Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-05-10
Our Washington Letter.
THE THIRD VERMONT DIsTRICT-HOw MR..
HENDEE STANDS AT wAsHINGTON-THE
CAPITAL NOT PRINTERS PARADIsE-
WASHINGTON NOTES, ETC.

CAPITAL NOT PRINTERS PARADISE
WASHINGTON NOTES, ETC.
WASHINGTON, May |.
To the Editor Of the Free Press and Times.
The following article in regard to matters
in the Third District, appeared in the Wash
ington Republican this morning, and | can
assure you that it reflects the feelings of q
large proportion of the citizens of the city,
especially Vermonters. Whatever may be
the claims of other, and perhaps wiser and
better, men in the Third District for seat
in Congress, We may say that Mr. Hendee's
experience in legislation and his political
course has been such as to command the
respect of both parties in and out of Con-
gress and in the present struggle of the
Democrats to gain and maintain the ascen-
dency in both Houses, thereby opening the
way for paying rebel war claims and grant
ing pensions to rebel soldiers,-we think a
change at the present time would be quite
unwise, to say the least
Exchanges from the Third Vermont
District indicate that considerable stir is
being made to fix upon a successor to the
seat now filled by Governor Hendee in the
House of Representatives. The situation
appears to be that Mr.. Hehdce's course in
Congress has been highly satisfactory to his
Constituents, as well as to the rest of
the country, but that he has already rep
resented his District three times, while it
is the custom up there to rotate man out
of public life before he becomes too useful,
and the Third District is rich in anxious
afpirants to be complimented. Governor
Hendee bows decorously to this custom and
declines to enter the canvass for reelection
but the better portion Of his constituents are
anxious to return him to Congress. of
course this is question for the free
men of the Third District to settle
among themselves. Theirs is the right as
well as the duty to provide Congress with
Representative from that district, but it is
to be devoutly hoped that no mere system or
practice of rotation, or the fact that some
other popular man is waiting to be compli-
mented, will be allowed to weigh down other
and vastly more impartant considerations at
this time. Mr.. Hendee has risen to the front
rank on his side of the House, and can be lily
spared in the coming momentous struggle lie
commands the confidence ofiriends and respect
Of enemies, not by the arts of n demagogue,
but by square, honest work, and it would
be national misfortune to change him of
at this time for any new man, however able
or good looking. Mr.. IIendee has given
a great deaf of careful labor to the prepara-
ton of a new form of government for the |
District, which is as vet only partially deyel-
Dped, and every friend of the District will |
Iell the necessity of Mr.. Hendee's being re-
turn to Congress-"
PRINTERS WAGES.
In the Government Printing Office, the
average time Of employment is less than ten
months in the year, and the average pay of
the men is about 500. Although the men
yet nominally $500 per day. yet from the
constant " furloughs' which they are sub
ected to, without pay, from 90 to 80 per
,ent. of the force are unemployed, so tina:
he average amount earned by each man in
he " document rOOm," which is considered
he most favorable department of the office,
vas S67 per month. In the "piece depart
nent. where the men are compelled to wait
or copy and type, the average per month,
or seven months, was S26.94 per man. The
men on the Record, to the number of seven
y, are employed only during the session Of
congress. and are compelled to seek employ
nent in the already oyer-stocked market of
Washington or elsewhere, or remain here
die during the remainder of the year. Men
n the press-room received an average of $64
per month. Taking into consideration the
ost OF rents (lO0'2er cent more than in Balti-
more or Philadelphia), and the advanced cost
II all kinds of provisions, Washington may
iot on the whole be considered the printers
'aradise. Congress is now asked to repeal
he law by which the pay of printers was re-
luced.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,
nd the only one of this denomination in the
ity, has now membership of more than
light hundred. This church il under the
,astoral charge of DR.. j. E. Rankin, for
nerly of Vermont, and aside from the large
ebt incurred in building a house of wor-
hip, is in very prosperous condition, its
membership having been increased by several
hundred during the past two years. Among
he founders of the church nav be mentioned
he names of three Vermonters who are now
leeping under the shadows OF the Green
fountains, viz: Deacon Silas H. Hodges, of
Deacon William Wheeler, of
IuAihSI, uuu btuCDu H. w nut, VI
ABOUT LIVING IN WASHINGTON.
Many have an idea that to live at the Cap
tai of our great Nation is n fine thing, and
o it is-if they are well supplied with mon
y. And as it is the love Of money which
sually induces people to come here. you
nay well imagine that among such a crowd
reat evils exist, and that Fred Douglas was
light when he gave his lucid description of
n average Washingtonian, about which
he natives damned and cursed so much.
o use the language of an official member of
ne of the churches in Washington. who was
ot very particular in the selection of words
0 express his ideas, 1T was id lie"
let Douglas still goes unhung, and mig
er" holds the Office of Marshal of the Dis
rict.
Charles M. Bliss. of the Bennington Bat
Ie Monum mt Association, has been here
D0king after its interests. There are many
lew Enganders here who would deem it a
leasure to contribute their mite towards
rectipg suitable testimonial in remem-
rance of an event which settled the issues
{ the war of the Revolution
The recent election of rebel general TO
ne position of doorkeeper of the House. is
mother illustration Of the meaning of the
haracters ST lSG0-X. Democracy
lavorire drink Plantation Bitters) is the
-ame Thing it was in lSG0-N-actly.
Tho Indebtedness of the District OF Coum-
ia is equal to one-third the cash value of
i its real estate. But that's nothing-tLey
xpect Uncle Sam to pay it.
The Congressional Library now contains
II 900 volumes Nc
Notes and Notes.
The Louisville Courier Journal (Dem.)
dicules the idea that the United States con-