The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-12-15

Washington Is yearly adding to- her
permanent inhabitants a large pro-
portion of all whom the Nation de-
lights TO honor, still they are scat
tered far and wide throughout the
length and breadth of this great
Union until the opening of Congress
calls them alike to business and pleas
ure.
This year the week proceeding the
opening of Congress was rendered
unusually lively by the hustle and at
fractions Of the Garfield Memorial
Fair The vast rotunda, with the
stately old Hall of Representatives,
the various corridors, the massive
and gloomy crypt, and in fact almost
all the available space within the
walls of the Nations gorgeous marble
palace, was for several days alive
with moving mass of glowing col
ors, through which the winters sun
by dav and the electric light at night
struck leveled lances Of living rays to
light the scene. The streets have
been full Of people, brilliant uniforms
of Templars, shining bicycles, melo-
dious bands and the like. As dis
play the fair has been brilliant sue
cess, but from financial standpoint
the measure of its success falls far be.
low the expectations of its projectors.
About $4,000 were expended in the
arrangements and during the first
days it seemed doubtful whether
even this sum would come back in
receipts. The closing days, however,
were better, though l am not ncw
prepared to say whether there has
been any considerable profit realized.
Many would have given largely and
cheerfully to Garfield Hospital,
who gave but little or not at all for
monumental purposes. There is,
moreover, growing sentiment deep
down in the hearts Of many thinking
men and women that enough and to
spare has already been done to glori-
fly our second martyred President,
and they point to Abraham Lincoln
and the unfinished monument Of
Washington and wonder if all the
National gratitude and reverence is
to cluster round statesman whom
we knew but yesterday.
The Administrations policy, al
ready forecast, Of recommending to
Congress the abolition of almost the
whole system of internal taxation
will, if adopted, cause the abolition
of some two thousand offices more
or less, the present occupants of
which like Othello, will find their oc-
cupation gone. This would cause a
mighty howl in Israel, and many Con-
gressmen are here who are pledged
to vote against it, not SO much, if the
truth were known, from sense of
lofty and patriotic duty, but to keep
some pet retainer in place whose re-
moval might provoke him to new
ambitions and to personal opposition.
Already the hum and preparation
for the yearly hustle of contending
parties floats drowsily to the ear.
A prominent Republican member
talking to the writer yesterday, re-
marked that no inconsiderable por-
ton of the great struggle for supre-
macy in 1884 would be fought and
won this winter. The Tariff will
come up again not only for dis
cussions, but for some measure of
absolute settlement. Internal reve-
nue. will have to be adjusted upon a
much smaller basis important ques-
tons concerning the public domain
and the great railroads are pressing
for speedy action, while the conflict
ing interests OF capital and labor, the
admission of new states, the question
of polygamy, and a hundred others
are knocking at the doors of Con-
gress for hearing and for action.
There will be but little room for
the personal quarrels and bicker-
ings which marked the recent session.
We must work hard all of us. A
portly and pleasant faced Senator of
the Democratic persuasion, while