, 1878-04-05
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, DC, March 5. l>7>.

" ANlllN'l'NN ~ '' hhINll = l'' =
Many instances Of partial iXroNicnrioH
have been noted in both Houses OF tOu-
greSS during the present session. while
ii Is potent that tCtOtaIiSm is making grad
ual progress among the permaucHl resi-
dcutS Ot Washington, and also among
many brought here tor rbe Congressional
sessions by business or from social and po-
litical considerations, it is both huniiat-
ing and diSheartening to know that the
evil 0t dram drinking and whi>key gtll
zIiug is a> certainly on the increase among
those entrusted with the enactment OF ma.
tional legislation, and who from their posi-
tiOns will he followed aS examples. NOR
nly and socially AS well as politically
The former rXct SseS Of members Of Con
gress formed the basis of many of the
scandals Of Washington life. But up to Il
recent date there had been steady amend
ment. particularly as regards drinking,
according to the testimony of the oldest
observers. Street and hotel brawls IN
which they figured rs participants. had
almost wholly. or entirely ceased, and the
scenes of violence in both Houses had be-
come a thing Of the past. Even during
the turbulent and demoralizing years OF
the war such outbursts were rare and the
reputation Of members Of Congress was
not much worse than that of the ordinary
visitor to or resident Of the Capital. But
with the coming OF the 44th Congress. Il
re-aCtiOnary sentiment seemed to assert it.
self, and it seems to have reached full
food tide since Congress convened in extra
session last October. None have forgotten
the mahy Wordy personal encounters of
last session.; and the present one has had
its full share of indulgence in personalities
and blackgardism that would have dis
graced any groggcry under whose roof
too apparent to need subStamtiatiOn tmt
they nearly all were provoked hy Sneering
or insulting insnWtiOnS or remarks from
men whose passions were imfamcd with
alcohol. The disgrace is not exclusively
cllargeabe to representations OF either OF
the great parties contending here for ma
tiona supremacy. But each must suffer
in the estimation of an Intelligent public
just in proportion to the number of this
character they have contributed. The inc
bratcd condition of from half to Il full
score of Senators on the nighT of the pas
sage Of the silver bill has passed into the
history of current events. The house Oh
Wednesday added another to the many
scenes enacted in it during
the past two years. The offending mem
Der dsgraccd Virginia constituency and
forfeited the respect of every one whose
good opinion is worth striving for. His
drunken condition was noted bv the tenn
porary Speaker Cox, OF New York and
with the best of intentions no doubt, hc
refused to recognize him. But he was
and insisted upon making his
known to all present. The ad-
mOniti0n OF the Sergeant-at-Arms failed
OF any good effect, and ne was finally
hustled into clolk-rOom where he was
retained under surveillance till able to de-
mean himself as a man.
A newspaper engagement between Sec
Tetary Sherman and Mr. Kelly, members
Of Congress, is attracting some attention.
Without prejudice to either side, believe
it will be the verdict OF more than ma
jority that Mr.. sherman male many alIu-
sions that were undignified and unwar-
ranted by good caste in the letter he is al
legged to have written to Canton. Ohio
paper and which appeared at such date in
the New York Post" us to make it seem
that the letter was sent hence to that paper
for publication. A very sharp reply from
Kelly, that must, seemingly. prove very
CALLING to Mr.. Sherman and Mr.. Foster.
IN Ohio. n. c., appears in this mornings
- Republican," ...........
One Of the most frequent inquiries BY
public men heard about town is for some
,De who can give definite information as
o when that lnessag ge on civil service re-
orm. may be expected. 1t has been
ooked for long time but the hope
'heriShed of its appearance seems of the
iind that "maketh the heart sick"
Events in Congress the past two days
rave been Of minor interest. Senators
continue to wrestle with the problem of
orcing Pacific Railroads to provide some
means "a sinking fund is IN greatest re-
epute) tor paying their Indebtedness to
he Government. which it is assert d vii.
lmount to fully 1920. O0.00G when the
oans shall have all natured.
There is languid attempt to observe
he letter OF the Catholic and Episcopal
aw relative to the observance of Lent.
But from the number Of parties, Kettle
lrums. ETC., etc, and the number receiv-
ng and making calls rather OH the sly"
S painfully evident that their spirit is ig.
1ored by many beautiful, charming and
altogether lovely (in the restricted sense
lbove indicated) fraud.
Weather a little more like March than
but still very edjoyable by
everybody. KNOX.