Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-02-18

WASHINGTON February 14.-Certain people
who say they know Mr.. Conkling's purposes,
assert that it is the intention of that individual
to make reply on the floor of the Senate to
the recent scalding given him by Senator But
Ter, of South Carolina. From what they re-
port, Mr.. Conkling, it would seem. is sitting up
nights putting together a speech intended to
totally demolish the Senator from South
Carolina. 1 hope this is true. hope Mr.
Conkling, with his sneer and swagger, will
just pitch right iHto Mr.. Butler. If he
does. it will be one of the hveliest
days in the history of the Senate. Senator
Butler has heard the reports of what is said
to be in store for him. He does not seem to
be much alarmed. II Mr.. Coukling makes q
reply, Mr.. Butler says, based on general
grounds and free from personality, all will be
serene. Ii he 'demoliShes'' the South Caro-
lima Senator, he will have left on his hands one
OF the liyelleSt corpSeS that he ever dreamed
Of It is the intention, under such circum-
stances, or Senator Butler to, openly in the
Senaka. read Mr.. Conkling lecture on the
Shot policy, especially as applied at
ee2Sain place called Canonchet and
to run the whole of that scandal
fore it is to be hoped that the latter will de
molsh" Senator Butler. II Conkling, how
ever, gets an intimation of the latter's purpose
ne WIN allow the recent scalding that he has
endured to pass by without any sort OF a reply.
THE ICE FREsHET
The Potomac river about Georgetown, Just
above the city of Washington is now almost
free or ice Opposite us and for q good dis
tance down the stream there is an ice gorge
The ice broke in the river in the recent thaw and
pounded down for twenty-four hours. carry
ing all before 1t. The river rose higher than
the oldest inhabitant can recall The ice
crushed schooners in the harbOr ike egg
shells, and swept away wharves with angry
relish. Houses within the reach of the grind
ing flood were either carried away or badly
punctured by the foes that hammered against
them. Debris OF every kind hoated down from
above. Even the big river steamers could not
stand 1t. They were punched, torn loose from
their moOrings and badly damaged, though
none were totally destroyed Four spans
of the long bridge over which the travel goes
South were swept away. The mails and South
ern passengers are now taken over the bridge
at Georgetown in coaches and then down the
other bank to the railroad. Boating was the
common thing on Pennsylvania avenue The
big market of the city-Central Market-had
water in it up to the counters of the stalls. The
part of the city below the avenue and west of
Four and a-half street, was inundated. People
had to move out, many not leaving until the
water got so high that they had to
reach the boats from the second story
windows. Merchandise in the warehouses and
places OF business, and private property was de-
stroyed or injured to an extent that represents
large sum of money 1t is calculated that
the freshet has done damage in Washington
and in Georgetown to the amount of between
100000 and 81, ,0O0, ,0G0. 1t Is very cold now
and the immense gorge of ice is freezing to-
gether again. When it breaks there will be
more damage but not so extensive. The river
having run clear of the ice above there is not
much danger of another rise in the water and
there cannot be another down-ruSh of the ice
The water has receded and people are moving
back into their houses and repairing damages
THE COLOR LINE AGAIN.
Nothing in the way Of public enterprise
can be undertaken in Washington but up
springs the colored brother as an element of
trouble. The Republican resident in Washing
ton or elsewhere talks great deal about the
equality and rights of the negro, but when it
comes to the test, is always found wanting So
il is now in the matter Of the inaugural bali.
The Republican white folks are alarmed
because the negroes are buying largely
Of tickets to the grand affair. They don't
want them there. The ball committee want to
sell as many tickets as they can and dispose
OF them to anybody. The report that the
colored brother is to be largely represent ed on
the great occasion has reached a number of
outside cities, and the sales of tickets there
have fallen off greatly. The managers of the
flair have got together and announce that
although no distinction on account of color in
selling tickets has been, or will be made, very
few others than white folks have purchased
them. This is wholly untrue, but will probably
have the desired effect. The fact is as stated
above that many tickets have been bought by
negroes. and that race will be fully represented.
So-called public sentiment Eere and in
other places among the Republicans is such
that 1t would never be thought of to refuse ad-
mission to the negro; but when it is found that
he and his Dinah are coming, then the folks
who make that sentiment refuse to go.
WHAT WILL BE DONE FOR RoaERsi
The President has o private secretary and
his name is Rogers. Mr.. Rogers was quite an
first eighteen months of Mr.. Hayes term. He
was kind of foil to Mr.. Hayes from the
many people who just wanted to
''see the President for minute.' Rogers
did very well for while. But he is such an
easy going, amiable gentleman that he took
the best way OF getting rid of these people by
telling them that he would see that they got
what they wanted in very short time He
fully intended that they should. but. except in
very rare cases, nothing ever came of the
promise. Although Mr.. Hayes practices the
any one else. So, when folks got to compIain-
ing about false promises, Rogers was removed
from the capacity as a foil, or rather that
branch OF the business was taken out of his
hands. Still he was pretty much OF n import [
ant official. He was let into all the Cabinet |
secrets, and knew exactly whs6 Mr.. HAYES |
thought on this or that subject. But he |
nbisi,o Is o "a to09b1dIpg h1sn nStnre and too
time he YVES tapGesdd ~ and ne"Ss~r "Se he
promptly tbe t6iprs snu WHICH he sEeSy sSod not
have tod and left untold the things that should |
have seen spoken. His innocence and frank !
nesS unsuited him for the place OF private sec |
reaary. The President did not like to remove
Hm. So he took all Of the business Of the
office out of his hands and trusted him no
more Mr.. Rogers has ever since been private
secretary in name only. 1t is the rarest sight
to see him in his office at the White House. He
stays at home and draws his salary. He is so
guileless and lamb-like that people wonder
what will become of him after March 4th. 1t
Is the usual thing for the outgoing President to
provide nice Office for his private secretary
Mr. Hayes, it is expected, win do something by
Rogers. The question is, what will he be gfveni
The answer among those who know the man
seems o be that about the only thing that can
be given him is a chaplaincy in the army or
navy.