The daily gazette., 1878-05-07

PAlGN-soCIETY Cos
sIP-oFF FOR EU-
ROPE oSJUNE
Is, &c.
From Our Regultr Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May 4, 1873.
1t was a lucky idea of Major PEnfant,
who laid out the plan of Washington, to
locate the Capitol on high hill, close
upon the shores of the Potomac, where
1T may get the fun benefit of the river
breeze-and fever and ague. just now
the weather is prematurely warm and
sultry; the Thermometer stands at eighty
two in the shade, and straw hats, palm
leaf fans and linen busters have suddenly
sprung into fashion. Up at the capitol,
the recent night sessions seem to have
used up, pretty eff'ectually most of the
Solons who sit congregated there; there
is "A larguor and sleepiness prevalent
everywhere, yawnng appears to be the
order of the day, and, somehow or other
the high pressure has blown off without
bursting our national engine, leaving
everything very calm and sedate in the
boiler, Notwithstanding the recent shov-
cling in of fuel in the shape of Florida
Frauds, Tariff Legislation and Mont
gomery Blalr's Resolution. There is
heap of sediment and "scales" in that
same boiler, and / suppose it will have
what the engineers call "A good elbow
out," some day or other; but, so far, it
has let of its superiluous steam in
whisthug.
10 those who have never witnessed a
night session at the Capital towards the
close ofthe session, the scene is extremely
interesting. The brilliant light In the
"tholus" or lantern over the dome, some
two hundred and fifty feet high up, can
be seen from almost every part of the city
and for many miles down the river, loom
ing up like huge lighthouse at the
point where the Potomac makes its great
bend to the west. Every window in the
huge building is lighted up, and the
transparent glass roofs of the Senate and
House wings, below which hundreds of
gas lets are burning, illuminating the
sky above as if a conhagration is taking
place within thestructure. The national
emblem, the ''stars and stripes" float
laZily from the mast, with peculiar
weird tinge on its blood red bars caused
by the glare which shoots up, like a
| zodiacal light, from the illuminated ROOT
below; and in the rotunda within, high
up over the uppermost circle of gas jets
| sits George Washington in effigy, with
| the yellow scroll inscribed h PturiJu,
| Unum floating over his head and the
heads OF the impossible 'allegories'
done in fresco by BrumidD which sur
round him.
On the "House" side, the corridors
and galleries are througed, but on the
| desks are occupied. 1t is hot and close
| the great machines down in the base
ment are tanning cool air up through
| numberleSs apertures in the floor; but II
seems all to be absorbed in the heat o
political discussion down there, and little
reaches the galleries. In the cloak room!
just beyond the Hall, members are seei
| through the open doors recliningin theil
shirt sleeves, on the lounges smoking
cigars and drinking lemonade, iced tea, u
| (perhapS) something stronger. Ben Butle
who is always on hand, walks up ant
down the middle aisle, chewing an unli
cigar and having that off eye of his OF
/ the reporters gallery, over the Speaker.
desk; Abram Hewett, Mr.. Tilden's rigb
bower, sits demurely ut his desk reading
the n. Y. World, and "Sunset" Cox, i,
cracking jokes with his political oppo
nent, Mr.. Kelly, of Pennsylvania, "Pil
Iron" Kelly, as they call him; but the
"pig" before the metal has reference to
the material and not to the man. On
the Senate side the scene is much tn,
same; and during one OF the recesses of /
night session, TO allow the Senators tt
go home to their supper,) Mr.. Thurman
may be seen enjoying Il social eontal
with Mr.. Edmunds who, repsesents Iii.
exact opposite in politics, and Senator,
Gordon und Hill will quietly chat witt
Conkling and Blaine, exchange snuff
and debate whether or not they stall play
their next game Of cut-throat euchrt
without joker.
| 1t created no little aStoniShment hert
when the news came that Mr., SilaS Il
butcher, Il prominent New York politi
| clan, in fact, the Second Assistant States
man OF the "Conkling faction" and pro
baby the first Comptroller OF Primarie.
in the world, had gone into bankruptcy
choosing to avail himself OF the privilege,
of that act before its final repeal. Dutch
en-, who is will known here, was an init
mate friend of President Grant, and w;s
by him appointed appraiser of the New
York Custom House, at II salary of some
twenty thousand dollars Inclusive oi
i picldngS) per annum. Mr.. Ben Wood
brother of Fernando Wood, and propre
tor of the New York pcnny-paper, the
s'Daily News" has also filed II petition in
bankruptcy. Both OF thcseugentemer
Were, a year ago, considered wealthy ano
had unlimited credit; there has evidently
been "shrinkage" somewhere; but
,cherc, that is, us Dundreary would say
zone of those things which no fellow car
find ourp
As in large commercial centres the
papers say; "the talk on "chauge" is SC
and so;" so here we say; "the talk in the
"Departments" is so and so and Just
now all the talk there is about the com
ing political campaign and the PreSi
dents order regarding so-called State
Associations, which has not vet been re
scinded. Considerable speculation exist,
as to what will be the course of the Re
pubncan Congressional Committee, witt
reference to this matter and whether ol
not solicitations for subscriptions will 1t
permitted in the Department. Under the
Grant Administration, they had IL very
simple and effective way Of arranging
these matters. Government employ ee,
We're assessed certain amount each ,anC
if they did not choose to pay this, they
We're decapitated (poliucally), and some