The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-11-27
Letter from Washington.


Catacaxy Ahair-Cataeaxy Superse'
ded-Schenek's Recall Dcnied-Th<
Kentucky War Ciatm-Prepara'
ti0ns for Congress.
WASHINGTON CRY, D. c..
November 25, 1871.
Editors OF the Register.
As Washington City is, during the
winter at least, the seat of the United
States Government, your readers may
be interested in an occasional letter
from this locality. Our peripatetic
President will probably spend few
consecutive months in this city where
the "sore tailed colt" is aud where Con.
gress will soon assemble, and certainly
a few items concerning city thus thrice
distinguished may not be unacceptable.
1t is a fact, though not very widely
known, that an election was held here
on Wednesday, the 22nd inst, for mem.
bers OF the Territorial Legislature, and
to express popular approval or disap.
proval of the -four million loan bill'
for certain public Improvements. A
very light vote was cast by the actual
residents and legal voters in the District.
No organized opposition was made by
the Democrats. and consequently the
Republicans and "jobbers" had things
their own way. There is very strong
scent OF corruption in the improvement
schemes that are contemplated, and the
raising OF four million dollars is under.
stood to involve a good deal Of stealing.
The whole thing is considered TO be the
work of Ring that emulates the now
departed glories OF Tammany, and the
negro voters are very plant tools for
the accomplishment OF whatever base
purpose their leaders may devise.
AS an illustration Of the ignorance OF
the negroes and the ease with which
they are duped by designing kuaves,
may be mentioned the fact that at the
election lastW ednesday q proposition to
subscribe 100000 to the capital stock
of mythical concern called the Po-
tomac and Piedmont railroad company
was triumphantiy carried. Antiquar'
ians who have examined the old acts
OF the Virginia Legislature cay that a
charter was once issued toa corporation
bearing the title OF the Potomac and
Piedmont railroad company, but there
is no evidence that dollar OF stock was
ever subscribed, the right Of way Sc
cured, or that the company has even q
corporate existence in the District. The
name was printed on the ticket, the
negroes were told it had something to
do with the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company, and, not being able to
read and knowing that they could not
be taxed to pay the subscription, they
voted unanimously to give the concern
5000 900. 1t is now said that the Leg
islature will interfere to protect the peo-
pie from this glaring fraud.
The sensation Of the week has been
the reception OF the Russian Grand
Duke Alexis and, in this connection,
the elimination OF the Fish -Catacazy
affair, or, as it has been irreverently
termed, 1.-THE Catfish war" One OF the
morning papers stated that when NJ.
Catacazy presented the Grand Duke to
the President, the Russian Minister
shook hands with General Grant. The
story is now officially denied; Grant
did not shake hands with Catcazy at
all, and these illustrous personages did
not directly address each other during
the interview. Further than this, the
management OF the Russian mission
was on Yesterday transferred by order ol
the Car, to General Gorlof, former
anache OF the legation; Catacazy is to
accompany the Grand Duke on his
travels in America and return home
with him. Thus ends very silly and
childish quarrel that has been purely
personal in it's character and has re-
fected no credit at all upon either Of
the parties concerned.
The chronic report Of Secretary
Fish's retirement from the Cabinet
came ont again yesterday in the shape
of a rumor that Schenck was 10 be re.
called from London and Fish was to
succeed him there. As usual, the story
is denied next day by the very parties
who concocted and circulated the orig.
inal report.
An argument was made in the Su,
preme Court, yesterday, on petition for a
nandamus to compel Secretary Boutwell,
to pay the military claim OF the State
OF Kentucky. 1t is the opinion Of many
lawyers that the Secretary will be re-
quired to pay the claim, as it Is GER
taiuly just as valid as that OF Massa'
chusetts or Illinois, and its payment has
only been withheld out Of pol .tical spite,
Preparations are being made for the
assembling of Congress. The Capitol
is being brushed up. and boarding
houses and hotels are busily engaged
10 putting themselves in array Tor our
winter visitors, and for the picking up
OF loose change. The winter is the
harvest season Tor the people OF Wash
ipgton, and many Of them are prone TO
CLEAN as closely as though they thought
each winter their very last chance.
Possibly Reavis and the Capitol movers
may yet give them some trouble.
/ Quill