The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-05-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May Is, Is

W hHiiN'io-N, -hhS ~, iO'o'
To parody Byron's famous definition ofman
congress has become pendulum between Il
Icaucus and Il veto One week ago all the
world was positive that the president would
sign the "ani-bayonet bill ;" Us it is called, but
while write the newsboys are yeling-"'ere's
yer evening paper; with the Presidents veto
message. The next question is what will the
democrats do about ity There is in the ma
jority Il strong sentiment in favor of adjourn.
ment without provision for the army, but it is
certain that the number IN favor Of tins policy
! is not rs Great as il was when the last session
adjourned Senator Thurman, who is the ac'
knowlcdged leader of his party in Washing
| ton, Is reported Il say repOrtsdJ to have said
that it would be IA great mistake for congress
to adjourn without having passed the ncces.
sary supplies for the military and civil ser
vices, Just what will be done is, of course,
impossible to say, but some plan of action will
be agreed upon before the end oithc week and
that plan will probably be to continue
the army appropriation bill of last
year until the first of January, 1880. AL,
though veto of the legislative appropriation
bill is anticipated, the senate. will proceed to
pass it in the same form as it has been passed
by the house. Ifthe bill shall be met with
the expected veto, congress will pass the jul
ror's test-oath repeal and the supervisors law,
and If they shall be vetoed, supplies will be
voted, as in the case of the other bills, until
the lst of January next 1t is confidently
predicted that the majority will pass II free
coinage silver bill, and give the president
something more to do in the veto line. Scna-
tor Beck has said; Mr. Hayes vctos shall be
made cheap By oversocking the market"
Outside of congress hotn parties profess to
be happy over the legislative crisis. The Re
publicans insist that they will gain by the veto
Of all legislation that has for its object the alb
rogation of all legislation arising ont of the
late war and the Democrats insist that there
will now be a clear and simple issue at the
polls on the question OF free elections
Ii had been thought that congress would
adjourn before the 10Th OF June, but this last
new veto complicales matters somewhat and
it may make II longer session necessary.
Spring has come upon lis almost within a
week The many parks that dot the renewed
capital city are clothed in green The foun.
tains that have been still during the winter
have commenced to play, and of evenings the
settces in the public gardens are occupied by
sentimental people of all ages, colors, and pre-
vious conditions Washington has too much
park space and too much width of street and
avenue for It's small population. Boss Shep-
herd has out llaussmanizeu Baron IIaussman,
VINO Is FAMOUS IN arCnltcCtural anu engineer
Ing history for his modcrniza'ion of Paris
The streets and boulevards and parks of our
little capital are out of all proportion, and the
expense entaied in keeping them cleaR and
III order is very great, Moreover, in summer,
the only season IN which they are attractive,
Washington is practically deserted. No one
who can afford to leave the city, flies from the
malarlal monster that turks in the swamps of
the Potomac. The president Will soon leave
the White House tor the more healthful
heights of Soldiers Home. He will occupy
the cottage IN which President Lincoln lived
during the war. The Secretary of War will
also leave the city for "A cottage in the same
beautiful park. Members and senators who
own residences in the city will abandon them
to the charge of servants or rent them to care.
ful tenants until they shall be ready to occu
Ply them for the next session. Four years ago
living IN Washington was very expensive
Now, in no city in the Union can be found
such cheap board and lodging Most of the
iirstcIass hotels have reduced their prices to
anti.bellum rates and accommodations can be |
had in excellent boarding houses for from S2J
to $50 per month Next to parks and streets
we have an excess of eating houses and res.
taurants; at many of these an excellent meal |
can be procured for % cents.
After adjournment hope to vary my cor
recpondencc by writing you from the mining
districts of the Pacific slope, from eastern wa.
terng places, and, perhaps, from Europe