The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-03-29
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, March &c, 1876.
Old Probabilities has had nice time Of
1t this week. We have scolded about him
because he couldn't give us continuous
weather ofany sort. and he has revenged
himself by sending succession of days
whose gloom and temperature and gen.
eral tone Of unilealthiulness was very ex.
asperating. could fancy "Old Prob"
sitting aloft In his tower and laughing to
think how he paid us for grumbliny,
only "Old Prob" Is an entirely NV.
thical parsonage. His courtier, who
looks for his nod, md translates to NOR.
tails his DEGREES, Is u very pleasant gentle
man,and has as great degree Of sensibili-
| ty about the weather no any, o.i.>, ,iivi u,li
Monday 1t snew and blew and friz.
Tuesday, miserably clear and cold, and
so on throughout the week, always keep.
lug the cold with variations of rain and
sleet, and one or two CLEANS Of sunshine
But congress has gone on lust the same.
accomplishing. am sorry to say. blu,
precious little besides an endless amount
of talking. Mr.. Blaine has again Jistin.
guished himself as leader bv using
weapons OF his own, till his opponents
began to doubt the value of theirs. and
then as they doubted, he snatched theirs
nom their heads and used them for their
utter defeat and humiliation. There
mas been so much comment
upon the practice of assessing
Department clerks for electionecrlng pur.
poses that any party desiring to inauger.
ate reformation must say something
about 1t and Mr.. Caulfeld OF Illinois in.
troduceda comprehensive bill to prevent
bribery among voters. Mr.. Blaine wished
to add an amendment making it a penal
offense tor anybody to use money In.
huencing elections. Even congressman
were to be forbidden this privilege. and
some congressman demurred decidedly.
But the measure was carried finally and
Blaine chnrkl"d. for has he not lust now
his own private and particular reasons
for being delighted. You see he hasn't
SO much money to spend In a presiden.
tial campaign as some other candidates.
This bill puts them on an equal footing.
1t makes one laugh woman's laugh IN
think what dismay and terror it's pub.
llcation must have brought to the ranks
OF election brokers, who expected such
rich pickings during the coming season.
doubtless they will at once set their
sharp wits at work to discover some loon
hole of escape from its strict RENDERING
The appropriation bill is occupyiny n
great deal Of attention. Reductions have
been made everywhere. Everyone of
these must have it's own individual de-
bate and In each of these debates every
ht'lc p"nctilio Of parliamentary propricty
must be observed. Oh dear! the dovs
and hours that are wasted thus. while III.
suffering country waits for the laws 60
sorely needed. Mr.. Scales, of North
carolina made an extremely sensible
speech when he said IL would be much
better for gentlemen TO obey the rul.s
than to spend so much time talking about
them.
There Is one habit in which Mr.. BLine
INDUCES which is almost intolcrable. lie
seems to think because he Is acknowledged
adroit and quick, that no one else
can fnlly comprehend much less prone rlv
discuss any question. lie must ALWAYS
have his IL say SO :" when Mr.. Foster. Of
ohlo' was speaking the other day, in
walked MIR. Blaine from some back room,
listened minute, then springing to his
feet exclaimed: "Will the gentleman
allow me moment? ?" or course Mr..
roster yielded. Mr.. Blaine then, with
great junction and authority, made a
point, explaining it as ITO most imma.
tnre minds, while Mr.. Foster stood dis.
g''sted, for not live minutes before he had
covered the same ground In a satisfac
tory manner. Mr.. Foster replied, that |
he had already said the same thing, and
hen Mr.. Blaine begged pardon, saying