Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-11-10
Washington Correspondence.
CURRENT CAPITAL 0ossIr-uENERAL tnAucock
AND TItE wnisKEY RfNG-TrE rnLAsN'N ron
Bnns AND CHARLEY FlsuER-soMEfHiNNh houf
WASHINGTON HOrEfs-CitANuEs IN THE CAil-
A.

NANlINilONf ~ 'sf NNN'lhfNi ~ '''"f
Mcssrs Editors considerable excitement has
been occasioned here during the past two days by
the publication Of dispatch from st. Louis, in the
Cincinnati Enquirer, stating That General o. f.
Babcock, the well known private secretary TO the
President, and Mr. Oryille Grant, brother OF the
President had been indicted by the grand jury OF
St Louis for conspirng with the distillers OF that
city 10 dofnud the government ont Of the taxes on
crooked whiskey." So bold aud apparently
well founded thrust ut the administration could
not bu, cause sensation, and become at once
source Of great annoyance to the President and
his friends General Dabcock who Is In the city,
was at once applied TO by those who wished to
solve the question Of the validity oithe report and
he was found to be as much In the dark rs any
one lie had heard Of nothing which would inu-
matoany such proceedings against him. and was IN
clncd to look upon the story as mere fabrication
Of his enemies This is the general belief at this
writing, In the city, and the for repudiatng
such statement are worth attention In the
first place then, the news is first printed in an OPP
position paper which is considered to be some
what unreliable in matters Of this kind; and,
secondly, It is known that the whiskey ring, from
the start, have been threatening vengeance upon
the administration If they were not let alone
while, despite these threats, war has been waged
against them, to the fun extent Of the law, by Sec
rotary Bristow, who has had the full and hearty
support Of President Grant The real truth OF the
matter will no doubt be ascertained ere this goes
to print and in the meantime the enemies Of the
President are making good handle OF the story
which may be Of use to them should it prove TO be
true General Babcock as may well be supposed
by those who know him, Is not at all disturbed by
the report but considers 1t an idle rumor. His
friends here scout ~ the idea, and say that he is
too "woll fixed in regard TO this world goods
has too good judgment and caution, and, besides,
his character for unimpeachable truth is too well
established for any such procedure on his part
The criminal court Of this city has been more
than usually busy the past week in trying an i'm
portant and interesting case which has been sud
denly brought before them. This is on plea for
abatement in the trial Of the treasury robbers, ON
the ground that the grand jury by whom they
were indicted was illegally drawn, from the fact
that two Of the jury were over age. Arguments
have accordingly been heard pro and con during
the week. and yesterday the decision was given by
Judge Macarthur, that the jury WAS a legally drawn
and legally constituted body # now remains
to be seen what will be the next drawback to the
trial which has been In preliminary progress for so
long time, and no Roadway made In proving the
guilt Of the parties arn.ned. The evidence thus
far elected is sufficient ~ have sent the whole
three TO solitary confinement for several years to
come but so many frivolous, technical points,
brought mp by the prisoners counsel, have had to
be settled, that prompt justice which is demanded,
has failed to be accomplished Poor Charley
Fisher, too still languishes in comfortable quar-
tiers in jail from the fact Of this disputed question
concerning the jury and is as far OF from getting
his just deserts as u he had robbed the treasury
OF the United States, instead Of stealing few
papers belonging 10 the court records. And,
strange 70 say his crime here is looked upon as
the mcaner If not the greater, Of the two Hisod
"pals have given him the cold shoulder since
his Incarceration. as well as his father Judge
Fisher who has not the paternal affection for his
son sufficiently developed to pay his bail bond
lie knows that il he did, Charley would leave the
country and him in the lurch It is expected that
his trial. as well as that Of the alleged treasury
robbers will now be proceeded with as speedily
as possible
Numerous senators and members Of Congress
have arrived Ia the city the past week, aud taken
mp their residences for the winter Senator Nor
rill arrived last week Judge Asa o. Adds has also
arrived from St Adams, where he spent the sum
mer, and is now residing in handsome house on
Connecticut Avenue. His daughter, Mrs Taylor,
who WAS formerly great favorite with many
here, is now residing in Chicago, where her hus-
band and hi father own large amount Of real
estate. The Russian Spanish and English minis
Al. a
is expected to entertain with his usual magnif-
cence Senator Morton il at the Ebbtt House
lie still uses two canes, and as he YEARLY drags
his limbs along gives no idea of his great powers
of mind His face, however, is quite fresh aud
youthful, and he enters into conversation with
much vgor and yiyacity His appearance in the
rotunda Of the Ebbtt is the signal for the gather
ing Of many about him to talk politics and crack
a joke The Ebbitt House, hy the way, Is in
many respects the best hotel in the Capital 1t
has especially, the advantage Of the most spacious
office Of any in which can be gathered a small
army Of men without much jostling It's appoint
ments throughout are Of the most modern style
are are still fresh as II new. The proprietor
Mr. C. G. Willard, is a Vsrmonter formerly Of
Bmttleboro, and is reaping the reward Of trying
10 keep q good hotel This is the special head
quarters for the army and navy, while il is fast
becoming the home Of many Congressman and
notables generally The Willard looks small
and antiquated beside it, although that famous
rendezvous Of politicians keeps well It. reputation
despite the rivalry Of newer and larger houses.
But the offices are really dingy in comparison
TO those Of the Ebbitt, and it has seen We think,
its best days The old National is undergoing
an extensive process Of reconstruction, which
has long been needed, and has now been found
absolutely necessary in order tn cope with its
rivals. The entire front has been knocked out
and worlsmen are now busy in supplying new
one. 1t seems to an Impractical eye, that new
hotel would be the only thing which would now
answer the purpose, but a great improvement is
sure 10 be made in this house-once the best pat
ronized hotel Of the Capital The Arlington is al
ready filling up with the best class Of residents,
and its praises sung by all who test its hosp-
tality The proprietors are gaining for this hotel
as high reputation as they gained for the Della
van, at Albany. Hotel life, however, is becoming
more and more distasteful to Congressman every
year, and private boarding houses are Teapng the
benefits. The grave and dignifed Senator builds,
buys, or secures unto himesf in some way, a
house ofhs own, and settles down into its enjoy
ment. lie has a six years stay to which he may
confidently look-thats what's the matter with
him. The Congressman, as he comes to Washing
ton to make his debut, is inclined TO do the same;
but finally concludes, on the whole, he had better
not, for his two years will soon be over, and
mercy only knows what will happen then. So he
ensconces himself and family in pleasant front
rooms in an an eligible portion Of the city," and
bldes his time. The said front rooms are rapidly
going and they usually bring very good price
about this time Of the year
The changes lately made about the Captol
grounds are being much commented upon by res
idents here and the action Of the committee Sc
yerely criticised That magnificent grove Of an
cient trees-than which none better could be found
anywhere-has been laid low, and its destruction
has left an aching void in the heart Of every Wash
ngtonian, How delightful was that shady grove
to MS who lived here during the summer months
How inevitably did men, women and children
lords and ladies, sweethearts and lovers. turn
their steps after dinner to this retreat. and there
lounge through the hot afternoon in perpetual
shade! And now there remains Of its former
glory but single line Of trees skirting the edge
OF the principal walk up from the Avenue TO the
Capitol. The reason Of this dread chang. no one
here seems to know, Some think it merely
another dodge to secure an appropriation from
Congress. Certainly money enough has been OK.
pended ON these grounds to have them ga thing Of
beauty by this time but loi the appearance
which Will be presented this winter will be worse
thah any OF which the oldest member can re-