Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1874-07-10
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence Of the Tmes.

| They are off-the big bugs-and we
shall see them no more for some time. The
members of Congress skedaddled very
much IN the same way as any vulgar crowd
in great hurry, and some without pay
/ ing their small bills. They could hardly
be expected to do that, it is SO difficult
/ for truly great minds to get down to small
things-but particulars hereafter, in few
cases we wot of. The President took
/ Greeley's advice and went to West Virgil
MIA. Sir Edward Thornton left for Europe,
/ with his benignant, honest face, which
maketh him friends at first sight. royal
man is Sir Edward, and a fine house his
government is erecting at the P-strcet cir
/ Gle, opposite Senator SteWart's-the gran
dest house in the city-and long may
/ Thornton live in it and enjoy it. Fish is
away to the Hudson's lonely banks Dclano
/ to Mount Vernon, Ohio; Robson to Rye
Beach; Douglass to Pennsylvania. Rich
ardson and Crcswcll have gone to Coventry,
where vacations are deal longer than
they are at Long Branch, but not usually
quite SO much coveted. Mr.. and Mrs.
! Williams are not travelling SO much as they
We're, and will remain, as their landaulct
won't run in the absence OF an appropria
ton. Mr. Bristow being new to the
/ Treasury, must stay and learn the ropes.
Cath and other correspondents tell III
advance what he Is going to find, and are
ready to furnish him with "a full supply of
wisdom in case his own gives out, which.
from the numerous hints they volunteer
to him, there would seem to be on their
part some apprehension.
The city government. Board of Public
Works. and all their belongings, are also
of-Cut of, like the dogs tail, close be
hind the ears; and with their taking off.
the Jolly contractor finds his occupation
gone, and gone forever. SO he's of. We
/ have no MAYOR no alderman, no governor.
and no dignitarieS but the iallcr, chief of
police, and the justices of the courts. all
very we'll in their way, perhaps, but great
let down from what we have been enjoying
for some months, with President, Congress,
the foreign Legations, and host of invcs-
tigating committees To take care of our
interests and keep up the tone of society.
We shan't have much high life for some
time. but the taxes are to he high enough
in all conscience To make up for all losses
Of other high things. Three per cent. to
hc levied and paid in September, besides
arrears and Improvement lcvics which will
;
climate hot in September. but the members
OF Congress who have voted this tax will
find it full warm enough for ordinary CON
situations next December Taxes six per
cent. and one fourth OF the clerks voted
out of office, and who won't have money
enough to pay their rents on leaving.
+ When Cakes Amcs gave his testimony
in regard 10 the subscribers 10 Credit
NJ l. 1 u
"a il off, and how much went off then
and since, Alas many fine regulations.
rs we'll a. trades Our District govern
mcnt got Oft, but there was no salute. and
the Boss was not seronadcd. Not a drum
was heard, nor funeral note" Some of
the members Of the Assembly tried at the
last moment IN steal tho furniture of the
legislative hall, showing that they were
rulers with the ruling passion, said by
: Pope to be strong in DEATH and so prov
ed in their expiring struggles. What " as
not stolen was attached by the dealer who
furnished il. rs il had never been paid for
and yet some men. like our good brother
/ Harlan, think the government was no fail
ure.
TO. morrow. and Ia morrow. and to- morrow
Crccps IN this petty pace from day ~ day,
" . tnT last SSilAbtF oil FECul tfi time,
And all our yesterdays have lighted frols
/ The way to dusty death Out out, brief candle :"
! TERRIBLE DAY.
! The 3Oth of June will be long remember
ed as u day of appalling blaCkncss in the
. Departments AT Washington, for no such
scenes were ever Witnessed there before
. Congress having reduced the appropria
tions, some five or six hundred employees
had To be dismissed and it not being
/ known upon whom the axe would fall all
were apprchcnsive and troubled except
those whose political support was Of the
strongest, or whose special talent made
/ their services indisl cnsahle. Heretofore
when large numbers have been retired, it
has been on change of Administration,
and the victims have had six months warn
/ ing of their dangcr-time to arrange for
other employment, and To brace their minds
To meet the calamity. But now the bill
had but just passed, and only a few days
elapsed for consideration, so all were I'M
prepared and uniortitcd. The calamity
was nearly as sudden rs the bursting of the
Mill River reservoir, and in an instant the
means of support Of more 'han three hun
/ bred families were washed away by the
ink that flowed from the pens of half
dozen Secretaries of Departments. The
victims are mostly poor, because it is usual
! ~ the poor who have no friends and in
! tlucnce, and because nothing but poverty
could ever have induced most of these
people to accept positions in these mlser-
able Departments. Many ladies tainted,
and hundreds were in tears. The halls
were thronged with the unfortunate wiring
ing their hands, and with friends who
were questioning and Condoling. There
is no other employment for these people
here, and after paying their debts they
will have no money to pay their fare else
where, so that the case, except no lives
were lost, is much like second Mill River
disaster, and curses will follow the en-
ginccrs whose heartlessness caused the
break. A much less sweeping reduction,
have vacancies caused by death and re-
signation filled, would have answered
every purpose but buncombe.
Mr.. Hale, after chewing the cud of re
Election few days. decided that the Post
Office was not healthy situation, and
declined, preterring rest and recreation to
Cabinet honOrs and labors.
Mr.. Saville re.ires from the chief clerk
ship of the Treasury, and is succeeded by
Mr.. w. o. Avery, of the Internal Revenue
Office.
Mr.. Conant, of the Warrant Division,
succeeds Assistant Secretary Sawyer
Conant is very popular, ana unless his pro-
motion turns his head and impes him to