Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-27
Letter from Washington. p
IrRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT ]
WASHINGTON, Feb. %.

WASHINGTON, Feb. %.
CARNIVAL IN CONGRESS.
To be more correct, should say in the house.
That body caught The spirit of misrule which
ruled in the avenues of this city for couple of
days, and which mas made havoc at least with
your correspondents time and yesterday had
regular carnival debate. 1t begun as usual by
an attack on Butler 1t is always that, or one
by him. The long bearded representative from
Illinois, General Farnsworth, commenced the
Spree" 1t is conceded that as he like most yira-
goes, con,rived to obtain the (present last word,
hewas for the time being left master of the field.
But Benjamin F. is not man to be content
with the odds against him. 1t will be odds in
deed if the debt is not repaid with interest. The
story is an old one, garnished this time with
new seasoning. 1t is a rehash of the Cape Ann
granite quarry charge, with the addition this
time Of one charging that mirrors belon ring to
the treasury department had been loaned 10
garnish Gen. Buffers residence on reception
occasions Probably the time meant was at the
Ames-Butler wedding festivities, for the Illi-
noisian charged that one mirror was broken and
one or more lest in transportaton-incide
which would hardly occur in removal to and
from his residence here. 1t is fair to say that
Butler denies the whole story, and his denial is
| probably the whole truth, as Farnsworth's
malice has already shown itself disposed to
overlap ITSELF In the case Of an inquiry in
vestlgated by him into Buffers management of
| the volunteer asylum funds, 1t has certainly
fallen prone on the other side.
1t is pity that Parnsworth's constituents
had not followed out their first good intentions
and breyetted him to stay-at-home. He is rap
idly becoming common barrator--a veritable
scold--a wind bag that eds pricking. am
not enamored of Butler, but must confess to
liking Farnsworth less. The whole quarrel
against Batter appears to be one of thwarted
spleen. During the present session there has
occurred an incident which is an instructive
Illustration of some ways they have hereabouts
WHOLESALE MENTAL LARCENY
Farnsworth is chairman Of the house commit
tee on post offices and post roads. Over yeai
ago, the codifying commission, who have beer
for some two or three years or more past en-
gagged in codlf, ing our laws, took up the vari
Gus postal laws, and arranged them into com
pact code. This work, which condensed owe
one hundred acts, was finished about the clos
Of last session. 1t was printed, and copies wer
sent 10 the joint committee on "revision o
laws" Copies were sent also to the post ofic
department, Mr.. Creswell directed a commit
tee of experts to examine and suggest amend
ments. This they did, and embodied the result
in a pamphlet, The committee on revision
meanwhile, appointed subcommittee to exam
inc aud report. The postmaster general, know
Ing nothing of what was being done at the cap
itol, hands over the code with the suggestions o
his experts to Gen Fdmswortb, chairman O
the committee the department comes IN coutac
with. Here was opportunity tor reputation
Farnsworth caused the code to be copied, EN-
bodyipg the departments amendments, and, a
the beginning of the present session, proceed
TO introduce the code as from his committee
never once SO far al have learned giving par
ticle OF credit to the three members of the com
mission, whose labors be awaited himself of u
enhance bis own reputation.
, ANOTHER TROPHY won.
Ferr ando Wood was the next victim and h
! was badly beaten That too, by one compare
/, lively unknown as debater in the house--Mr
: Iownshend of Pennsylvania. Wood renewed
his attack on Gen. Howard, during debat
! over an appropriation for the completion of tn
. freedmen's bureau work. Mr.. Townshend inter
, ! rupted his Trades with some apparently mai