The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1878-02-08
WASHINGTON.


Mcpicicncg IF Tie IJt-lSuring Sc,qfcc.
- Who is TO blame? 4 Chance for
-lnother Investigating Commiffec.
Lobbyists Ercluded from the Floor
Of Congress The Temperance Re
rirol. Socjc'y, d..
WASHINGTON, u. c., Feb. 2, 1873.
The loss of the steamship Metropolis,
aud of So man, valuable lives, hns re-
vi,ed the discussion IN official circles
here. which aio~r Immediately after The
loss of tie I.iiu,d states steamer Huron,
MS lo ihc fliccnry or incfliciency ofthc
Lifc-Saving service. This service is a
branch OF the treasury department, and
not of the navy department, as many
suppose; aud is moreover, n service
which costs the government annually a
large amount of money. There is prob
ably no purpose for which our overtax-
cd taxpayers would more chcerfully pay
out money than that of saving life; but
when we hear of vessels going down,
twice in succession, at almost the same
identical spot and within few miles OF
life saving station, and when the res
cued in both cases are loud in their de-
nunciations of the apathy of those in
charge of this station, it would appear
that an investigation would not be out
of order. In neither of these two cases
did the men of the lifc-saving station
put in an appearance until nearly eight
hours after the vessel had struck-eight
long hours, during which nearly all OF
the frenzied passengers might have been
brought safely OH shore BY The aid OF
the mortar and life car of the station, il
the crew had done its duty.
1t has even been charged in some
quarters that our lifc-saving service is a
mere political machine; but this l
should be 10th te believe. Yet when
we consider this noted and repeated in
efficiency, aid also the fact that the En-
glish service, which numbers three
times as many stations, costs less than
onc-half of What our government pays,
il would, | repeat, seem that one of The
numerous investigating committees re-
Gently appointed might profitably look
into this subject.
The recent action OF the House OF
Representatives in excluding all ex-
members from the privileges of the floor
ment TO the effect that they are not per-
sonally interested in any legislation
pending before Congress, has had the
effect of creating considerable bad feel
ing. Quite a number of ex-members
had been enlisted by those who "run the
machine" for the Texas Pacific Railroad,
TO lobby in their favor, and the floor OF
the House of Representatives has been
fairly besicged by them, to the great
chagrin and discomfort of those who
are opposed to this scheme. AS no oath
is required to this statement, however,
it is doubtful if it will ultimately have
the desired effect; for the interest q
lobbyist has in pending legislation need
not of necessity be "personal. He
might first assign his contingent inter-
est to third party, and then disclaim
that he has any personal interest. Lob
byists, us a class, are a sharp set; and
there can be little doubt that they will
ind some escape ont of The present di-
lemma.
Murphy, the temperance revivaist, is
still here, and is making converts al q
very satisfactory rate. The Lincoln
hall meetings are crowded every night
and among those who have encouraged
the revival by their presence may be
mentioned the president and Mrs.
Hayes. A bill has been introduced in
Congress to prohibit the manufacture
and sale of liquor within the boundaries
of the District of Columbia, but il is cx-
tremely doubtful if it will pass.
The bad weather prevalent during the
past week has seriously intcriered with
society; tho usual receptions were held,
bnt of grand parties we have had none.
The coming week, however, promises
to be one OF unusual interest, both in
Congress and in society; hence, accept,
as an apology for the dizziness Of this
present epistle, the promise Oft better
one next time. c.r.s.