The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-03-06
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Washington Letter.

Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. :, March 1, 1879.
AS predicted several weeks ago, the
Democratic House will be ready to
wind up business on Tuesday, but the
Republican Senate is likely to cause an
extra session. The Democrats are in
high feather over their splendid success
and solid front in the House, while in
the Senate they are making hand
some fight against election supervisors,
and it would not be very surprising to
see the Republicans yield at the last
moment. There have been several
rather exciting little episodes this week
The first was a lively tilt in the Senate
between Senators Conkling and Burn
side. Roscoe's temper, at the present
time, is just little riled, and he dis
plays special irritability towards the
Administration Senators on his own
side, of whom Burnside is which. A
little difference of opinion arose be-
tween them concerning a triffing ap-
pointment. whereupOn the imperious
Conkling pounced Burnside in his Sc
verest style. The latter retorted sharp
ly, denouncing Conkling as false pre-
tendea and an habitual utterer of false
hoods. He regretted that he had not
the tongue of Blaine to rebuke him
in fitting terms. This reference to
Blaine's happy characterization of
Roscoe's " turkey gobbler strut, in the
House few years ago, was not only
neat but severe. 1t is thought that
Conkling, like all men who lose their
tempers without occasion, got the
worst of it.
Both houses are holding. night ses-
sions, but it isn't the easiest thing in
the world to keep the interest up to
fever heat all night long. When it
comes to the wee sma' hours" staid
old Senators will sigh to rest themselves
upon downy couches. The eyes grow
heavy and one after another they pair
off and drop out to go home. This
sort of thing left the Senate without
quorum the other night, and, as the
business in hand was in porsant, for
the first time in many years, the Ser
geant-at-arms was ordered to bring in
the absentees. Deputies were sent in
every direction to route Senators out of
their beds at three o'clock in the morn
ing, but several refused to admit the
messengers. Senator Conkling, in his
usual genial humor, told them to go to
a warm climate. This riled some of
the steady going Senators, and no
doubt they would have made it un-
hot for Roscoe if a quorum
had not been promptly secured with
out him.
Another of the exciting episodes this
week was Billy McGarrahan's assault
upon Don Piatt in the Senate lobby
evening. McGarrahan is
the owner of piece of land in Cali
fornia which he purchased of the
grantee of the Mexicaif Government.
His title to this land, in all that con-
stitutes evidence of ownership, is per-
feet, and so, in numberless instances,
has been pronounced. Between him
and his patent there stands single
obstacle: A clerical omission
BY copyist in the Land Office
er accidental or fraudulent is unknown
"a merely formal, not substantial |
iefect. Operating against McGarrahan |
Is rich corporation known as the New
ldria Quicksilver Mining Company,
which has fought and baffied the poor
lrishman with the money he has made
'ut of quicksilver mine OH the prem
ses. This company is not known to
,he Land Office records, and nobody
knows how it acquired the shadow of
title to the property in question. If
t does not belong to McGarrahan it be-
ongs to the United States yet the
manner in which the company has
its fight, is but another IL
ustratiOn of the unjust power ,of
wealthy corporations. With the large
Profits which rightfully belong to the
nan it is conspiring to rob, it bribes of
1cials, persuades members of Congress,
uborns perjuries, rewards forgeries,
md subsidies newspapers to create
public sentiment, and slander and rid
cule him who it has determined to
lestroy. This matter has been before
very Congress for many years, and all
dcGarrahan has asked of the present
congress is to refer it in some definite
hape to the courts. Don Piatt is the
ditor of the Capital" )" and one of the
most vindictive journalists in America
-and as venal as he is mean. Every
ssue OF his paper has been filled with
ne most outrageous assaults upon Mr..
icGarrahan. which, it is asserted, are
aid for by the New Idria Company.
he unoffending, self-respecting Irish
IAN has borne it in silence for three or
our years. He is poor, and during :
1uch of the time of his struggle here :
as not possessed the value of a square
zeal from day today. Yet he has ever
respectable, gentlemanly ,
and minded his own busi- ,
ess. Wednesday night he met Piatt !.
the Senate lobby, and as they passed !;
is said, Piatt raised his cane in an
lsoient. threatening manner, where =
pom the little Irishman went for him
nd administered a castigation he will !,
ever forget. They were separated and
iatt was taken home in badly dam :,
yed condition, but he finds few SYM =.
athizers here in Washington. ;.
The social event of the week, and of +
lie entire season, was Mr.. Hayes re- n
option TO the Diplomatic Corps. It ,,
as one of the grandest affairs in point a
brilliancy, floral display, etc., ever =
wen at the White House, but the p
lobbish treatment of the journalistic =
aternity was something unknown to ;,
Iashinnf0n sOoiofx, TI,oxx x,..-a ..:..-.. | =