Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-05-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
wAsmscros, D. c.,'April. 20, 1882.

ever changing weather Of the spring time,
incident to this climate; while there was
so very little real cold weather during the
winter season that one could scarcely real
ize that we had had winter at all. IL Is so
unusually cold now that 1t Is hard TO con-
clude that we are hiyiug or too nave
spring; while our market is being supplied
with more than the usual quantity OF all
kinds Of early vegetables, we are wonder
ing where they have grown. Last Saooath
II showed nearly all day, and at one time
there was fully two inches OF snow on the
ground. Much anxiety Is being felt, and
expressed, for the safety OF the fruit crop
as Ice has been made on two occasions
within the past ten days, and many are
prophecying that the buds are seriously
injured, and the crop will be very lght'
but all this is usual at this season OF the
year. And do not despair Of enjoying n
reasonable supply of strawberrys, peaches
etc. etc.
Congress is moving very slowly to all
appearances, yet | think much has been
accomplished In committees and the work
performed will compare very favoraoly
with any previous Congress. Much time
has been consumed in Investigations, aud
work in this line continues to be prose
cutei. Shipheri has been mixing a des-
perate effort to besmirch somebody, the
chagrin he very naturally feels at not sue
ceedlng iu his gaiuo scheme In Peru, has
pushed him - do some exceedingly dirty
work. The enemies Of ex Sec. Blaine were
iubilent over his efforts at first, but the
ex Secretary his been heard from; he re-
questcd 10 be called before the committees
and has been on examination for several
days, and is giving much Information to
the committee, aud the country. Perry
Belmont member from New York City,
has been very conspicuous in his efforts TO
in some way effect the Character OF Mr..
Blaine. All has received som little atten-
ton from Ia, litter during his cxamina-
ton, that his hal the affect 10 materially
disturb him.
Contrary 10 general expectations the
SeAate committee on appropriations, have
submitted q report of their iuyestlg atoms
in to the expenditures OF the contingent
fund OF the Treasury D'plr,meut, under
the Sherman resolution of Oct. %, 1881,
which shows that the Sherman Literary
Bureau spent large sums Of public money
10 conducting the preliminary campaign
OF 1850. for instance they purchased s5O2
worth Of stationery OF one firm aud it was
paid for out OF this fund as File Holders,
one OF the employees OF the Department
worked on the Secretary's new house
month. another over week using lumber
from the department, another made all the
plans for the house in Office hours. All
paid for on the rolls OF the department,
and his private carriage was repaired cost
ing sil75, at the expense of this same
fund. The ex-Sec. however testiiles that
he knew nothing OF this.
Capt Howgate who is charged with the
Of large sums OF public
money while he was the disbursing officer
Of the Signal corps, aud has been In the
District jail here. since September, eluded
his guard while on visit TO his house,
under an order OF the court, to obtain
some papers TO be used in his defense, and
made good his escape, leaving note to
the newspapers that he would return when
wlnt,d for triIl. Capt. II. Is an Eng
lishman by birth, and was appoint
ed to the army from civil life. Many
in this community sympathlSs with him
q, he has been kept in jail over eight
IN )nths, without trial, they feel that he
should either be brought to trial or relcas-
ed. aud that the conduct of the case, has
C ,ased to be 4 prosecution, aul become
much after the fashion OF the
Whitaker case.
Halett Kilbourn who was the agent OF
the Real Estate Pool here some years
ago, and was imprisoned in the common
Jail of the District of Columbia, by order
OF the House OF Representatives because
he refused 10 exhibit before the "Gloyer
Committee" his private books, aud was
kept there for several weeks. Sued the
Hon. John G.. Thompson, Sergeant at
arms OF the House, for false impris onment
procured verdict against him some years
ago and il was carried TO the United States
Supreme Court when 1t was returned TO
the court below and q new trial ordered,
and last week IL was concluded with YER
dict for 500, 900. The republicans at the
time OF the Imprisonment, under the lead
Of Garfield and Frye resisted 1t as Illegal,
and unconstitutional. They are not little
elated that their position has been sustain
ed by the courts. The Democrats are
correspondingly depressed, and the swear
ing OF the army in Flanders is nowhere in
to that done by the unterriaed.
Efforts are now being made by counsel for
defense to procure new trial on the
ground of errors by the court in admitting
certain evidence and that the verdict Is
excessive.
The cabinet changes are we'll received
hot int ha ri
Hon William L. Chandler assumes his
new duties with the best wishes OF all
true Republicans. The positi on he has
held since 1876, has been one that has
caused no little comment, his earnest eff
'orts to secure an honest count, and thus
assure the election of Hayes to the presi.
iency, the zeal aud ability, he exhibited
turing the tendency OF the result in the