Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-04-25
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

cessity, under the rule, for sending to the
Committee of the Whole on the state of the
Union the Senate bill to refund the duties
paid since 1885 on goods destroyed by Are,
which was reported back from the Committee
on Commerce. The House overruled that
decision, because, though not protesting di-
rectly to make an appropriation, it did make
one in fact. The amount to be paid under
this bill can hardly be less than ten mil
lions of dollars. So it is due to the public in
terest that 1t should at least be scrutinized
before being rushed through.
An effort will be made to-day to reconsider
the very proper action Of the House in de-
Gliding that it should at least be examined
thoroughly before being passed. Herculean
efforts were, of course, made last night to in
duce a dosen gentlemen, who had voted not to
sustain the singular decision of the Chair, to
relent, and change their position to-day. We
apprehend that, for every member thus gained
over, one at least who voted blindly yester
day to aid in rushing through the bill in ques
ton, on getting his eyes opened to its true
character, will be found recorded against its
enactment without due consideration in COM
mittee of the whole, as proposed on the motion
to reconsider, which will be made ere We 60
to press this afternoon.
The Lane and Douglas Affair.-We hear
that Col Jos. H. Lane has written probably
fer the New York Timss) for publication,
his version of his late aft air with Senator
Douglas, wherein he assumed to call that gen.
tleman to account for words spoken in debate,
in the Senate chamber. The reader must
not understand US as intimating that Colonel
Lane challenged the Senator, it being cur.
rently understood in this city that his letter
to Mr.. d. was a sort of argument with that
gentleman, which was the only course left
him af ter the newspaper boasts, in advance.
of his political friends relative to his In
ten tons. The correspondence will prove a
rich fair, if the wondermongers in Wash
ipgton are not greatly mistaken. So we
advise our readers to look out for it +;
and for the reply of the Senator especially,
which is understood to place his antagonist in
an exceedingly funny position. The charac-
ter Of the petition about which the cores
understood by the country through the pub
lished action of the Senate upon it. The
correspondence with reference to it, will bring
forcibly to the mind of old stagers here the
fact that Col. Lane, when in Congress- had
somewhat similar affair with the Hon Theo-
dore Hunt, Of Louisiana, the particulars of
which all remember.
The Navy Yard Mechanics AT the re-
quest Of the fair writer of the following ap.
peal We are happy to give it a place in the
Star
To the Senate and House of Represeutatives:
would most respectfully ask permission of
your honorable body to address you in be-
half of the mechanics Of the Washington Navy
Yard, who have memorialized Congress to in
crease their pay. and by this act place them
on the same footing with other employees of
the Government. trust the iberality Of a
generous country will be extended to a class
so meritoriOus and so indispensable, and as a
citizen Of Washington can attest to their be-
ing worthy Of your bounty. When we take
into consideration the unexampled severity
of the past winter, and the consequent strain
upon the limited resources of the working
man, 1 am sure your honorable body will
not hesitate to grant them what they ask, 50
reasonable and right in itself We should
encourage these worthy artisans by every
means in our power, and the increase on their
pay, which We pray your honorable body to
grant them, is no more than what has been
given to employees in other branches Of the
General Government.
Some Of the mechanics Of the yard receive
but one sl.6S per diem, which is not enough
| to support their families, even with the strict
est economy, when every necessary of life
has greatly increased in price Compare, for
a moment, the occupation of some of those
who have already received 20 Der cent on
their compensation, with that of these worthy
and laborious mechanics The former do not
labor as.long as the mechanic, who, with the
exception Of one hour at noon, labors from
| sun to sun and the examples are not few,
permit me to say, when their hard earned
wages are cheerfully shared in ameliorating
the condition Of the worthy but unfortunate
companions Of their toll
Their condition addresses itself peculiarly
| to Congress and the pledge may safely be
made on their behalf, that for whatever lib.
erality may be extended them by the Gov
| eminent, they will exhibit that just sppre-
citation which so strikingly characterizes the
| iaboring portion OF our countrymen.
LADY.
DR.. Gresley.-We beg the doctor a thou.
sand pardons. He denies having had any
thing TO do with cooking up the very last YER
sion Of the so-ealled petition of the bogus
Legislature of Kansas, in reply to our para
graph that such was the prevalent impression
in this city. So the doctors skirts are clear
of responsibility for any share of the massa.
ere of the cause of the Republican party, as
involved in the foolish splurges that have
| marked that portion Of the Kansas drama in
Washington.
Aborigines.-A delegation of emigrated
ssminoles accompanied by their agent, Mr. J.
W. Washburne, reached Washington yester
day. They come to make treaty with the
Government in connection with q delegation
of the L. h.