Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-01-28
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE
NOTES AT THE CAPITOL.

For the past week we have been locker
on in Venice, or to use more intelligible
expression, we have been in almost constant
proximity with the assembled wisdom of the
Nation, during which time we have arrived
at a higher appreciation than ever before OF
the expression of Talleyrand, Prime Minis
ter under Napoleon the l, who, having sent
his son, a beardless youth, TO some foreign
Court remarked, "See what small amount
of brains it takes to represent a great peo-
ple"-our readers can draw their own con-
clusions
Lettering around the galleries of the House
one cannot fail TO observe that among so
many there are some able, conscientious and
ambitious men, but take them altogether
more ordinary, unpromising set of expo
nents you could not find out Of State
Legislature. They dress abominably, they
outrage every rule of good breeding and de-
cent behavior. They chew tobacco, smoke,
assume positions which, viewed from the
galleries, are worse than the poses in Jardin
Mabille They blow their noses with their
fingers, wipe their mouths with the back Of
the hand, assisted by the coat-sleeve pulled
down for that purpose. They laugh loud,
talk louder and with the utmost nonchal-
ance, call half dozen seats away to some
hail-fellow to go out for some lunch. There
is not one law of common civility and cour-
tesy that these law makers do not pulverize.
The Senate is decidedly more digni6ed and
decent.
1t is q very noticeable fact of life in Wash
ington that many of the most prominent
and wealthy people are plain and unassum-
ing in their dress and mode of life. 1t is
known that there is a large element of
shoddy which attracts attention by gaudy
display of wealth and an apish mimicry OF
EXTREMIST fashion, as is so fully protrayed by
George William Curtis in his famous "Poti-
phar Papers," Sir Edward Thornton, the
British Minister, whose salary, besides his
income, is over $4,000 year, walks every
day from his home to the Capitol. We rode
down few days since from the Capitol in a
five cent omnibus. in which the only other
passenger was the Vice-President Of the
United States. Mr.. Hill, of Colorado, who
is worth at least two millions, walks to and
from the Capitol, whilst all around him dash
the coaches of men who live on their con-
gressional salaries. The economy at the
White House, much as it has been abused
is a healthful example, and it cannot be
doubted but that it has had an eflicatious eff
feet in official lite in Washington as well as
through the country. 1t is said that Repre-
sentative Acklen, who has more money than
brains, kept an establishment, fit for duke
with lovely female attendants TO answer th,
tap of his bell, and as in Eastern houses, u
dance gracefully over the velvet carpets a
his bidding. In striking contrast witt
such butterfly representatives, and men sim
liar in character and taste, are the Judges o
the Supreme Court, who are fixed for lii
on handsome incomes, but who grace thei
exalted lives with those virtues which ca
best adorn every homestead.
One Of the most important measures tia
apd Which has passed that body, is tn
funding bill Ii is o wise and popula
measure, and il the Senate desires TO NEE
the wishes of tho great mass of people,
will not hesitate to pass the bill just as
came from the House. The bill does no
suit the capitalists, the national banks an
the Republican party, but that is no reaso
why il should not become law. Tn
capitalists want no funding bill at all, be
cause six per cent. is better than three pc
cent, the national banks are in the same boat
and the Republican party would appear ;
be directing its course in the interest in tn
monied power. 1t would appear that thos
who are opposed to the bill hold to the ide
as laid down by Lord Blackstone, "that
national debt is q national blessing" an
the higher the rate ofnterest and the longe
the loan lasts, the greater the blessing TIL
Democrats ON the other hand prefer 10y
rate of interest and the earliest possible pay
ment of the same.
The opposition of the banks to the bill
taking form which, in the end, may Civ
them some trouble. They are already b.
ginning to reduce their circulation by sellin
the bonds they.have deposited to secureit fc
the purpose of getting the premium whic
the bonds command, and it is estimate
that if the funding bill shall pass the Ser
ate they viii sell d; least one-half the 200
100000 of the five and six per cent. bone
now deposited for their circulation an
scithdrdD The notes issued thereon. A striI
gent money market would follow such
contraction of the circulation and the Eas
ern banks are actually threatening the couI
try with this inconvenience TO prevent IL
passage of the bill.
No one will deny the right of the banl
to judge for themselves on what terms the
can most profitably issue their notes, but
will be unfortunate for them if they sha
prove that the national banking system
incompatible with the interest of the go
eminent in reducing the rate of interest q
the national debt. They say they cam,
furnish circulation based on bonds beariu
three per cent But what about the prof
they made in furnishing a circulation q
bonds bearing nine per cent? They WEI
chartered with the understanding that the
would provide the country with safe NJ
iional currency, and they have advocated u
permanent withdrawal of the greenbacks
as TO present wider field for their notes
short, they have asked the government
give them monopoly Of the business
supplying the people with paper money, al
II is not a little inconsistent with this CO.
> duct to see them now menacing the count
with withdrawal Of their notes for u
purpose OF defeating measure dictated |
public policy and the interest Of the peopl
The new bonds and certificates are TO
three per cent. and are TO be redeemable
from one 10 ten years. The Greenbacke
are opposing this bill because they do n
want the debt refunded, they want It pa
off and got rid Of entirely in the shorte
pracficable time AZ that the nafionaI Ia nj