Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-03-07
THE NATIONAL CAPITOL.
The Accident that beTem Don Piatt-
The Debauehery OrsOme OfIhe Law
makers-Mr. HaIe'S Unexpected De-
From our ReruIar Correspondent


From our Regular Correspondent.
Don Piatt, editor of the Sunday Capital
met with an accident recently while in the
Senate lobby, of rather serious nature. He
ran against the fist of Billy MeGarrahan-
of MeGarrahan claim notoriety-by which
he was felled to the floor and then while
down his head thumped itself severely sew
eral times on the tile, As a consequence
he has been laid up in bed with black eye
and swelled head as trophies of his unfor-
tunate wrestle with the plucky little Irish
man. Piatt has used his paper and person.
al influence to defeat McGarrahan's claim
to the extent of arousing Billy's ire up to
the fighting point aud though Piatt was
armed It availe1- him nothing for Billy's
fist was too much for his pistols. He says
however that he Is thankful McGarrahan
gave him the thrashing he got, with his
fists, as that is honorable while cowhiding
is not. Piatt is the Ishmaelite of newspa-
perl0m here. His hand is against every
body aud eveTybody's hand is against him,
hence the current of sympathy runs against
him in this matter of assault for no one
condemns the action of McGarrahan but
are inclined to make hero out of him.
He has been the recipient of several bOu-
quets and letters of thanks.
The witches in Macbeth did not have a
more seething eauldron than ours up in
the Capitol. We are now in the last six
days of the session and they bring always
rush and concentration OF business that is
perfectly overwhelming to our Legislators,
who, in their inability to comprehend the
situation, or to stem the torrent, allow
matters TO take their own pell nell course
The Senate prolonged its labors one night
to four o'clock in the morning trying to.
get quorum, and so exhausted were many
Of the SolOns by their hard work that the
necessity for stimulation was alarming to
those of temperance proclivities. At least
several Senators whose total abstinence
scruples are kept for use only in their homes |
in the State at election times and similar |
occasions, where clear heads are demanded, |
succumbed to the bad air and laid them |
selves out for a night of sleep or muggy in
tellects at their homes or in the committee |
rooms where comfortable sofas invite tired |
men to rest their wearied bodies and brains. |
One of our ministerial friends remarked |
to US next morning that the reflection was
an appalling one to him that our laW-nak-
erS should indulge in eXceSSes at a time !
when the interests of the country demand
ed OF them the utmost vigilance aud atten-
ton. The yerdancy Of clergyman can be
excused for he is not presumed to know
that more than half of the more important
bills Of Congress are passed in both Houses
in perfect turmoil of haste and confusion
intensified by too frequent pOtationson the
part Of many legislators Of ''cold tea" and
similar beverages inducing the happiest
state of oblivion to all that is passing
around or about them. There is little diff
ference between the Senate and the House
On the temperance score. for part of its
members must be duly fortified whenever
The country demands of them more than
i've hours labor in the twenty-four 1t is
we'll indeed that there are clear-headed
men in both parties who can attempt to
bring some kind of order out of the Con-
yressional chaos which falls on Congress in
is last six days.
Mr.. Hale met with a defeat in an at
empt to fillibuster the other day through
lot having his men properly in hand and
instructed as to his tactics, for in the first
lilitOry motion several Republicans, from
ignorance undoubtedly, voted with the
Democrats, and thereby enabled them, " ith
he and of the Speakers tie vote, to put
luietus on him. Mr.. Hale has splendid
lighting qualities but fails sometimes, as in
his case, by not having his rear rank well
losed up. Three sleepy headed Republi-
Willingly surrendered. and their loss
- lss..l.- with Sam sRandaii's vote so
b honorable man WOlssSs
zs +"
BE now sank into sort Of stupor r. -
leci noYwhich lasted some minac-
i sugar and broke silsRes witb3lrgeA
ltage over those days when we, as
hsd N side for the sugar cam