The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-07-17
Correspondence OF she Phan,1.

day as the sesson q: ongreRs es drawing
to asolose, is most interesting. Not.
I,withStanding the rapid progress made
during the last few days in legislation,
there will still remain lots of unfinished
business which the lobbyists pretend to
say is vastly important to tho nation,
though the people here, generally, feel
will bear time for consideration, and not
suffer in consequence of delay over till
next session.
Among the one Or two hundred bills
now upon the Speakers table, there are
the Southern Pacific Railroad bill; the
New York and Washington Air Line
Railroad bill; the New Apportionment
bill determining the number of NJ. @. s
for the next Congress, and bills granting
land subsidies to different railroads in the
South and West. It is possible that the
Senate may ask OF the House post
ponement of adjournment for q few
days for the purpose of concluding ac-
ton on the Venesuela question; the abo-
lition of polygamy, in: Utah.; the Indian
bill including definite action on the ques-
ton on the validity of Indian treaties,
and the admission Of New Mexico as q
State under the name of Lincoln.
There has been no inconsiderable in
terest felt here among all classes Of peo-
pie as to the result of the Howard inves-
tigation. Fernando Wood, of New York,
some three months since, preferred most
astounding charges against General
Howard on account Of tho way he used
Frcedman's Bureau funds while Presi-
dent of that Bureau. General Howard
the organizer of the Howard University,
located in Washington, and now Presi-
dent of that institution, has become
identified with the interests of Washing
ton; and the manly and cnterprising
course pursued by him during his resi-
dence hero has ingratiated him in the
favor of the people. Your correspondent
himself knows Of nothing of the verdict
Of the committee having his case in
charge. The rumors, however, is that
the majority of the committee have ex-
perionced no little trouble in agreeing
upon report. The minority, consist
ing Of Democrats, will, Of course, present
o. minority report, which it is thought
will sustain nearly all Of the charges first
preferred by Mr.. Wood. The report is
expected either to day or to- morrow.
If the Capitol movers will let us alone
we will make O considerable city OF
Washington in few years, and one
which the country will be proud Of; but
every now and then they raise howl
and the tipid and old fogy portion of
our population are 80 frightened that
they come to a, stand still. These draw
backs retard progress, but, of course,
cannot stop it. We have made many
improvements during the last eight
years. Before the war Washington YVES
Southern city. We had slaves, slave
trade and all Of its concomitants, among
which were gaudy chivalry, q delicious
satisfaction in things as they were, and
q wastery inactivity in all cases of import.
When the war came on we had only
Pennsylvania avenue paved, and that
WAS the poorest of its kind. In the early
part Of the war it was not an uncommon
thing to see Government wagons stuck
in the mud upon T street, between the
patent and post Office in the very heart
of the city, and your correspondent has
seen upon Fourteenth street, our fash
ionab!e drive, holes scooped out by the
wheels of vehicles until they werc SO
deep and long that when wagon went
down into one of them the top was just
visablo above the surface This was ro-
medied some during the war. Since the
war great improvement has been made.
A number of our avenues have been
paved, sewers and cutters have been
made, and different and more modern
class Of residences have been erected.
Our population. has been increased in
numbers to about double, and there has
boon an infusion of Northern and West.
ern energy, which is highly refreshing
and interesting.
Congress has seemed more alive to our
interests during the present session than
ever before, and while they have not
passed great many bills which will be-
nefit us, still they have reported num-
bcr and manifested disposition to do
so. The President has signed the bill
for ro.DovinO Pannsv1vapio ovapno op1