The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-01-31
Washington Letter.

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The CENT Of the elefkorial 1ute.
The Investigations Of Secretary
Chandler. The 7e'oman suffrage
movement TIE newspapers, etc.,
etc.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. 70, y
We are going through rare ex-
perience here, the gradual melting
away of twelve inches of snow, and
the patient and long waiting for the
opening of river navigation. We
have been used, in the coolest of
winters, to watch the freezing of the
Potomac at night and the coming of
powerful steamers through clear
water or thin ice in the next few
days. But this winter the river has
for more than half month remained
solidly closed for sixty miles below
US. The snow has filled the streets
and fields and vacant lots, and is
leaving us now after a twenty days,
stay, through the influence of heat
and rain and fog. This winter will
be memorable in Washington for the
enjoyment it brought to the rich,
and the suffering Of the poor. The
one especial blessing of the season
has been the remarkably low price
Of coal, which has enabled the poor
to live at less than the usual ex-
pense, and relief to be furnished
more generally than would otter-
wise have been practicable. The
huts the very poor live in, in this
section, are not designed for pro-
lection against winter such as this
has been. With no government of
its own, and therefore no power,
even in extremity, to draw upon the
rich to help the poor, we can only
urge to double activity the organiza
tons started by private individuals
for such relief. These are doing all
they can, and citizens are helping
literally through them, but I believe
no other city of its size in this coun-
try contains as much suffering from
hunger to-day as Washington, the
Capital Of the nation.
Another trouble anticipated from
the unusual fall of snow is the rise
of the Potomac when. the snow
melts above us on the river. This
annually causes damage on the lower
streets of the city, which are only
just above ordinary high tide; and
this year an unprecedented loss is
feared. 1t will be nothing as COM
pared to losses in Pittsburg, Cincln-
natl and other business cities, but
will tell heavily on the small trade
ofWashington.
Theatricals and other amusements
have met with not much success
here of late, though the quality has
been exceptionally good. The
political excitement and the "hard
times have kept away many who
usually patro'ize the better class Of
entertainments offered.
The agreement and report of the
Senate and House joint committee,
with the accompanying bill is of
course, the most prominent topic for
discussion here, as in every city,
village and hamlet where the tele-
graph reaches. That all questions
concerning the disputed votes shall
be referred for decision to CON-
mission consisting of five senators,
five members of the House and five
judges of the Supreme Court, is a
novel proposition, but, perhaps, as
fair a plan as could have met with
the approval Of the committee, all
of whom signed the report with the
exception of Senator Morton. His
reasons for not concurring are not
yet made known, and it is not
thought that he will strenously op-
pose the scheme on the floor of the
Senate. There are doubts express