The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-05-01
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
OUR WASHINGTON SPECIAL.
WASHINGTON, April "a, 1880

The principal event of the week has been
the failure of the Geneva Award bill. The
bill is known as Senator Thurman's bill,
which had for its object the distribution of
the residue Of some ten millions of dollars
from the U. s. Treasury into the possession
of the Insurance Companies. An amend
rnent had been offered by Mr.. Hoar exclud-
ing the Insurance people and upon this be-
ing adopted the bill lost its principle features
of interest. Senator Thurman then declared
that he had no further interest in it. 1t
appears that in the debate regarding this
transfer Senator Blaine took sides against
the Insurance Companies while Senators
Thurman and Carpenter espoused their
cause. 1t is generally conceded that sena-
tor Blaine carried off the palm in the de-
bate which took place upon the subject.
AS matter OF interest to the far west it
can be stated that the bill granting pen
sion to Jesse NJ. Pbares, Il scout, which had
been submitted as test case, was passed in
the Senate, by large majority. Thus it
appears that worthy individuals who served
the country in such a capacity and received
disabilities will be treated as though they
had been mustered in the U. S. service as a
soldier.
The House Committee upon Coinage,
Weights and Measures haye decided to re-
port bill for the remoyal of the Mint at
Carson City, Nevada to some point on the
the Mississippi River. One of the most re,
markable exhibitions OF political taeiit was
made in the Congressional Record of Thurs
day morning last. A poem entitled the
"lmmortals," fifteen pages double column
was inserted by the Hon. Mr.. Downey, dele
gate from Wyoming Territory, under what
is termed an task leave to print" speech
instead Of delivering it before the House
OF Representatives. 1t is way that some
members have of getting their woud-be
speeches before their constituents with the
trouble of only writing them. Their inno-
cent friends at home regard the aforesaid
speech as a remarkable affair, and that is all
the honorable member DESIRES The curl
Gus feature of this case is that the pretended
speech is in blank verse, every line begin
ming with a capital. What is more yet, the
author took the precaution to copyright the
poem, fearing undoubtedly that it would be
copied extensively throughout the country
An interesting event took place during
the past week at the Capital, in the presen-
tation of writing desk belonging to Thos
Jefferson, which it is averred is the identl-
cal one upon which was written the declar-
tion Of independence. The desk has been
in the possession of the heirs of Joseph Cool
idge to whom it was given by Thomas JEFF
ferson. 1t has been placed for safe keeping
! in the Department of State. The Ways and
Means Committee have been hard at work
upon the revision of the tariff and a number
of ar, icles have been added TO the free list,
among thetl are salt printing paper, rags,
paper pulp, cod LIVER OIL, books, condensed
milk, refined opium, morphine and flax,
cations of all kinds, carpets, blankets and
flannels, and all kinds of wool are put at
thirty per cent, duty.
The spohord-K Kellogg case has once more
come up for consideration. The disputed
claim of Mr.. spoflord to Senator Kelogg's
seat seems to be afflicted with fits and starts
to an unusual degree, and it would be a
great blessing to all concerned if it could be
decided who was really entitled to the
place. The knowing ones say that Kellogg
Will not be unseated, but time will show.
Evening sessions are, so to speak, the or
der of the day. That is, the day is SO fritter-
ed away by fllibustering movemeDtsou the
part Of members of both political parties
that it is necessary TO 60 to the expense of
about 500 night TO light up the Capitol
for business. AUGUsr,