The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-20
WASHINGTON. FEB. 16, 1874.


Suppose gentleman should, upon find
ing the expenses of his household too great
for his income, cut down the amount OF
salt to be used in cooking five per cent,
while at the same time he doubled the
number of pine apples for daily use; would
his plan be a success as far as reduction OF
expenses is concerned?
OF course, people afflicted with a ten
dency to logic might answer no; but Con-
gress, not suffering that way, says that 1t
would be an excellent plan, and should be
tried in Madam Columbia's household
forthwith. The pine apples Salaries of
President Il Co. have been doubled, and
Mr.. Woodford, of New York, goes for the
salt, by introducing a bill which
calls for general force-reduction
of ten per cent in all departments
and bureaus at Washington, increases the
number Of Office hours to eight, and final
ly recommends an increase of fire per.
cent, on the salaries heretofore paid.
Naturally / was very anxious to see the
financial phenomenon who had framed, or
at least fathered the bill and made for
the House gallery on Thursday last fully
resolved to have a good look at him and
all the rest of his fellow fnanciers. | was
disappointed instead of the solemn, lean
Cassius, of whom such bill might have
been expected, | saw fair, plump, benev-
client looking son of economy; who was
here, there, and everywhere; who chatted,
joked, read funny paragraphs to his chums,
and looked altogether as if his arduous du-
ties from twelve NJ to four P. NJ, with an
evening session thrown in now and then
for variety, and Saturdays off, as a rule,
left him a small fraction Of cheerfulness
after all, No wonder he thought that Of
fee hours should be increased | rather
think that / could stand ten hours of that
sort Of mental exertion daily myself, and
then be adle to write you letter at night.
i don't want to mention names; but the
greatest effort Of one of the gentlemen,
during that session, consisted in mastering
an immense apple, which so exhausted bis
his six feet of congressional humanity that
he was obliged to rest on one of the lounges
after that, and devote himself to careful
recuperation for an hour or two.
looked for Alex Stephens, but he had
unfortunately, not been able to be on the
floor for some time, and Mr. Maynard, O.
Tenn, vigorous and keen debater, cccu
pied his seat As it happened, the bust
ness transacted related almost entirely tt
bills concerning public lands; and Mr.
Kasson, of Iowa. another powerful debater
Mr.. Hoar, ''Dewdrop' Cox, B. Butler
Gen. Garfield, and several more of tn
workers participated in the discussion,
was anxious to hear your Mr.. Hawle
speak; but beyond the asking of an ex
PLANTATION, and voting, he took no activ
part. He is considered as quite an abb
man, though; and his smooth, intellectual
face and gentlemanly bearing reflect n
discredit on Rock Island by any means.
One nice old gentleman, Mr., Cessna, Q
Pa, gained my absolute and undying ad
miration, though, above all others. lie
dear man, let them blow, lounge. eat az
pies, or call ''Mr Speakah y as much a
they liked; he had packs upon packs {
seeds on his desk. and quietly went on aC
dressing them to his farmer constituents
home. All thought l, there is a tru
granger for you'll He at least does h
share toward sowing good seed; if it doe
not spring up and bear good fruit, VIII,
that's not his fault. l didn't begrudg
him his back pay, l know.
Gov. Pinchback saddle tiuted was {
the floor also, trying to get used to ii
hubbub, / suppose, in case he should col
test his seat successfully. The other gel
tlemen of color seemed perfectly famili
with the routine, having apparently a
quired the art of mastery inactivity
we'll as any of their white brethren,
And that reminds me that in my estlnl
ton the only martyr in that House is
clerk, The speaker has always his gay
to fall back upon, but that poor clerk
well, take two hundred and City healt
boys of, say from twelve to fifteen We;
old, put them in hall for an hour wi
nothing special to do, then try Ito rep,
the htany to them, and you'll have
idea Of what that clerk has to live throu
everyday of his congressional life, WI
Obliged to do the necessary reading. A
one vita. less than double-soled, for
: ee power lungs couldn't possibly sta
2 70 wander he and his try to