuous
entertainments of other days are not given, or are
given TO the select few in some snug upper Paror,
instead of TO dozens OF scores in the grand Hotel
| dininc-room-given in the spirit that would "do
"pood by stealth, and blush TO find it fame so
that enlightened epcures protest, with sigh for
the memory of joer days, hat the only really
coed dinners given in Washington this year are
those Of the gamblers whose hospitality Is as gen.
erous snd nearly as prOfuse as OF old. Gwen
| have been favored with an invitation to one oi
these feeds, given by some dark-limbed gentleman
whom / have lot the henor of knowing, which
proves that such invitations proiiered without
stint or excusiveness AS have never contrib
uted. and never shall contribute, one penny of the
patronage which enables this gentleman and his
brethren to feed the hungry so b0unteously must
set down his courtesy to the credit of an expansive
and uncslculatiDg beDeyOlence which few calllngs
could afford, and which you would hardly expect
to find in so selfish a capital as tbis.)
BY the way: speaking of Gambling There was
a bright, full moon and soft March atmosphere
last evening, ard l took stroll on the Avenue be-
fore retiring, while an old resident of Washington
pointed out to me the doors of the several gam
bling .touies known to him which were open and
(appsIenlly) in full blast at ii o'clock. believe
there were but treire in the course of mile on
this one street. but az it was Sunday night, and
very light some two or three that are known 10 ex
ist were darkened if not clOsed-perhaps because
their customers did not care TO be seen fitting in
or coming out that night Oh the most thronged
street in the metropolis How many there are in
other ports Of the city did not inquire but these
stared me in the face on my walk, and must be ia
miliar to every Waterman in Washington. | have
not heard that one Of them Ia ever disturbed,
though certain low resots, where negroes and
white loafers gamble for pennies or drinks, are
now aid then Oyerhauled.
But to return TO the Lobby:
judge that the old mode of carrying a measure
by storm is abandoned at least for the present.
Members will no longer submit to be bored and dis
credited by it. Ifa citizen has a claim on the Gov
ernment which the Court of Claims can take cog
nzance Of il is sent TO that tribunal without obec
tim, argued before it by advocates and its decision
will be deemed concusiye-at least, if adverse to
the claimant This is very great reform, even
admitting that the Court Of Claims is quite as
likely to decide wrongly as Congress. For this
Court will at least make decison-t will not
keep a suitor begging for hearing through the
better part Of his life, and at last tarn hin away
with plea of want of time TO investigate his case.
The Court will inyestigate-it will decde-and
when ii has decided against claim, it cannot be
revived and pressed again and again, as a bad claim
often has been before Congress. And further: the
principle laid down, the rule established, in one
case, will generally be respected in all future cases,
so that a claimant will come in time 10 know
whether he can maintain his claim or not; whereas
Congress might uphold in case the very princi-
pie it voted down in another. / believe, there
FORE that this Court WILL in the msin promote JUS
tice and prevent fraud, and / trust Congress may
sustain it, and pay all reasonable Difference TO its ad-
indications. And this, cannot doubt diminishes
the size and importance of the Lobby.
] hear of very few borers this Winter in connec-
ton with Steam,hip projects, and presume little
is doing with regard to them. And it seems 20 me
that the time is favorable for the development and
perfection, BY the TWO Post.Office and two Naval
Committees, of system of Ocean Mail Service,
TO be adhered 70 in regard to all new routes and 10
be applied to the old on the expiration Of ex-
istiDg contracts respectively. Let contracts be
advertised for and given TO the lowest responsible
bidder just they low are for inland stage coach
and horseback service; and let the stipulated COM
pepsston be modified by the celebrity or tardiness
of performance. For instance: suppose the con-
trsct lime for the line from New-Yo to Liverpool
be fifteen days, and the compensation $50 900 per
trip, let Sl,COO-yes, s2,CO0-be added for each
day, or msjor part of day, that the trip
.hall fall short of tie stipulated time, with
like deduction Of -, 900 for each day
that the stipulated time shall be exceeded. 1t
seems to NE that this plan would combine the
needed stimulus to Improvement in steam machin-
cry and ship bull ling with entire freedom Of COM
petition and equal opportunities to all.
think the largest class Of Lobby men present
this Winter are the Pstentees seeking extension o!