Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-12-16

ITS PROVISION SOCIETY GOSSIP, &c.
I'peclai Correspondence Of the Commercially
WAsHIsGroN, Dec. Is.
The excitement consequent upon the assem-
bling Of Congress- has been completely oversha-
dowed by the arrival III our city Of live King
his most serene highness, King Kalakaua, Of the
Sandwich Island, and who, with his suite, now
occupies quarters at one of our leading hotels.
Unfortunately for his majesty he appears to
be liable to the same ills that other and more
Democratic mortals arc heir to, and has been
confined to his apartments ever since he first
presented himself to the eager gaze of adj
miring thfongs along our streets On Saturday
last.
The ndspostion ia result Of the radical
change from the genial climate OF his sunny
isles TO the more vigorous and variable one of
the Pacific Coast. The cold he contracted at
San Francisco, upon landing, was considerably in
creased by addltoned exposure whilst attending
review at Omaha.
The king would have been received by the
President on Monday had the health of the for
NOR permitted Under the circumstances, the
RECEPTION HAS BEEN POSTPONED.
He has consented to sit for his photograph
which il to be issued by the managers OF the
Centennial Tea Party which takes place in the
rotunda Of the Capitol, on Wednesday evening
next AS regards entertainments, public and
social, no programme has as yet been laid out,
AZ everything depends upon the health of his
most serene highness. He is over six feet in
specimen physically. He is also said to speak
English tuently aud to be in every way. well f5-
ted for the position he occupies.
The principal object of his visit is to assist in
negotiating Il reciprocity treaty. grand card
reception will be given AZ the White House one
evening to which members of the Cabinet, the
Chief Justices aud Associate Justices Of the Bu-
preme Court, foreign Ministers, officers OF the
Army and Navy, members of Congress, DC, will
be invited. state dinner will also be given
in the state dnning room at the White House.
The lady managers of the Centennial Tea
Party are energeticaly at work endeavoring to
accomplish complete success in their under
taking. AS before stated it will be held in the
rotunda of the Capitol, on Wednesday evening
next. Admission tickets have been distributed for
sale at 81 each. Complete sets of tea cups OF
the period of Martha Washington havo been
manufactured to order, and the tea will be sold
at 81, cup. the purchaser to retain the cup as
souvenir.
TUE OPENING WEEK oP CONGRESS
has been as uninteresting as usual, compare
lively nothing having been done excepting the
presentation by the Committee Of Appropriation
Of several of the appropriation bills. Inyestiga-
tIons bid fair to again occupy large portion
of the House at least to the exclusion OF matters
of far more serious import The recent defeat
of the Republicans does not seem to have in-
sp;red the members to be up and doing, as it
was hoped they would do that which is
necessary to restore the confidence in them
which was shown by the election TO have been
lost by the people.
The proposed new bill for the government of
the District is subject Of much discussion In
| general it seems to meet with approval The
most Questionable feature is that which permits
the election OF three of the school board in or
der to save +" the principal, as they say here.
Said election woul. be au expense of $4,000
| or $50 00J with no nocorrespondIng benefit hence
the objections. II all the other officers are to
| be appointed there appears to be no good reason
why the whole six of tho school trustees should
not be appointed also, instead of three of them
elected at cost of S25, 600. each to the taxpay-
| ers of the District
General Chapman, the delegate for the Dis
trict, proposea several amendnents the main
one bcing
THE REDUCTION OF THE TAXES
from per cent. upon all real and personal pro-
perty appraised at q value such as would be
made 'ln payment of just debt due from 9
solvent debtor" to one per cent, which he holda
will bo sufficient, II the government appropriates
an equal amount to meet all expenses of the
| District. The bill provides that department
shall be created, to be called the Department o
the District OF Columbia. 1t is to have boare
of three egents to be appointed by the Pres
dent and confirmed BY the Senate. Their sal
AIRY il to be 4,500, each, per annum. An arm.
engineer is to be detailed by the President fo
three years to take charge of the public works
and the Board OF District public buildings will b
headed by the Uulted States Supernten
dent of public buildings. There will b.
superntendents of health, police, excise
atreet cleaning, public buildings, and hr'
department. and board Of educatlopsto conss
of six members three appointed by the Presi
dent and three elected by the people Of the Dis
trlct-to 'save the principle 1t strikes you
correspondent it would be more advisable to en-
, deavor to save the people, after the burdens the
have had to bear the past three years, in grea
part owingfo the Aforesaid and much harpe
!, about 'princple" of suffrage IL has been fair
ly tried here aud failed utterly and completely
Let it rest in peace. We want none yet
John Chamberlain, the prominent New .Yor
gambler, has concluded his arrangements 10
OPENING A CLUB HOUSE
bypurchasing the Chas Knap mansion, corner G
I BIT. and Connecticut avenue, recently occupie
by the British Legation. John Morrisey will nc
open his until next winter, when he will do 4
ON Capitol Hill
In the social world of upper tendon thing
have not yet properly gotten under way, al
probably will not until after the holidays. Gard
have been issued by Attorney General and Mri
5 Williams for their first State dinner to the Pros
ident and Cabinet this evening. The marriag
4 of Miss Blair and Major Geo. Nj. Wheeler. {
the U. s. Engineer Corps, takes place on We'
4 nesday next. She will have eight bridesmaid
. There will be no groomsmen, but best ma
l. and uahers.
a The Fiqaro, o new society journal made il
first Appearance on Saturday last. Its salutatoi
i. is exceedingly brief, simply stating they wi
:, make no rash promises but will use the utmo
~ exertons to make it acceptable, believing tn
: there IL ample room for that class of a journ
:, in this city, Experience has taught otherwi
- heretofore, and it is doubtful whether it will
:, a success. The "Evenng Mail, " the new Dem
; cratic Organ, after few weeks lingering, hi
n followed in the footsteps Of its predecesso
~ and ia un mora RRNNhr.