Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1881-02-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.

Tie Beeiaaingof De Ind Settling ScnGtO-
rial Doubts. None LeJt ia Fhicd 10 Bend
TIfvmQa's Boz. An EytrG Session In1Dli-
aeat. Inaugural Preparation.
Washington, d. c., Jan. Is, 1881.
The end of the present Administration
and thepresentC Congress comes on apace, and
only hve weeks more of the present execu-
live and legislative regime remain. During
th. last week some senatorial doubts have
been cleared up in the state legislatures, but
tie organization of the Senate Is still IN the
uonderous little vote of William Malone, OF
virginia. If he decides to vote with the
Republicans there will be tie and Wee
President Chester A. Arthur will cOntrOfthe
organization in favor of his party. II he
votes with the Democrats, that party will
have a majority of one and proceed with
the reorganization with such important
changes in committees rs the retirement OF
old and the accession of new senators Will
make necessary. With the close of the
present session the ablest Democratic sena-
tor will retire, temporarily al least, from
public life: his loss and his leadership will
indeed be diff .ult TO supply. There will
remain able debaters. well-read lawyers and
eloqueut orators like Beck, Bayard, Voorhees,,
Lamar. Vest and others, butn0ue so wise, so
cool and So able in debate and counsel as
the Ohio senator WHO will retire His era
and leadership in the Senate has given a
poise and aconSistency TO Democratic action
i'm that body, whether in minority or MAJOR
itv. such u, 10 has not lately had in the
House. and which ! dOnOt think itcan have
without Thurman.
Tie action of the House during the past
week. or rather, it, iuaction, has pretty de-
cisivoy settled tie question that we are TO
have an extra session. Much OF the week
has been occupied with dilatory flibuStering
on the question OF the manner OF counting
the electoral vote for President and Vice
President. and Congress Is more remote than
ever from az rCcmCnt
Preparations tor a great inaugural tete on
the 4th of March are still going on, and ITS
proposed spectacular and festive features are
being discussed by thcc0mmittecs in charge
and bv the city press. An unusually large
number of visitors is expected and 1t may
De OF some interest % y0ur readers to have
some general information rs 20 board and
lodging I'm Washington. This Is city IN
which one may live comfortably and respect
a0iy for one dollar per day, II he knows
where % 20; or he can easily spend SIX dol
lars per DAY for his bed and board if he is
inclined TO DO SO. Perhaps no city in the
country has so many excellent boarding
/ houses. and while the number of visitors
NAV be unprecedentedly large, | do not
think they will have any difficulty in find
/ inc good accommodation. If the military
organizations that have signiied their in
tcution 70 come and Join the inaugural pro-
ce..iou from the White House TO the Capitol
and back. shall be ON the ground, there will
+ be- volunteer corps in Washington equal
numerically To the United States Army OF
$500. They expect to find accommodation
I'm tents. / can only say that, If we have
our usual 4th of March weather, the lot OF
these play soldiers will be uncomiortably
/ Ike that of the policemen in the Pirates
of Penzance."