The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-04-16
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Special Correspondence to The Republican.
WASHINGTON. D. c., April. II, 1881.


WASHINGTON. D. c., April. II, 1881.
A Washington Sabbath is now
more quiet and orderly than even the
largest New England towns. All
public buildings are closed and the
public business is wholly suspended.
Stores, barber shops and drinking
saloons are closed. Cigar and period
ical stands are only open to limited
extent. Hotel bars as we'll as all
others are closed, though few of all
classes are accessible. A crowd about
the front of any one, or any signs of
disorder near one would result in
preventing even the indirect access.
Hacks do not stand in the streets. A
theatrical performance would be i'm
possible, to say nothing of tolerating
variety shows or dance houses. In
short, so far as possible, there is COM
plete outward respect to the Sabbath
in the administration of the National
and municipal government, and this
occasions no complaints. 1t is res
pected, and the condition of affairs
and restraints are accepted without
opposition by all classes of citizens.
A very small police force answers
every purpose of enforcing the Sun
day laws. In fact, so small is this
force that it may almost be said that
these laws are enforced without mum
icipal oversight. They are not de.
nounced as irksome by any class of
citizens, and no contest over them
would stand the slightest show of
success against the united healthful
sentiment of the majority of all
classes, without respect to party or
Nationality, and in speaking of this
outward respect for the Sabbeth, let
no one conclude it is all surface show.
There is no city in the land where
there is more general attendance up
on religious worship. 1t is respect
able thing to attend church on the
Sabbath in Washington. The con-
gregations are large ana the churches
are well sustained. Public men at
tend in large numbers. 3a
The most prominent of govern
ment and of Congress without regard
to party, are to be found in the
churches on Sunday morning. The
idea that Nation owes allegiance to
God, seems always to have resting
place in the minds of public men
here. and the large proportion of them
have always paid at least the outward
respect to religion to which such SEN
timent of necessity gives rise.
The Sabbath order can not mainly
be attributed to the absence of foreign
population. This element is over
100. or one in nine OF the population.
But this foreign population is as or.
derby and as respectful to the Sabbath
restrictions as the native citizens.
There has been a compromise be
tween the telephone exchange here,
and their subscribers. The latter ia
the number of 1927 on the first day Of
this month, severed the connection
between their instruments and the
headquarters ofthe company. several
meetings have been held between a
citizens committee and the executive
officers Of the company, the result Of
which is as follows wit
The regular charge for connection
with the exchange is $25 per annum,
this is exclusive of the cost of trans.
uniting messages. The service rates
to subscribers. $3.50 per one hundred
calls, discounts will be given as fol.
lows On thousand calls to be Is.
sued in one year, ten per cent on two
thousand calls % per cent, three
thusand calls, 35 per cent. There
was division of OpiniOn in the citi-