Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-02-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Iron our Regular corr~Dondent.I

/ -N'-AsNAC-ff ~ ~ 1Nbs - ASSAs
We have had the heaviest storm of the
season during the last week with a few
days sleighing and lively times generally
about the capitol. Congress, too, is
finally doing something in the way of
business. The three per cent bond meas
ure, which has been under discussion in
the senate. now stands fair chance of
defeat. The democratic senators are,
with two or three exceptions, against it.
So also are Senators Plumb, Window,
and one or two Others on the republican
side. The democrats favor three per-
cent. bond with the provisions of the
Vest amendment. but the Sherman bill
does not reach the banks and is a meas
ure of little consequence. The house is
very slow in getting at the new appor.
tionment, but it is apparent that the
membership of that body will be in
creased. The majority of the census
committee favor 800 as the number of
members, and on this basis the represen-
tation OF twenty-one states decreased.
The present number of representatives is
295 and it is very much to be regretted
that no plan for reduction finds faver
among its members. Outsiders who
know anything about it all agree that
the best interests of the country would
be served by decrease. The house as
now constituted is often little better than
a mob. TO add 27 members is to add to
the ineffieiency, confusion, and pon-pro-
ductiveness of the body which holds the
purse-strings of the nation. Nobody
knows this better than the members
themselves, but they are 10th to decrease
their own chances of reelection by re-
ducing the number of districts in the
State. They hope rather to increase
them by adding on district or two,
Pension matters have attracted some
attention lately. The president sent to
congress this week communication for
the commissioner relative to the amount
of appropriation required annually for
the next twenty-five years. Upon the
basis assumed, Mr.. Dudley estimates the
amount for that period, ending with
1s06, at $1,347, ,651, ,593. the annual ap-
preparation growing gradually less, from
$4,000, 900 this year, to $23, 100000 at
the end of the twenty-five years. Con-
gresham Farwell, of Illinois, proposes a
plan for the detection of frauds upon the
pension bureau which consists in pub.
fishing the names of pensioners and
posting them in conspicuous places in
each district. The commissioner of PEN
sions proposes to ferret out in another
way those who may be fraudulently on
the rolls. His idea is to employ four or
| five hundred clerks for Two or three
years, and set them to work investiga-
| ting into the history of each pensiQner.
1t is possible that congress may adopt
this suggestion. 1t possesses the great
merit of calling for big appropriation
of $500. 900 per year, and of providing
places for great many more political
| favorites. Mr.. Farwells method, how
ever, is cheaper and better in every way.
The bogus pensioners are pretty certain
to be detected as soon as their names are
printed. Publication would have the eff.
feet of enlisting every citizen in the ser.
vice of the government as a detective tC
ascertain who are drawing money illegal
ly from the treasury.
One of the largest enterprises, asking
the attention of congress is Capt. Eads
inter-oceanic ship railway across the
isthmus. have not examined into the
merits of his plan but If it is practicable
it would possess one advantage over the
DeLesseps' scheme is that it contem
plates placing the enterprise wholly un
der American control. Speaking about
big things: saw yesterday one of the
brass medals gotten up for the famous
306 who stood by Grant at Cicahgo, L
weighs about pound. They have just
been distributed. and is Mr.. David Monat
of Philadelphia gets his he will be the
first man on record who had the honor
of being decorated with an order and a
the same time occupying cell in thu
penitentiary. 1t is understood thai
} when man with one of the 306 gegawl
dangling at his bosom presents himself a
J the White House. he will be promptly
/ taken to the back kitchen and given sil
, from Mr., Arthurs private bottle of cher
: ry-bounce.
Strangers in the city who come here tt
enjoy themselves and see the sights com
plain of the dullness of society chiefly
> because there has been nothing going OF
at the White House, but among the ha
5 bitues of select social circle there ha
been no end of enjoyment since the in
! augural of the gay season, January
t Dinners are the principal attractions an
. George Gorham, sourcd and dyspeptic a
|. he is politically, says that this is an er
of good eating. There never was 8
: many elaborate dinners as have bee
: given in the month just closed? .Th
, fashionable uptown restaurants hav
0 each had two or three large private dir
e ner parties in one evening, where every
n thing was conducted on the NEST elabc
rate scale. These were mostly whel
! private residences were insufficient
:. accommodate the company. At dil
d ner given by senator a few nigh
s since there were twelve different kint
J. of wine served, and this was not consi
d cred anything unusual. Engagements
If dinner are so common that in the la
!. week several prominent gentlemen we
d compelled to invite their friends
r breakfast as the only plan to get the
together. A distinguished member
r the bar to-day said to an eminent mer
l. ber of the bench: Judge, if these di
y ners don't stop, the President will sot
n have sevearl fine appointments at his d
lie posal." PHoNo.
u The only secret about Ayers Cher
k, Pectoral is in the selectionsof the b.
L. materials for the cure of coughs a
he colds and skiilfully combining them
is chemical presses. This all medical m
are aware of, as they are furnished W
the formula of its preparation.
r~fk hA.