National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-06-23
CAPITOL AND DEPARTMENT.
SCENES LAST NIGHT IN AND ABOUT
THE CAPITOL.

SCENES LAST NIGHT IN AND ABoU
THE CAPITOL.
THE CROWDS OF VISITORS AND THEI
PURPosE-ANXIETY OF THE LoBBY-AT
| PREPARATIONS FOR THE DISTRICT-SEN
AToR CARPENTER AND REPORTERS
STATIONERY = INDIAN CONTRACTS II
VESTlGATION.
The Capitol presented brilliant aspect lsl
evening, and was fairly stormed by thos
anxious to witness the closing hours Of SCI
sion. Both houses were in session, and ev
denced q determined spirit to keep continr
ously at work until the completion of th
necessary business would warrant the fins
adjournment As q consequence, upon thi
resolve large assemblage of people, brough
together from diverse reasons, crowded tn
halls and galleries, ana thereby rendered loco
motion difficult SIS well as tedious. Early 1
the evening there could have been seen cor
tinual stream Of people pouring In at the gate
and vending their way toward either tn
Senate or House. And within the walls Of tn
building there was presented to view the sam
busting activity. The galleries were erowdet
with both ladies and gentlemen, until 1t wa
impossible for any new corners to gain admit
1 d
surging back and forth, seemingly moved b,
impulse, instead of guided by judgment. Tn
portion of those who blockaded the halls wer
men interested in pending legislation, and VIII,
were led away under the excitement of Thu
hour. But business for them was not brisk, a
an evident disinclination prevailed in boil
Houses to set in motion any arrangeme
which would result in an avalanche o
schemes. -.i
| In tba Sapota around ubosa doors Tho,
crowded like vultures seizing their prey, legit
mate business had the floor, and by continued
occupancy ruled out bills which return i'm
mense profit to individuals with o correspond
ing injury to the public treasury. Every dool
was besieged, and as q Senator would make
his appearance, he would be instantly captured
and hurried off to some quiet nook where the
good qualities of measure could be instilled
into him. And even into the reception
room, Exclusively for ladies" the crowd in
vaded, and here again was piled those qualities
which are peculiar to the professed lobbyist
But 1t was all without avail, as q common
union had been made against all plumber
Until the past day or two the Capitol has been
singularly free of all semblance of the third
house, but yesterday they came DOWN. count
less numbers, willing to work for the smallest
pittance to make up the loss sustained through
the general depression of business in the early
days of the session. Both in the Senate and
the House there was full attendance of men,
bers, and earnest attention was awarded the
business of the hour. Naturally, the monot-
ony Of usual session was destroyed by the
apparent excitement attendant upon the rush
of business to close the labors of the year.
Various important measures were continually
in conflict, urged for precedence and the neces-
sity of immediate action, but still the harmony
was not disturbed.
In the lower body, where demonstratiye exer-
cises are more permissible, at least tolerated,
an occasional outburst of temper moderated
with humor would occur, but would disappear
as quickly as 1t originated. In the committee
rooms the conference committees were In
session anxiously laboring to compromise
the conflicting views OF the two houses:
The sundry civil bill occupied the attention Of
General Garfield and his associates in the Sen
ate side of the building. There negligently
seated around table could be seen the states
men of the period putting the appropriations
through the sweating process they were expert
encing, with coats laid aside, and cigars, pro-
fusely scattered around the Representatives in
shirt-sleeyes, were enjoyed, bringing the expen-
ditures of Government down to the lowest pos
sible figure consistent with safety. Every
trivial difference was settled In this way.
While yacantly listening to repetitions of de-
bate in the Senate a momentary interest was
created by tilt between several Senators over
the Southern claims commission bill. They
INDUCED in those sharp asperities which fall
pleasantly on the ear of the wearied auditor;
but the fire was early extinguished without
leaving even the dying embers, which might
be nursed into second confagration. And in
the House, while personalities were avoided,
still the want of order and the running contest
exhibited enlivened the proceedings and Eade
endurable the stay of the spectator. In the
lobby to the rear of the Speakers chair a
numerous crowd assembled and inteptly
the progress of affairs. With them
the main motive was to reach the Speakers
table, where, concealed among Q hundred
great measures, could be found the cunning(y-
framed bills which proved so tempting bait
TO those anxiously awaiting the moment when
they would have the floor. Severa1 times the
liable was reached, and as frequently, after the
disposal of o few measures, more important
BUSINESS intervened TO prevent further progress.
Among the anxious spectators was DR.. Mary
Walker, who had witnessed the failure Of the
bill giving her 81, 900 for services rendered in
the war.
As the hour of midnight approached the
crowd dwindled away, and the galleries began
10 present an abandoned appearance. During
the evening President Grant was in attendance
for the purpose Of signing the bills passed and
exchanging views with Senators in reference to
pending legislation.
1t now seems certain that sufficient progress
will have been made to warrant the final ad-
iournment to-day. At any rate both Houses
are working industriously with this view, and
will only fail from foreign causes and not from
legitimate labor TO effect the desired end.
DISTRICT APPROPRIATIONS.
The following appropriations for the District
Of Columbia, to be expended by the commits
sioners of said District, have been made by
Congress Three hundred thousand dollars to
the payment of interest on the public debt due
July /, 1874; second, to the payment of officers,
employees and laborers Of the District, whether
Of the District proper or of the Board of Public
Works, or in payment of any Indebtedness for
which the securities of the District are pledged,
and the remainder to the current expenses of
said District-all the above sums, except so
much thereof as may be paid for interest as
to be considered and adjusted here
after as part of the proper proportional sum
to be paid by the United States toward the
expenses of the government Of the District Of
Columbia. r.r.-
For sanitary purposes, $50, 220.
For the improvement of the Capitol grounds,
100000.
For extending and enlarging the old City
Hall, $50, 900.
For improvements to the Patent Office
building, 100000.
To pay the expenses and Indebtedness of the
Reform school for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1875, $4,000.
For erecting and fitting up buildings for the
Deaf and Dumb Institution, $4,000
For the Women's Christian Association of
the District of Columbia, 900.
For the Little Sisters Of the Poor of Wash
ington, SIS, 900.
For building steamer for the coast survey
for use on the Gulf coast, SIC, 900.
For the National Association for the Relief
Of Colored Women and Children, $4,000.
For the improvement of Franklin square,
5000.
For widening embankment along the line of
the Washington squeduct, IS, eco.
For the increase of the appropriation for the
War and Navy Department building, 1920, 900.
For the retention of the Civil Service Com
mission, s15, 900.
For the expenses of the Joint Select Commit
tee on the District of Columbia, $4,000.
For the construction of q building for the
Library of Congress, 100000.
b For the continuation of work on the new
jail, 100000.
For the support of the photographic office,
ESQ, 900.
Z For the securing Of plan for the enlarge
q - 7 ~ N0 mn