The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-08-05
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, ID. C., August LIST, 1877

WASHlNGION CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., August LIST, 1876
DEAR WHIG:-The weather during the
past week has been marvelously delight
full. 1t was dashed throughout with a rare,
rich tinge of autumn, and but for the rainy
spell, beginning Saturday, would have been
an unauthorized seven days of sweet tenn
perature. At least once a year we are sure
of Il week pleasure and festivities, aud
long before that time every one is on the
qui 1iUe for the occasion, filled with iovial
for the advent of the annual
German festival,
TIE SCHUETZENFEsT.
This being the centennial year of the
American people, our German citizens have
determined not to be backward in showing
their appreciation of the glorious national
event, and in conjunction with their yearly
holidays they have extended their prepare
tons for the purpose of celebrating as the
age and country deserve, and this will be
week of rifle shooting, bowling, lounging,
dancing. listening to music and drinking
beer. Yesterday, the first day. opened re-
we'll. The threatening clouds
rolled away before the procession moved,
and the sun made great effort to shine
several times. 1t was delightfully."- cool,
rather too cool for the thinly -draped
GODDESS OF LIBERTY,
who was prominent figure in the process
sion. Perhaps no event (the adjournment
of our present Congress excepted) is so
long looked forward to and so heartily en-
ioyed in Washington as the Schuetzenfest.
1t is a season of unrestaint, when all go in
for their full share of fun, yet never 60
beyond the bounds of decorum. The pro
cession yesterday and the opening of the
fest were very suspicious.
POLITICAL.
The fruits of Democratic legislation are
ripening. For seven months the legiti
mate business of Congress has been i'm
peded 10y the Democratic majority in the
House, and the time has been spent in
fruitless efforts to whitewash Democrats
and convict Republican officials of frauds
that were never committed. Failing in
this, cries of extravaganza were sounded
through the halls of Congress, and re-
echoed by every Democratic press through
out the country. The appropriation bills
were cut down far below the absolute ne
cesslties of the Government, and for no
other purpose than political effect in the
Presidential campaign. To-day the de
partmentS are without a dollar that can
legally be used to carry on the legitimate
business of the Government. In view of
these facts, the following notice was issued
at the close of business yesterday by the
Secretary of the Interior (and will proba-
bly, be issued by the other departments
and copies were delivered to the heads of
the several bureaus:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, !
Office of the Secretary,
WASHINGTON, d. c., July 81, 1876.
Congress having failed to provide for
the expenses of the Interior Department
beyond this day, no obligations will be
assumed on the part of the Secretary or
other officers connected with the service.
who wish to continue in the
service are at liberty to do so at the risk of
future remuneration by the Government
CHAs. T. GRAHAM, acting Secretary.
This is the condition of the Government
departments to-day, and these are some of
the points Of the electioneering schemes of
the Democratic maiorities in Congress.
1t was fit subject for an artist to OBJ
serve the anxious look worn by Govern
ment clerk this morning.
TIE NAVAL COMMITTEE
has at last given to the country, the result
of its investigation; and l defy any impair
tial reader in the world, after examining
the majority report, to come to any other
conclusion than that it was conceived in
the bitterest partisan spirit, and reads more
like an elaborate personal attack of an edi-
torial of the New York Sun than an official
report of the House of Representatives.
The minority report gives the clue to the
whole proceeding, and beside being a COM
plete vindication Of Secretary Robson, it
explodes all the political thunder of the
other side. Another specimen of
DEMOCRATIC REFORM
is afforded in the Platt Good contest. A
majority of the committee, embracing two
Democrats, decide Plat elected; the parti-
san House rejects the report, because it
would unseat one of it's own clique.
| was Informed once that congressman
were the dearest and whitewash the cheap
est things in Washington. The informa
ton was given at random; but every day
lmpresses me more and more as to its truth
If any one doubts the expense of Congress.
men, let them drop into the present ex-
Confederate House and be convinced as to
whether they earn their $1,000 per annum
If they doubt the cheapness of whitewash,
let them look at the lavish manner in which
it is used when Democrat is under inves-
tigation, and they will be forcibly reminded
that the majority of the members hold
stock in lime kiln; however, in the I'M
clean condition of the Democracy, it is
great blessing that the means of purfica-
lion is within the reach and means of the
present economical House.
THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT
The House, in order to maintain its fac
.ious policy, has so changed the appropria-
ton of the Senate for the Washington
monument as will divide the amount, $780,
300, into yearly installments of $50, 600
This change, from that in which it
was originally passed 10y the Senate, has
changed the attitude of the local Off GERS of
the society toward the bill, which now
meets their entire approval. The bill does
not dissolve the society, and embraces
three of its eX-otficio officers in the COM
mission which is to control the erection of
The monument. AS soon as the President
the bill, the monument commits
sion created by the bill will hold a meet
ing. The foundations of the monument
will then be examined, and if the report
be favorable, preparations to commence
the work will be commenced Immediately.
PUGILISM.
The proceedings on the House side of
the capital were rendered somewhat inter-
esting on last Friday by pugilistic en-
between two of the door keepers,
which caused quite an excitement among a
number Of Centennial visitors mostly la
dies, who happened to be in the corridor
at the time. They were separated by two
co!ored gentlemen. Your correspondent was
a locker on, but was in the same predica-
ment as the woman who saw the fight be
tween the bear and her husband. didn't
care darn which whipped, as neither of
them seemed to be of much account. They