Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-11-11
OUR WASHINGTON LETTTR.
of Washington Standard
WASHINGTON, OcT. 10, 1876.

3.
Correspondence of Washington Standard.
WASHINGTON, Ocr. 10, 1876.
A TwENTY-FoUR HOUR PRESIDENT.
Many journals have made mention
of the facts that because, the fourth
of March next falls on Sunday, the
Inauguration of Tilden or Hayes,
whichever it may be, cannot take
place on that date, bat will occur on
Monday the 5th inst; that President
Grants term expires at II NJ. on
Sunday, March 4th; and that the
Hon. T. w. Ferry, of Michigan,
President pro tempore of the Senate,
will consequently act as President
from IL M. on Sunday until IL M, on
the following day. Those who set
this down as u certainty forget that
Senator Ferry's term as United
States Senator expires at IL M. on
the Sd of March next. He is o
candidate for reelection, and will
probably be reelected. Should this
be the case, and should he remain the
temporary presiding officer of the
Senate until IL NJ. on the 4th OF
March next, he will have the honor
of being acting President for the thin
space of twenty-four hours. An eff
fort to displace the Grand Haven
lumber merchant as President of the
Senate pro tenn, and to seat Senator
Anthony, of Rhode Island, who
claims the honor, by virtue of long
service, was made last session, but
Ferry was finally retained by small
majority. The Senate, last Winter,
however, while discussing the ques-
ton as to the tenure of the President
pro tenn. of the Senate, resolved that,
while Mr.. Ferry was President pro
tem., they could, at any time, enter
into o new election. So the reader
will see that it is possible that the
Senate may, at the next session, see
fit to change its presiding officer, in
which case Mr.. Ferry will be cheated
ont of the honor of being acting
President of the United States, even
for twenty-four hours.
NICE LEGAL QUESTION.
A clerk in the Treasury De-
partment, q native Of New York,
went home ten days ago for to
register. He bought his ticket,
which which was limited as to the
time for which it was to be good, at a
reduced rate, and, on the evening of
the day on which it expired, left
New York City for Washington. The
proper coupons were taken up be-
tween New York and Baltimore, until
he had but one remaining-that
which was to take him from Balti-
more to Washington. The conduc-
tor between those points did not call
for his ticket until early next morn
ing when the train was within four or
five miles of Washington, and then
declined to receive it, on the ground
that it had expired at midnight. The
holder of the ticket refused to pay,
and was forcibly elected from the
train. He now brings suit for $500
damages, and the impression is that
he will recover. The decision in the
case will be looked for with interest.
FASHION AND IT'S vorAa1Es.
A little ephemeral society journal
springs up in Washington, every au-
tumn, like a mushroom, and disap-
pears almost as suddenly. Its mis-
sion is to keep the community posted
in regard to fashionable events; to
record the number and character of
parties, private and public; to de-
scribe, infinitely, the apparel of the
bellies and beaux; and, in a word, to
pander to the vanity of the snobs and
funkies who make Washington their
stamping ground every winter. Pa
pers of this kind derive their sup