Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-10-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Iron oaF Regular corraP0sdsHf.l q.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 9th, 1881.


md readjusting has been done, and after
all was finished the portraits of George
Washington and John Adams, the first
President and Vice-President, were
placeed on either side of the chair Of
the presiding officer. There has been an
atmosphere of paint and varnish about
the Capitol building for some time, not
at all confined to the Senate wing. One
POPULARITY about the building is that it
never was finished and is never likely to
be. There is perpetual cutting away
and remodeling which would make Con-
gressmen home-sick if they had to see it
done, but it is ordered one session and
all completed before the next, so that on
ly the summer tourist and the occasional
looker.in sees the noble old building in
the promiscuous condition of fashiona-
BILE woman before breakfast. Ventilla-
tion has always been serious difficulty,
or congressional hobby, and thousands OF
dollars have been spent on that alone.
About year ago the whole southern end
of the building was knocked out and tire
places constructed, whereupon the sub
iecr of ventilation took rest. Yet 1t Is
evident that entirely satisfactory results
have not been reached. If were to ex-
press myself truthfully, touching the real
difficulty on this point, I fear some OF
your country readers might he shocked.
To many whisky saturated breaths on the
floor and to many odorous niggers in the
gallery.
This season the carpets have been ia
ken I'D and new ones laid down. 1t any
clever housewife could have seen that car
pet in the Hall of the House when the
desks were removed l think she would
have been taken with sea-sickness. 1t
had been down for single session.
When it came up it looked like carpet
that had been struck by lightning from
a cloud that rained tobacco juice. Or
course it was worthless. A new carpet
went down not only in the chamber but
in most of the committee rooms. In the
Senate also the same conditions are
observable, while the desks have been
newly covered with blue cloth. The car
pets in the Senate are of more tasty de-
signs and apparently more costly. Your
Senator is more particular what he ex-
pectorates on. To complete the improve
ments new elevator has been put in the
House wing. 1t is not the old fashioned
Kentucky elevator" so much used down
in the restaurant, but passenger eleva-
tor to take members up from the base
ment to the floor and gallery. This they
say, was built expressly on account OF
Representative Klotz, of Pennsylvania,
who is very big man and threatened
with appoplexy, and profanity, every
time he climbs the stairways. 1t cost
$1,000.
There is no longer any question about
the organization of the Senate when it
meets and from the temper and tenor of
what has transpired concerning the mat
ter it is almost certain that there will be
no contest. The Democrats have tue pow
er and right under the law to elect pre-
siding officer and secretary before the
new Senators are sworn in, and they are
united in the purpose to use the oppor-
tunity. 1t is not quite SO certain who
they will nominate. Senator Bayard is
no doubt the first choice now as he was
last winter, but there are other consider
ations. Senator Davis holds the balance
of power. His vote would at any time
give the Republicans a majority, after
the organization, and it is thought by
many that his election to the Presidency
of the Senate by the Democrats would
render it improbable that he would vote
against them to upset any other part of
the organization. Besides he is fair
man and not a partisan, and it would be
graceful recognition on the part of the
Democrats Of the condition of public feel
ing as we'll as the evenly balanced situa-
ton of parties in the Senate.
The star route ring are said to be very
greatly disappointed at the attitude OF
President Arthur toward the prosecu-
tions. 1t was thought by some Of them
that the influence of Dorsey and Brady
would be very great with the new Ad-
ministration and that the case would be
allowed to slip through. But this belief
was not very well founded. The Presi-
dent has expressed himself very decided
edly on the subject. His wish is that
the prosecutions be vigorously pushed,
and he feels entirely satisfied to leave the
active proceedings in the hands of those
already in charge. His friend Geo. Bliss,
of New York, has been retained to assist
the prosecution, and besides Attorney
General McVeagh and Col. Cook, Benja-
mine H. Brewster, of Philadelphia, is
now here to represent the Government.
The indictments are being drawn and ev-
ery preparation made. There is no lack
of legal ability therefore, in support of
the Governments case, and there is said
to be no lack of evidence, some of which
comes from 'squealing" contractors, yet
with all this the fact must be recognized
that convictions are difficult and the re-
suit uncertain.
n --'-
Miss Annie Oliver, the young woman
who has taken charge of the Willoughby
Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church,