Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-03-05
Washington Letter,
Washington, d, O., Mareh, ., 1879,

As predicted several weeks ago, the
Democratic House will 10 ready 10
wind up business on TUESDAY, but the
Republican Senate Is likely 10 cause
al extra session, The democrats are
In high feather over their splendid
success and solid front IN tho House,
while IN the Aenale they are making
u handsome fight agalaal election ST.
peryisOrs, aud II would mol BE- surprisr
! Ing 10 SEQ The republicans yield NJ Tie
last moment, There have heen sey'
eral rather exciting lillle episodes this
week, The first was lively tllt IN
| the Scnatc between Senators Conkllng
and burnside, l,osooes temper, At
the present tlMc, Is just q little dled,
and ho displays special lrratablllty TO-
wards tho administration senators Oh
! his own side, Of whom burnside Is
which, 4 little difference Of opinion
arose between them concerning TIL
hing appointment, whcreupon the in'
perious Conkling pouuced upon Burn
side In hiS SeycreSt style, The latter
Irttoucd sharply, denouuclng Conk'
ling rs tilsc prclendcr aud an habit
nal Lltcvr of lalschoods, lie regret,
ted that he had not tho tongue of q
Blaine 10 rcbukc him IN fitting terms,
THIS reference 10 Blamc'S happy char
aolcrlzalion Of l,oscoe's turkey COB
bier strut" IN the House lew years
ago, was not only neat hut severe. II
is thought that Conkllng, like all men
who lose their tcmpels without ucca'
sion, got the worst of II,
both houses are holding night scS.
sions, lut It isn't the easiest thing in
the world to keep the interest up TO
fever lieut. all night long, When It
comes Ia the "wec sma' hours Staid
old senator's will sigh forest themselves
upon downy couchcs The eyes grow
heavy aud one after another they pair
of and drop out 10 80 home, This
sov, Of thing left the Senate without n
quorum tho other night, and rs the
business in hand was important, for
the first time in many gears the Ser.
gean,.al-arms was ordered 10 bring in
the absentee. Deputies were sent in
every direction 10 route Senators out
of their beds at three o'clock in the
morning, but several refused 10 admit
the messengers. Senator Conklng,
IN his usual genial humor, told them
TO 90 10 Il warm climate. This riled
some OF the steady going senators,
and no doubt they would have made
it intentionally hot for Roscoe il
quorum had not been promptly Sc.
cured without him.
Another Of the exciting episodes
this week was Billy McGarrahan's as
sault upon Don Piatt in the senate
lobby Wednesday evening. McGm-
rahau is the owner OF apiece of land
in California which he purchased OF n
grantee of the Mexican Government.
His title to tins land, in all that con-
sttutcs evidence of ownership, is per-
feet, aud so, in numberless instances,
has been pronounced. Between him
and his patent there stands single
technical obstacle a clerical omission
by a copyist IN the Land Office
whether accidental or fraudulent is
unknown--a merely formal, not sub.
stantial defect. Operating against
is rich corporation
known as the New ldria Quicksilver
Mining Company, which has fought
and baffled the poor Irishmau with
the money it has made ont OF q
quicksilver mine on the premises.
Don Pialt is the editor of the Capital,
and one of the most vindictivo jour
nalists in America-and as venal as he
IS mean. Every issue Of his paper
has been filled with the most oulrag-
aous assaults upon Mr.. McGarraghan.
"Wednesday night he met Piatt IN the
senate lobby, and as they passed, it is
said, Piatt raised his cane in an inso-
ent threatening manner, whereupon
he little Irishman went Tor him and
administered a castigation he will never
orget. They We're separated aud
oiatt taken home in badly damaged
condition, but he finds few sympathiz-
RS here in Washington.
The social event Of the week, and
If the entire season, was Mr.. Hayes
reception to the Diplomatic Corps. 1t
vas one Of the graLdest affairs in
'oint Of brilliarcy, floral display, etc.,
.ver given at the White House, but
he snobbsli treatment Of the Journal
site fraternity was sometime I'M