The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-01-13
Washington Letter.


From our special Correspondents
Washington, d, c., Jan. 9th, 1877.
DEAR SIR: Immediately upon the re.
turn, from their holiday visits home, of
a sufficient number ofsConeressmen to
constitute quorum, both Houses found
an elephant on their hands in the shape
Of contumacy cases. Mr.. Barnes, the
obdurate manager Of telegraphc affairs
in New Orleans, was arraigned before
the bar of the House on Wednesday,
but, at the request of his counsel, was
granted till Friday p. m. to mako his
answer, which, at the time appointed,
he did in so able and forcible manner
as 10 cause the House, tactly, at lnast,
to yield its point by referring the whole
matter to the Judiciary Committee.
The Senate, at the same time, was deal
ing with w. G. Turner, the Oregon
operator, who, stendfastly refusing to
make public telegraph messages that
passed through his Office during the
election concerning electors and eledor.
al voting, was ordered before the Sem
ate to answer to the charge of contempt.
The affair ELECTED good deal Of debate
In relation TO the privacy and publicity
of kilograms in general, and at the time
Of its last discussion, the Senate being
without quorum, the question was
no' finally disposed of but allowed to 90
over till Monday.
The committee for deciding upon a
means Of counting the Electoral vote
have come to no decision rs yet. Each
committee has had several meetings
but no joint session has been held. 1t
is thought they will soon come together,
having obtained all necessary autlori
ties and precedents, decide at once up.
on some course and present such re-
port rs shall, in its perfection, require
little or no revision by Congress.
Should new election take place-an
idea that seems to be fast gaining
ground, among thinking men, as the
surest and speediest way out of the pre-
sent Presidential difficulty efforts
of tbs committee have not been in vain
but will prove a safeguard against an.
other such political dilemma.
Notwithstanding the fact that this il
Inauguration year, the season is far less
gay than Is usually the case in Wash.
ington during tho winter. 1t is pro
badly owing partly to the absence Of
several very socially inclined familie,
of Congressman who have been here fol
years, and partly to the stringency Of
the times, which obllges even tht
wealthiest to economise. The only
agitation the city has experienced since
election week is that caused by the sud
den closing Of the gambling homes il
the District. which was brought about
some three weeks since by Thorough
showing up they received from one o
the leading daily newspapers of tn
city. The commotlon that has ensueC
ard the Importance the affair has as
sumed proves how very much such al
investigation, as is now going forward
was needed. 1t has been found tha
nearly all the prominent officers of tn
police board, including Mayor Richards
Chief of Police, have, for years past
, been holding the most intimate rela
tions with proprietors of these gambling
Hells, many OF them receiving none,
in payment for insuring these unlawiu
resorts from mOlestatOu. So hot fir
has been kept up upon these disgrace
full parties, for the fortnight past, an
so many facts, uncomfortable in tn
q extreme for them, have been brough
g to the light of day, that Presiden
d Grant has requested the resignation &
the entire board. This request was az
ceded TO OF Friday last, and, ci course
= O. new board will be at once appointed
Il to whom it Is to be hoped the presen
shameful affair will be warning.
Washington has seen no such wintel
ish weather, for score or two Of year
as we have been experiencing latel!
Q The ground has not been visible f(
r. more than two weeks, as before Il
1t heavy fall of snow on New Years da,
Is the ground had, for many days, beC
le covered with o thick coating of ice al
sleety snow.
4 Driving parties have made the mo
of the sleighing, reaching culmin
k tiOn on Saturday Afternoon by hOldir
g. sleighing carnival on Pennsy ylyan
n. Avenue. Vehicles of every conCeivab
ls description were used, from really fl
i' sleighs to dry goods boxes and beer ba
Is rels on runners, fancy costumes al
masks woIn, and real fun enjoyed. ~
at weather to day and yesterday, howeyt
NJ, has been very warm and fue, the snC
is rapidly melting and, for us, eyiden
is ly, the winter weather Is over.