The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-04-01
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
W4snINGlnS, ID. G., March -. 1876

WtsnINGlnN, ID. G., March -. 1876
DEAR WnIG:-Conseqnent upon The
prospect of reduction in force and sala
res at the capital, times are very mucl
unjointed here, and this Lenter season i.
one OF peculiar penances; every one feel.
gloomy, and all are filed with forebodings
in fact we are all OH the ragged edge. :
Centennial coughs, catarrhs and investiga
tions prevail, and we are signing for the
song OF the huckster man. awberrie.
were in market to day, but berry high
The ground hogs six weeks are up and the
season for cussing organ grinders and veg,
etable vendors approaches. New costumes
and pretty bonnets are on exhibition in the
shop windows. Arabella cannot look like
fright; new bonnets are necessary to pro
mote domestic happiness; therefore, invest
ments must be made, even if you have to
60 the bottom dollar.
Notwithstanding all this dreary outlook,
some take comfort from the Investigations
now going on before Congress, and those
threatened, as a good thing for Washing
ton, II not for the country at large. II
they go on, from half to a million of dol
lars will be thus disbursed among our needy
nesses must be fed, and corn Juice is neces-
sary to bring them to the swearing point.
l heard the other day of one patriotic
Texan who had been brought here to tell
"what he knows" and some things that
he imagined, perhaps, who received eight
hundred dollars in one pile, more money
than he has had at one time since our ''late
unpleasantness the sum total of his per
diem and mileage; and in three days from
the receipt of the amount, a "crooked -
Investment compelled him to call upon his
member y for pass to Texas. The Sec
ond class "hash- houses " are filled with
this hoard of patriots intent on exposing
fraud and corruption. They are mainly OF
the Democratic persuasion, who patroniZc
the "gin mills" to an alarming extent,
and all $50 in " for the cold flag and an
appropriation of four dollars per day.
1t is soothing to know that these gentle
men are having SO pleasant time, for
which they are indebted to their Demo-
cratic brethren in Congress. The people
are alone concerned in the cost of the amuse-
ment. So far, the results lave not i,isti-
fled either the expectations of the nvesti-
gators, or the expenditure of the money
for while it is true that one nominal Renub-
lican has been brouy ut to shame. the shown
records of several others of the Defnor::i;i ~
school have proven them ST deep in ve,al
ity that the oifense of Belknap sinks into
insignitcance.
AT THE CAPITOL.
The ex-Confederate House of Represent
atives being at present the center of attrac-
ton, | found myself to-day gravitating
toward that receptacle of concentrated wis
dom. In passing through the old Hall of
Representatives | paused for an examina-
ton of the marble curiosities Or statues
deposited therein. | walked around them
several times and tried to think of some
thing to say in reference thereto, but moth
ing presented itself except the line, "and
in those days there were giants.''
Having done my best in the art line,
passed on to the gallery of my own, my
beloved Congress. Looking down upon
the floor below, was forcibly reminded of
lot of small potatoes in a pot of boiling
water, so great was the commoton.-
"l lell's Kitchen" was no where. You
folks at distance wonder why they don't
do more. If you will only come down and
spend a few days in the gallery, the WON
der will be how they do any thing at all.
One member from Virginia astounded
the members, and the occupants of the gal
lery (your correspondent included, by
actually asserting that he came there "for
legislation, and not "to waste time in
idle debate" This was Good(e) for old
Virginia"
In looking around, my eyes mutually fell
upon the most prominent member and &C
knowledged leader, James G. Blaine, the
man in the House. Leaning
forward on his desk, his head on his hands,
his keen sharp eyes watching every mo
ton, his ready ears gathering in every
word, he is ever on the alert TO spring IA
trap for the unwary.
The next to attract my attention was
Cox, the thriving congressional bantum;
he is sharp and shrewd also, and can make
his wit 60 long way if he don't lose his
head and temper, but very little provoca-
ton will make him lose both. His great
forte is the shafts of ridicule he can hurl
at an offending head.
| looked upon the Speaker of the House
with pity and wonder. What an immense
amount of "true inwardness - and Chris
tian spirit man must have to be able to
bear with forttude fifty excited members
shouting at once Mr.. Speaker" in tones
varying from the pathetic and entreating
to the angry and commanding.
To catch the eye aud ear of the Speaker
is one Of the most difficult duties {. Con-
gresham has to perform. 1t is quite a
sight to see new and timid member try
ing to perform that gymnastic feat. He
feels that he is "a regularly elected. duly
qualified legislator of the United States,
and must have something to say, and as he
sees a dozen others doing it, he gets up
and cries out s. Mr.. Speaker in voice
that would be sick in tragedy, and is re-
duced to absolute nothingness in the sur
hub bub. He repeats his infant
wall several times, holding up his hand
like little school boy when he wants to
g go out" and finally sinks down sadly in
his seat, as unsuccessful as though he had
been whistling psalms to dead mule
Sympathetically yours, J. Ii. z.