The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-02-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Several Congressional Scenes
But Little LegislatiOn-Some
Reasons Why congressman are
Sick and Unit for Work.


from our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, d. G., Feb. IL, 1881.
This week week has not been
cventful from a National legislative
point of view, but we have had a
scene in the Senate, in which Sena-
tors Conkling and Butler acted, and
two scenes in the House, in one Of
which Messrs Blackburn and FRYE
were principal, and in the other
Messrs Cox and Reagan held the lead.
ing roles. I had almost omitted to
mention the monotonous ceremony
of counting and declaring The cleo.
toral vote. But little business has
been transacted; the Senate, the
House, and the committees of both
are behind with their work. If the
truth must be told the National Con.
gress is dissipated. There are too
many Wild young members from the
country, and too many festive old
rakes from the city in the House and
in the Senate. If it were possible to
get the essence of candor from these
gentlemen, they would confess that
their main object here in Washing
ton is not to transact business for
$4,000, 900 people but TO have good
time, that they regard the work of
committees and congressional sessions
very much as thoughlless boys do the
! confinement Of the school ROOM
This is the way alone in which so
much aDoeateeism can be accounted
for, and theleason Why members and
senators are listless, sick, and unfit
for work may be explained, nine
times in ten, by the fact that they
have spent the previous night in de.
bauchery, or in what is not much
less hurtful, social dissipation. The
experience Of the reader will bear
me out in the assertion that an aver
age man over thirty, cannot dance
all night and be fit for work next
day; neither can he eat, drink, and
carouse at saloons, brothels, gambling
houses, or political symposio, and
have clear head for legislative work.
If the average member Of Congress
is none too bright at best, what must
he be when worn out and fuddled?
Debauchery and social dissipation is
prevalent in official and political
life to deplorable extent in Wash
ipgton. l do not say that It is worse
than it has been, or that it is in.
creasing. | do not know. Unfortu.
nately we have, and can have, no
statistics. l only know that it is
bad, and that have not overdrawn
the picture.
During the next four weeks, there
will be in this city representatives
from almost every section of the
country. They will admire the beau
ty of the streets, avenues, parks,
statues, aud public buildings and
they will go home with the impress
sion that the National Capitol is Il
city of surprising cleanliness and
loveliness. The police force has
been doubled, and every effort will
be put forth to give the best impress
sion. But all that glitters is not
gold. Surrounding the marble pal.
aces that the Government has built
are numerous drinking saloons, and
in no city of the Union are the
haunts of dcbauchery so splendid and
so prosperous. C. A. S.
The ghosts of the moonshiners are
rising up against Atkinson's confirm.
alton, as U. S. Marshall. Yves. yarn.
ed so dreadfnlly while he was a reve.
nue. officer, about the mountain re.
gions of the Third District. that ire
spective of party, the people of that
section are fighting him. Unkind
and untrue stories about our neigh
bors always come home to roost. At.
kinson has the ability to make a
good Marshall, but the probabilities
ale that he cau not BIZ confirmed.