Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-02-26
Correspondence.
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. Feb.

made an attack upon the Glouchestcr
Custom-House, which is in General But-
iers district, but no business is done there.
Butler then Informed the House that he
had framed and presented a bill to abolish
II. and this, of course, took Off the point of
Dawes arrow; but to turn the Joke. Dawes
told how Butler managed it. on pretence
that he wished to be away he asked Dawes
TO present the bill, which he did. and the
result was. all the town of Gloucester
came down on him in great wrath. and
Butler looked on and laughed at his per.
plexiiy, with the nest of hornets about his
ears.
Dawes also attacked the pension agents.
aud thereby hangs little story. Two
years ago Butler introduced bill to do
away with them, and Dawes voted against
1t, and it was lost. Subsequently Mr..
Dawes learned that the agent In Boston
made sis,OOO per annum, which /, too
much for one man, and all to go 10 the city
OF Boston. and he went to work to get the
district divided, SO as to have an agency
in the western part OF the State After he
had succeeded in this, and got his fine
pasture marked of aud fenced in he began
10 make preparations TO turn his favorite
steer in there to forage; but 10. before he
was ready, on looking over the fence he
saw one OF Buffers herd quietly browsing
there, aud the bars were up. Butler and
the venerable Alvah Croker had gone TO
work. and while Dawes was preparing the
land, they were making ready to stock it.
and thus was the birthright of the political
Esan OF Mr.. Dawes turned oyer 10 the ia
cob of the tribe OF Benjamin. The subse-
quent proceedings had no further Interes,
tor the Chairman Of Ways and Means. aud
he came to the conclusion that the thing
was a nuisance, and must be got rid OF
The Boston Collcctorship has caused a
movement Of the waters in the Old Bay
State, such a has not been seen Tor many
day, Mr.. Simmons, the appointee. being
one OF General Buffers staunch friends
The Republicans, who do not like IL. pro-
pose TO smash the machine il he shall be
confirmed, bat that is not probable. They
certainly cannot think the administration
Of the Custom House is of more conse-
quence than the life OF their party. and
Simmons has ability enough to manage
the Custom House and the party too-and
that is whats the matter, probably.
Mr. Flanagan on Monday, in the Sem
ate made an amusing speech on finance.
but II was due so much to manner. that
any attempt to repeat il would spoil the
effect. Mr.. ). il an original character.
with a good deal OF sense aud shrewdness
oil The frontier stamp. and has way OF
expressing himself that interests aud anus
es and leaves no one in doubt as to wha, he
Is driving At. He spoke against imitation.
and the main point in his remarks was that
the true way TO get currency is not 10
establish more banks South aud West. but
exchange cotton, beef, aud pork, for green.
backs, As they do in Texas. lie said tina,
there would always be cry tor more mon
ey. and the man or woman has never vet
been found who would own up to having
enough. Inc indications now point to a
consolidation OF interests and opinions. so
That definite issue will be made for and
against Imitation in some form, with chance. ;
in favor OF it, and against any present et.
Tort 10 return 10 specie payments.
Mr. Kelley. of Pennsylvania. made an
effort to get Congress to go over to Pl.ila-
deiphla next September amt hold a mock
session Ia the Hall where the Continenta,
Congress sat, but it did not succeed. Phila-
delphia runs to exhibitions now, and il.
was thought that this would draw, but thu,
Is not good Congress to draw, not hav
ing been able To 20 on drawing the extra
pay provided by the last Congress. Much
sympathy is given to Mr.. Kelley at his de-
feat. but should he change the programme.
and invite them over to the Continental in
Chestnut street instead Of Old Continental
he would stand better chance of accom-
plishing his purpose.
Mrs. Ames, the witty correspondent of
the New York Independent. assails. infer.
entially, the Literary Reunions of Mr..
Horatio King. and exhibits little female
pique toward that other witty writer,
Grace Greenwood, who is often one of the
chief attractions at Mr.. Kings, giving
charming Rotations. poems. &c. ;neverthe
less, MIR. Kings receptions continue to be
crowded with the literary and scientific
people who are staying in Washington.
and the piquant Grace and the graceful
daughter of Mr.. King are not likely TO lose
their popularity at present.
In the discussion on the Thanking privi.
lege on Thursday, rare scene was intro
dused upon the Congressional stage, the
by-play and side scenes Of which are quite
worthy of record. The belligerent Beck,
OF Kentucky, displayed . new virtue. the
existence Of which this irascible ststss.
man was not dreamed of possessing. sweet
temper under very personal assault. Mr..
Becks colleague, Grassland, became in.
furiated against him In consequence of a
disagreement in mathematical results ar
rived at regarding the cost of carrying the
mail; SO much 50 that members gathered
around them. apparently fearing personal
VIOLENCE between the honorable gentlemen
from Kentucky.
Mr.. Beck very soon, mu ch to the sur.
prise OF the Aoer and the galleries. who
were all on the gut sise for sensation, re.
gained his composure. while M. Grassland
stood before him shaking his flst and yo-
ciferating in the most violent r..nn.. ~
Of which brought ont not = sound from
Mr.. Beck, who sat as quietly a. possible
under it while the members stood rospd