The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1879-03-12
OUR WASHINGTON LErrKR.
From our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON, March 4, 1879.
The back pay pension bill which
was heralded over the country as .
Democratic measure is merely 'tsfy'
to the veteran soldiers. IL orieinsted
with Representative H. j. b. Cum
mings, staunch Republican and the
soldiers friend. The Democrats at
heart have no sympathy for the meas
ure and it would not surprise me
much if the Democrats let it go by
default. They say it will bankrupt
the Government now. Bosh Sup
pose it does take few millions out
of the Treasury for tbe union soldiers.
Better give the money to the crippled
soldiers Of the North who saved the
country from destruction than to al
low the rebels to steal the money by
millions on Southern war claims. IL
the bill goes through this session at
all it will be entirely due to the skill
fol management of the Republicans
in the House.
Ia the Senate the Democrats tack
ed cn an amendment pensioning sll
the Mexican war soldiers which
would include JEFF. Davis. This the
Republicans will resist.
To-day it is generally conceded that
there will be an extra session o. Con-
gress as it is impossible to get
through with the necessary appropri-
alton bills by Tuesday the day Of
adjournment Representative Foster
said to-day that the President would
call the session esrly-rot later than
May.
rhe Democrats in the House are
10 a mirage and are beginning to re-
alise the fact that they will possibly
loose the organization OF the hoase in
the nexE Congress, since the II green-
hackers of the next House arrived
here and determined to act indepen-
dent in that body. Without q ma
josity Of those II votes they cannot
elect a speaker General Koontz was
on the floor of the House to-day lis
tening to the wrangling. He was
greeted heartily by his old comrades.
Amongst the Grst to notice him was
Generals Banks aud Butler.
The ball given by the Mexican
minister on Monday night was
brilliant affair and the whole of
Washingtons society attended. The
street in front of the large mansion
was perfect blaze of light from over
2000 burners arranged srtistically to
read Mexico" Welcome" &c,
This was no temperance affair, az the
wine and champagne flowed freely
from the silver goblets sent from
Mexico for this occasion.
On Wednesday there was grand
entertainment at the White House.
The scene surpassed anything ever
witnessed within the time bonored
walls ofthe house of the President
All the rooms on both floors were
thrown open 70 the invited guests
and their numbers were legion as this
was the last reception of the season.
The decorations exceeded in beauty
anything hitherto attempted ct the
Executive Mansion. The Marine
band played beautiful selections
throughout the reception.
The Presinsnt and Mrs. Hayes,
Colonel Casey and Mr.. Webb Hayes
stood together in front Of the central
window in the East Room while the
guests marched by. each one tskiSg
the President and Mrs. Hayes by the
| hand.
The President and his wife always
seem to enjoy society and looked
besming on this occasion. She wore
a rich white cream tinted silk trim
med with shawl shaped overdress
Of gauze embroidered in pearls.
Ny wife says that the styles for
spring will not differ much from those
Of winter in some respects. Bonnets
will be worn small. grey and white
straw, trimmed with plaid ribbon
and wreathes Of flowers. Dresses
for the street are short, made of plain
eolors, black brown, navy blue and
dark stone color. The new cslicoes
for spring are very pretty they have
solid ground Of pearl color with large
lunches Of roses, and pale blse
ground with cardinal pinks, and
white ground with bright red ragged
sailors. These new fabrics in cotton
are called satteepes, and are made in
styles the same as silks and csmels
hair.
PIcETr