Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-03-25
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
From our regular Correspondent.

From regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, d. c., March 90, 1880.
Washington has just passed through
one of the most disagreeable weeks
within the memory of that venerable
sage "the oldest inhabitant." Rain,
rain, through the week, until Saturday,
when the clouds dispersed and gave us
beautiful day.
AT last the domestic infelicites which
have been known to exist between ex.
Senator Christiancy-now minister at
Peru-and his wife, have eliminated,
and we are promised divorce suit as
full of nauseating details as any in
which the Prince of Wales ever figured
as witness or participator. Mrs.
Christiancy returned here some months
since from Peru, and her husbands
friends assert that her conduct has
been quite reprehensible, though only
in keeping with her actions for several
years past, not only in this country but
in Peru. lie has applied for q leave Of
absence, nd will return here to insti.
tute proceedings against her for divorce.
She, on the other hand, charges him
with extreme cruelty, and asserts her
innocence of crime. 1t is not at all
likely that Mr.. Chrstiancy will invoke
much sympathy for himself no matter
what his witnesses may prove against
her. She was mere child when he
married her, younger in years than some
of his children, and, beyond that, was
destitute oS any of the solidity OF sen.
sible womanhood. She was regarded
as volatile and frivolous, and could not
fail to make the wedlock Of such ex.
treme disparity of ages. and tempera-
ment an unhappy one, even if, "a she
insists, her skirts are clear of unfaith.
fulness.
The President has approved the bill
allowing one hundred additional pen.
sion clerks. Now there is q prospect of
some relief from the great delays of the
Pension Office, and hope that the
business of the Office, which is fully
one year behind hand, will be brought
up TO point where pension claim
has some show of being adjudicated.
As matters now go in that important
bureau, which is so unfortunate as to
have the poorest of executive heads. a
claimant has little assurance that five
years will see the end of his case. A
100 moro clerks will, of course, expe.
dite, to some extent.
Considerable interest was manifested
in the proceedings of Congress, and
notwithstanding the wet weather
crowds daily wended their way to the
Capitol to witness the proceedings. The
subject before the wise men of the ma.
ton that attracted mos5 attention was
the consideration of the deficiency ap,
preparation bill which was finally dis
posed OF on Friday. The feature Of
the bill that excited the interest of out.
siders was the clause relating to the
pay of the deputy marshals appointed
under the Federal election laws and
the proviso attached 10 the bill in the
shape OF a riders amending these laws
that hereafter special deputies shall be
appointed by judges Of the United
States Circuit or District Courts, and
shall be selected from the different po.
litical parties. After three days strug.
gle the Democrats succeeded in carry.
ing the amendment through the House.
The contest on Friday was one Of the
most exciting and important parlia.
mentary conflicts in Congress for many
years. Those Republicans who are
known to reflect Mr.. Hayes views
regarding Federal election laws express
ed themselves in favor Of the provi.
sions of the amendment adopted BY the
House and they voted against II only
on the ground Of opposition to general
legislation on appropriation bills, but a