The Portland daily press., 1874-02-24
Washington News and GOssip.
THE BuTLER-s1MMoNs FIGHT.


says that las vet there are no assurances that
opposition of Butler by settling this matter. as
he might do IN five minutes. Should he say to
the President that the nomination is offensive
to a large portion of his supporters in Massa-
chusetts, that it is wedge to split the Repub-
lican party, and that as a Republican Senator
of Massachusetts, for the sake of harmony he
eounsels its withdrawal nobody can doubt but
that the nomination would be withdrawn at
once. Senator Boutwell, is the only person who
can approach the President in this way The
nomination, therefore, is absolutely in his
hands. If he wills an Administration Son.
ate will promptly confirm the nomination. II is
now understood that the case is beyond the
reach otthe delegation and is in the hands ofMr
Boutwell,, who has but recently received his
trust from the Republican party of Massacbns-
etts, and to whom good Republicans now look
to save the party from a threatened rupture.
MOI TO those delegates who have stood up man
Ieiiy agaihsG tne outrage upon the sentiments
OF the Republicans of Massachusetts, but to
Senator Boutwell, all eyes now turn If the
Boston delegation on ITS way fails to iLduce a
change, the Republicans of Massachusetts will
have but one conrse to pursue" os
SPECIAL AGENT JAYNE's STATEMENT.
The testimony of Special Treasury Agent b.
g, Jayne has made marked impression upon
the Committee on Ways and Means The
members OF the Committee, almost without ex-
ception, have been greatly prejudiced against
Jayne. He appeared before them, however.
and presented a very careful detailed record of
every case of SEIZURE or information with which
he has been connected, and members of the
Committee say that unless the evidence which
MIR. Jayne has given can be disproved. thew
must believe that very considerable number
OF the importing houses of New York pursue a
Sy ~, course OF frauds upon the revenue
This testimony refers to dates, names of officials
bribed, amounts paid, circumstances and the
book and page where the entries of these trans
actions have been made. The Committee has
been so impressed with this testimony that
they decided to give Mr.. Jayne an additional
hearing next week, in the presence of a COM
mittee of the delegation from the Boston and
New York Chambers of Commerce, when op-
portunity will be furnished these merchants if
possible to contradict the statements Of Mr..
Jayne.
BUTLER's PENSION BILL.
The special of, the Boston Herald says that
the proposition to abolish the pension agencies
and make the postmasters at the county seats
the agents for distributing the pensions, which
Mr.. Butler has brought forward, has been ex-
amined by members of the committee and is
pronounced by them an audacous attempt to
increase the Government machinery and the
expens of distributing the pensions. 1t is GER
tam That the expense of paying the pensions
Dy this method would be multiplied several
times; while the whole business of payment
would be put back three months if not longer,
and the effect would be to throw large bust
ness into the handso of the claim agents in this
city. The committee will probably report in
favor of retaining the pension agencies, but de-
eide, that in no case shall the amount received
by one officer exceed $4,000, which amount be-
ing the ray OF members of Congress, they think
ought to suffice for pension agents.
THE BANKRUPT BILL.
The House Committee on Judiciary have not
yet formally considered the amendments to the
bankrupt law passed by the Senate. 1t is un-
derstood. however, that this committee have
so far modified their views that they will not
now insist upon the unconditional repeal Of the
law. 1t seems probabls that the Senate
amendment will be adopted without any i'm
portant modification
THE KING OF THE LOBBY.
The liking of the lobby is sometimes known
as Sam Ward. The name brings up to any
habitue of Washington forid face, something
like the pictures of Bismarck, with queer
twinkle to the eye, a portly frame, a profusion
of jewelry and characteristic wave of the
hand which accompanies almost every remark.
This portrait islframed in trufles and terrapin,
and painted on dainty bill of fare, not in water
colors, but in the best brandy and champagne.
He is descended from an I'D and wealthy fami
ly in New York Having graduated at Oxford,
he travelled on the continent, speaking fluent.
ly the language of whatever country hs chose
to visit. At home again, intimate with the
choicest spirits in the worlds of literature and
society, he married the daughter of VIM. B.
Astor, and started in life as banker. Nine
months suficed the young firm to RIM through
100000 and retire from business, though in
this case it could hardly be called
private life. There are few cities in either con-
tinent that have not Known him since that
out Of society, where almost afzGimiliar
For second wife he chose woman rev
Orleans, whose reputation was sufficient to
shut in his face the doors of the Astor mansion.
but, timely death having rid him of her also, he
capitol. In Gen.Schenck's time he was a regu-
lar attachee of the Ways and Means Commit
tee, but its present chairman seems to have lit
tie liking for him. He cannot be wholly
shaken off. however, by any one whom he
chooses to cultivate. His manners are too per-
feet, his methods too consummate, his atten-
tions too delicate. A regular devotee to the
card-table and the billiard room, there are few
men more certain at either game, and yet it is
not at all unlikely his congressional opponent
will win from him at one sitting thousands of
dollars. Can you read my riddle? If money
gets short, and the regular allowance his
daughter pays him has vanished away-a not
uncommon occurrence where man lives like a
prince on no visible lncome-this gay old Lo-
thario runs over to New York and threatens his
daughter with his presence: invariably he ia
bribed to stay away. You see few men who
enter life to find so many channels of pleasure
and profit tributary to their existence, or who
are so capable of distinishing themselves in any
direction. What evil genius can have haunted
name of being the best dinner giver of the
United States?- Washington Letter.