The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-04-22
our WASHINGTON LETTER.

FROM OUR REG ULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, April II.
The week in Congress has been even
mere monotonous than usual The Sen
ate, dull enough at all times, has had un-
der discussion the peculiarly interesting
subject Of the repairing Of Pennsylvania
avenue. This avenue, before high rents
drove traffic to Seventh street, was the
principal thoroughfare Of the city. 1t is
doubtful if it can claim that distinction
now, though, two years ago, and even
more recently, it could present the after
noon, about o'clock, the gayest, most
illustrious, and, take it all in all, the
wickedest cosmopolitan procession of
promenaders that could be seen on this
continent
On this street, somewhat classic from
redolence Of history and pageantry, cut at
at one end by the White House, and at
the other by the Capitol, nearly a score Of
Presidents have gone to their Inauguration.
The principal hotels OF. drinking saloons of
the city are situated upon it. or near it;
and, daily during the Congressional ses-
sion, Senators, and Members, and Justices
of the Supreme Court walk to and from
the Capitol upon its broad sidewalks, or
ride in it's filthy street cars, or roll in their
own carriages, if they can afford it, over
it's now very uneven surface.
A few years ago, when Washington was
touched with the wand Of $50, 600, 600
and transformed almost in night from a
struggling village with mud roads, into a
city almost as beautiful as the Prophets
vision Of the New Jerusalem, the habitttes
Of this avenue awoke to find it clothed in
bran new Nicolson pavement, as smooth
and solid as ten-pin alley; and, during
the flush pduio post bellum days of the
Republic, 1t was emphaticslly the national
promenade and boulevard, frequented by
the fair and unfair aud vanity fair, and
those who Jared sumptuously but never
paid their fare-a class too numerous in
Washington for public or private welfare.
But Gen. Babcock has long since mesured
the avenue, The contractors have been paid
twice over for their worthless. rotten
EicOlson blocks, and now the Senate is
debating whether it shall be repaved with
asphalt, concrete, cobble stone, Belgian
blocks, or, as Senator Oglesby insists, with
dirt, which he says has always answered
him very well for ambulatory purposes.
fear we may have underestimated our
Senators; they can walk the earth a. well
as the clouds, and talk about common
things as forcibly as anybody.
In the House, the Silver Resumptiop
bill, as amended by the Senate, has been
passed, and the transfer of the Indians
from the missionaries to the soldiers has
been debated.
But the tedeum Of legislation has been
stoned for by the hveliness of investiga-
tion. The testimony Of Whitley, Nettle.
ship, Newcombe, and other ex-worthies ol
the United States Treasury Secret Service
Corps, has excited . sensation only less
profound than that Of the Belknap expose.
To-day, Gen. BAbcock was indicted with
Harrington, Whitley, Nettleahip, and
others. Gen. B. gave bail in the sum Of
~ 200, s1-GOv. Shepherd going on his
osAd. Whitley and Nettleship. il ia un.
oerstood, will secure immunity by turning
States evidence.
The Senate viii, on Monday, resolve it.
Sef into . High Court of Impeachment,