The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-13
FIRST EDITION
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. 1

WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. ~.
The long duness of the Federal City is broken by
the new life and preparation incident to the APP
preaching session of Congress. Numerous workmen
nre engaged at the Capitol in fitting up the Senate
chamber and House Of Representatives, to be in
readiness for USE The hotels are filling up, and the
streets are once more thrOnged with people, Already
several Senators and Representatives nave arrived
who have come thus early to secure quarters for the
season AS this win be the long session of Congress-
extending perhaps into the summer months, 1t is
quite important that members should make them
selves comfortable The hotel, the "ArlIngton,"
situated on Seventeenth street and jackson square,
viii be- without doubt the fashionable resort OF the
winter The oheandlolder hotels OF the city, inspired
into competition, are freshening painting and, to
some extent, refurnishng-a cOnsummatOn much
required, and which, altogether, win make Wash
Ington more endurabe city to the visitor than it
has been heretofore.
The White House has been for some time past
also undergoing a rejuvenating process. Foreign
artists OF skill engaged In gliding and frescoing
its ample halls and otherwise decorating the Pres-
dental Mansion, preparatory to the customary
levees and receptions in anticipation during the
winter. Indeed gay season is contemplated.
Many Of the foreign ministers and members of the
Cabinet and Senators have secured large and ele-
giant residences, with view, doubt to naugurate
a general season of brilliant entertainments, diplo-
matte and international.
The President is engaged in the examination OF
which have been submitted to him upon which to
base his annual message. The reception halls of the
Executive Mansion are nevertheless daily crowded
with ofice-seekers and other persons seeking inter-
views with his Excellency, and who engross most Of
his time q.
A large number Of Government officers Of the
customs and internal revenue have been fitting to
and the anxious seat not alone as regards the
tenure of their office, but in reference to modica-
tions of Treasury rules There has been regular
game Of "cross purposes" played for some months
past between tweedledum and tweedledee, in regard
to rulings, and geographical divisions have been obi
terated in enforcing rules stringenty resulting in
'confusion worse conloundedn The departments
find themselves perpleXed as TO the admistra-
tion of the laws of different sec
tiona Year by year the fallacy of imrosing
universal law for so difruse population and so ex-
tended territory Is becoming more apparent, and
the attention Of Congress will be called to the neces
sity of so amending the revenue laws as to make
them equally effective in every section. Many Of
the regulations which suit section entirely
antagonistic to Others, and their enforcement has
led to many serious complications.
Commercial regulations and business customs diff
fer widely on the Atlantic and Pacific, North and
South East and West. The rules adopted and en-
forced are Of general and not special character
and will not work advantageously to the Government
in every section. Hence modification OF more
specific character than hitherto broached will have
70 be made, complications will continually
clogging the workings of commercial and manufac-
turing interests
The forthcoming report Of the Comptroller OF the
Currency recommends change in the banking
laws, so as practically to admit Of free banking,
which is the subject of great contrariety Of opinion
If Congress acquiesces in the recommendation of
the Comptroller to increase the circulation of
national bank currency from 100000 to $50 00O
the increase of s2O,OOOOOO will of necessity be ap-
portioned TO national banks in the
institutions are now without currency. OF course
new national banks will be chartered, and such
fight will be inaugurated to the disposition OF the
currency that Congress will be forced to pass law
equaizing the entire amount Of S50,oOO0 900 between
the States OF the Union upon pro rata basis of
population and wealth. The Southern States will of
course, be relieved from the present pressure for
currency, but the New England States will be
forced to surrender some OF their national banks,
for they have absorbed 30 far nearly
one-thrd of the issue of S30,0O0,000. In any event.
common justice to the business interests of the entr
Union requires thai national bank currency should
regulate as to defeat the speculation now induged
in by Wall street holders, who cOrner" the currency
market by boarding it and then sell 1t to Southern
and Western banks who are without currency, ut
from four to nine per cent premium. 1t s a traffic
at injurious and vicious, and should be checked
by wholesome legislation.
General Spinner, United States Treasurer in his
annual report discusses at length the question o
compensation 10 OF Une CIVIL service OF all
grades. He has given much attention to this sub
ject during the eight years that he has been in the
service, and speaks in behalf of system of compen
sation by which higher order OF talent may be
secured to the Government. Since General Spinner
has been Treasurer the transactions of his depart
ment have amounted to forty thousand millions of
dollars, and yet not dollar has been lost through
any OF his subordinates. record which speaks for
itself.
The Morning NeDs contains the following, which
may be OF interest to your readers and has not ap
peared in any OF the New York papers:-
"Report says that last Thursday evening, DIR.
Wood the night editor Of the sun, had violent dis
pute with the managing editor, Amos j. Cummings,
a man whose name will always be looked upon with
contempt as principal in the shameful publication
OF John Russell Young's private letters. They came
TO blows finally, and the result is that DR.. Wood was
made managing editor, but is obliged to wear
beefsteak of his peppers, for he has Qn Mis-
sissipp parlance) a fifteenth amendments dark
eye." A. q. j.