Richland beacon., 1876-05-20
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., }
May s, 1876. |,
CLAPP, TIE PUBLIC PRINTER,

CLAPP, THE PUBLIC PRINTER.
The Clapps, father and son, have
been running the Public Printing
Establishment here for some years,
and have made a good thing Of il.
They have emerged from poverty and
OLscurily iu,o afiiuence aud now, as
Mrs. General Glifnry, in the play OF
The Mighty Dollar" would say,
ttev move among the tong of
Washington. The marriage of a
daus shter, which was celebrated about
six or eight months ago, was tie
occasion of moe costly pomp and
vulgar display than are usual on such
occasions, even among rich parrenus.
The presents " were of extravagant
value, and the dressing was simply
stunning" 1t beggarS all de>crip-
ton. An investigation iuio the man
agement Of the concern reveals tie
source of the wealth of the Clapps
Clapp, Sr., was first before the Com
miltee, aud Iquibbled and quib5led
until an inspection of his book, was
had, which revealed all that was
necessary to prove the Printing
Department tbe most expensive, worst
managed affair yet discovered. Ii,
remained for Clapp. Jr., {" Harry"
they call him) to put :he clincher on
the whole matter. When confronted
with the enormous defct, Harry !"
very gracefully acknowledged the
"soft Impeachment" and said he
didu't know what they, lie and the
old man. could do. except make up
the deficiency out Of their private
pockets. 1t was very kind in Harry"
TO propose so easy solution of the
difficulty, and his readiness to draw
his check may somewhat enl;ghtcn
The public as to the true amount
which las been extracted" (Stolea
is somewhat harsh,) and which the
Committee has not yet discovered.
DIsGUsTED LOBBYIST.
That the present Democratic House
of Representatives is less suscepra-
ble to the subtle influence Of the lob.
byists than its predecessor is evidenced
by the fact that the number Of this
class is much smaller than it has been
for ears. When the session opened,
they were here in full force but the
majority Of them have been frightened
of by the scandalous developments Of
the numerous investigations begun
and continued under the auspices Of
the Democratic House. Those who
remain, hoping to pick up a few
crumbs before Congress adjourns,
lack the sleek, complacent aud self.
satisfied air of the professional lobby
isf, and seem quite despOndeut over
the prospect. 4 disreputable news
paper man, notorious for bis cOnnec-
tion with the Credit Mobilier and
Pacific mail scandals, and various
other corrupt schemes before former
Congresses, and who has " featbered
his nest" from them, said, tue other
day, in my hearing:
Damn such Congress There's
no money in il. I've tried, all winter,
10 get into some little job where
could make strike but it's no use.
The men who have jobs are afraid
to push them, for fear Of an exposure
by q House Investigating Committee.
Give me Republican Congress, like
the FIVE or six proceeding ones. Damn
this parsimoniOus Democratic House!
1 cant take a trick"
Again this morning a we'll known
Washington gambler said TO me:
Z" never before saw the time when
so many members Of Congress refused
to eat my dinners, drink nv. wine,
smoke my cigars, and play faro; but
the id Democratic galoots Of the
present House won't come near my
place"
The reader will judge whether
these statements are derogatory to
the moral character of the Democrats
members Of the present Congress. or
otherwise.
ECONOMY OF DEMOCRATIC RULE.
The speeches at the Annual niDuer