The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1880-06-12
Our Washington Letter.
The End Of the season-Legislators off
to Chicago-Hxecutive Automata and
Accomplished Clerks Debt Payments

Accomplished Clerks-Debt Payment
Politics. ..<
WASHINGTON. d. e.. June 9, 1880.
EDITOR CHEF:
The disreputable gang of boat rae
ing gamblers has left the city. Squad
of Senators, Members, and other po
litical toilers and moilers have gon
to Chicago. This August heat in Ma.
has driven the fair daughters o
Fashion and their mammas off to tn
mountains, the sea shore, and Europe
The season has been brought to
sudden close. Washington is lDerel,
the residence of the Executive an,
Legislative Departments of this Gov
ernment, which, by the way, as ever.
one ought to know, is run by th'
$500 clerks. II any man will inven
an automaton that will sign its nam.
as President of the United States, tt
bills, commissions, etc, and cheaper
automatoDs that will sign the names
of heads of Departments to the docu'
ments prepared for their signature By
$500 clerks this government nigh,
be propelled along the ringing groves
of progress with much more economy
and much less nonsense.
The great diplomat who has been
at Constantinople, when not some
where else, for the last three years
will, in a few days, assume the duties,
so-called, of Postmaster General.
What does he know about the busi-
ness? But then it is not necessary
for him to know any thing. The per-
fected machine worked by $500
clerks runs itself, and as long as those
$500 clerks remain IN place through
out our mammoth civil service, it
makes but little difference, except for
the name of the thing whether we
draw Cabinet officers from Constanti-
uople or some other lunatic asylum.
But l was writing about this deserted
village.
The flag that tells the presence of
the National Legislature still waves
over the Capitol, but the halls Of Con-
gress are devoid of interest and the
galleries are no longer filled with
their accustomed crowd. That Con-
gress will protrHct the session far into
the summer is very generally be-
lieved, but the wives, the daughters,
sisters, cousins and aunts of Con-
gressmcn have hied away to cooler
summer retreats where they can
lounge on cool verandahs,
"Pour where battling waters flow,
And watch unfolding roses blow"
lave their Mnsidora bodies in the
salty surf, and knit the raveled sleeve
of last seasons dissipation.
This Congress has pot made rec
ord worthy of especial notice, but I
know Of no great frauds which have
been favorably considered, and that
is much to the credit of both Houses,
as these are "tlush" times
and the government is receiving such
sums of money that re-
duction of over forty millions is made
in the public debt in three months.
There was much better feeling
Republicans last night when
it became known that belligcrents at
Chicago had agreed upon truce con-
ccrning the unit rule. For several
days past the coolest Republicans
here had expected serious results
rom the vexed question. The nomi
nation will be made before this letter
8 in pint, and there can be no harm
Il saying that Republican leaders re-
naming here, realizing the danger
Jus state of affairs, had been in con-
'ultation over the subject of sending
o Chicago an appeal in behalf of
senator Window. The Senator would
;el eltainly make an admirable Presi-
lent.
Increased interest is of course felt
n the coming Democratic Conven-
ion, now that the Republican Con-
,ention is at land. 1t is known
everywhere that there is large ma
ority Of Democratic CoDgressmen
Who are opposed to the denomination
f Mr.. Tilden, and perhaps this point,
or that reason, is not one where a
orreet Judgment of the future can be
asi)y formed. If we take the opinion
f the Hon. So-and 80, based, as he
ays it is, ON information received |
rom "his State constantly, we shall
ave to believe that Mr.. Tilden can
ot be nominated. Perhaps the never
nding repetition of this statement
fleets US all here, for very few Wash
ngtonians now look upon Mr.. Tilden |
s the coming man. Four years ago,
Dng before the Convention met, the
Id Democrats of the city had their
ouses newly furnished to receive
i'm, and all went over to New York |
D make his acquaintance. 1 find