Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-03-05

~'@'lOHtf Qu1fIQ1 me act
= estimated that from Tn TO fifteen thou
sand Office seekers Will reach Washington
within the next two weeks 70 be on the ground
in readiness for the organization OF the TWO
houses. IN unusually large number Of persons
interested in congressional legislation viii also
be here blocking out work in order to get it
staTteC early in the short extra session. There
VIII also be many visitors 20 witness the spectl-
Gle OF the organization OF a Congress upon a
new political base. Altogether the iniilx of
visitors promises 10 be exceptionally large. and
as very many of these Will tind il requisite or
desirable to take rooms. for some weeks or for
the entire session. those who have eligible
rooms 10 rent should make the fact knowa
through. the advertising columns of THE STAR
Ii is evident that Congress must look else
where than TO business circles for an apprecia-
ton OF its value. From this quarter the regret
comes that the extra session could not have
been deferred until early summer, Or until the
spring trade has been concluded and before the
autumn trade opens. The y Y. Post saws in
reference TO this feeling that it is sad CON-
mentary on the estimation in which the ma
tional law makers are held that their dispersion
is regarded by the mercantile community with
satisfaction and their aSSemblage with appre-
hensiOn.
-
work on the Washington monument was de-
feated in conference committee. and the monu-
ment is to remain in its present unfinished
condition, 10 the discredit OF the country. But
for the laundering of the arIfy engineers, by
which. from installing the bench marks, they
reported the monument to be I'VE or SIX inches
out OF perpendicular, the previous appropria-
tons would have been available to carry the
work Tar on towards completion. Now that the
NJ a che oF ;ola hos
Is little hope, In the squabble OF the contest
ants. that anything will be agreed upon in the
next half a century
Ii seems to be thought that the majority re-
port OF the Potter committee will make a pretty
effective campaign document 1t bears the
marks OF sklful handling. both as regards what
Is said and what is left unsald
II is satisfactory to note in the interests OF
postal reform that the bill TO dispense with
official postage stamps upon all official letters
and packets has become a law. Two years ago
law was passed for this purpose but under
construction Of the Attorney General, it has
been allowed 10 apply TO only the executive de-
paTtmentS In Washington. This amended act
embraces all government offices. except those
OF Pension agents who have an allowance for
such postage as they may be required 10 pay on
their Official correspondence. It also includes the
OF 500 on any person using the official envelope
for private purposes. 1t viii readily be seen
that thus doing away with al official stamps.
viii effect a considerable saving both in the
cost OF stamps and the labor OF putting them
on. As early at least as lsi3 this matter was
brought 10 the attention of the public by
H0ratiO King, who has steadily pursued IL 10
this favorable result. his old friend, Senator
Hamlin, having taken the initiative, and IN
connection with Hon. Mr. Wadd,lI OF the
House, pressed the measure through Congress
In Denman Thompsons personation OF the
New Hampshire farmer we have at last a define.
alton or New England character that is not an
absurd caricature. The stage Yankee of the
past has been a scare-crow In g long swallow
tailed coat, bell-cr0wned long furred white hat
yellow wig and skin-tight pantaloons San indi.
Vidual certainly never seen in Yankee land
and his idiotic squeaking gibberish has been
quite as unlike the dry sentitious humor OF that
section. In the makeup OF Mr.. Thompson In
his dialect, and in his delineation OF the racy
sturdy New England granger character those
'Who have been there VIII recognize genuine
portrait.