The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-12-16
Washington Letter.
From Or Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. IA, 1882

WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. IA, 1882.
On last Saturday was witnessed an unusual
spectacle at the United States Capitol: both
houses of Congress were in session throughout
the day. The memory of the Oldest chronicler
runs not to the contrary that Congress has al
ways adjourned over the first Saturday of the
first week ofthe session. The fact that neither
house took the accustomed Saturday holiday
is understood to mean that the house ''means
business" Indeed, the activity of Congress
during the first week of the session is matter
of general comment The Indian appropria-
ton bill and the Consular and Diplomatic
Bill have been passed. The Postoffice and
Pension bills it is thought will be passed this
week, and that the Army and Navy bills may
be pushed through before Christmas. 2 Several
other appropriation bills are ready to be re-
ported. Civil service reform measures, in
volving the most radical changes, are urged
by Republicans who, until Monday, were
ready to declare, with Senator Morton, that
we had "the best civil service on the planet"
Bills reducing taxation, revising the tariff and
reducing postage on sealed letters to two cent,
have been introduced, or are in preparations
and altogether it looks as though this Congress
that has wasted its youth and lusty manhood.
will now devote its eleventh hour remnant to
work. Of course every one knows the cause
of this galvanic activity as well as he knows
that death bed repentance is not vicariOus for
wicked, wasteful life, at least not in politics.
A busy week in the Senate was closed by a
rafting debate on Senator Beck resolution to
inquire into the assessments of Jay Hubbell.
Senator Voorhees, opened the engagement by
a vigorous attack on the traditional policy of
the Republican party, as shown in the methods
of Elk Senator Dorsey and Hubbell. Senator
Hale, of Maine, the son-in-law and heir of
Zachariah Chandler, replied, stating that the
Democrats had raised an immense election
fund from saloon keepers under the threat that
their licences would be revoked unless they
paid. He said that the Democratic campaign
committee was not so impecunious as the SEN
ator from Indiana had been led to believe.
Mr.. Beck said that if the Senator desired
an investigation the action of the liquor deal
ers, or the national banks, or the Bessemer
steal makers, or any other great interest in
connection with either party, he would vote
for it as separate proposition, but he did not
wish to see that question used to avoid the in
yestigation he proposed. If that investiga-
ton should be ordered he would make the
proof SO strong of the outrages inflicted upon
government employees that the system of politi-
cal assessments would be made odiouse even to
the other side. 1t could be shown that men
and women had been ousted from their places
in the Departments whose failure to contribute
was due to absolute inability, and that in some
instances Democratic friends had given them
money to pay these assessments, so that they
might be saved from starvation. Mr.. Hale's
charges makes the oon-keepers more timid
and simple sort of folk than they have hereto
fore been supposed to be. And to give his
''you- are another" argument any point, he
would have to show that the saloon-keepers
Lib . L., hxyf Of fho
Campaign Committee, and could be assessed
and discharged like government clerk. 1t
is known that hundreds of thousands-it may
be millions-of dollars were raised by the Re-
publicans in 1880, from the corporations that
have fattened on the legislative favors Of the
Republican party. 1t is known that $500, 900
was used by Dorsey, of Star Route infamy, to
buy a single state for Garfield. Mr.. Hale
might be informed that the present President,
by his after dinner reference to Dorsey and
"soap", admitted more than Mr.. Hale denies.
President Arthur is to all appearances the
least discounted man in the party; he is the
picture of Hboundless self content. " The
earthquake in November did not excite him
in the least. Last Tuesday he gave dinner
to Governor-elect Butler, of Massachusetts,.
Mr.. Arthur has always had fondness for
General Butler, and the little dinner party was
a pleasant one. Later in the evening the
President, in a faultless dress suit, with white |
he and lilac gloves, accompanied by his son
snd daughter, was in box at the National
Theatre watching Madame Modjeska in tights
as Rosalind. The President seemedato be
anxious that bis little daughter should under
stand the play, aad she appeared to make
brave effort to do so, but was evidently much /
mystifed by Rosalind's assumed character
and masculine garb.