Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-11
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
THE CAPITAL SETTLING DOWN
TO SUMNER QUIET.
MIR. stephens Prepared for RIs Cam.
paIgn-Making a Preeedent-PIed.
ger Under FIre-HOw Atkins Got
Left-The Raid on the Treasury.

WASHINGTON, August 9.-The city has within
day after the adjournment Of Congress set
tied down almost to its usual summer wont.
But very few members are to be met. These
prowl around the departments looking after
the interests Of their constituents. The hotels
wear an abandoned look No more do the
corridors Of them swarm at night. Two Of
the leading hotels are preparing to close for
the summer. All Of the government depart
ments close at three instead Of four. and
work is but listlessly done during the six hours
that the government employe is required to
be at his desk. Many clerks are taking
their months leave Of absence. About
the only place where public business is brisk
is the loan division of the Treasury Depart
ment, where the work in conAection with
the conversion of the continued 3Ik per cent
bonds into per cents furnishes abundance
of employment. Many newspaper cores
pondents have left the city. Newspaper Row
begins to assume its neglected summer phase.
The concrete pavements boil, and all the air is
hot both night and day. In fact, Washington
will in a day or two become as 1t does once
every year-a summer sluggard.
ABOUT THE ATKINS CASE,
It may be of interest to know how the with
drawal of Atkins name for the Georgia Judge
ship came about As hss been heretofore put
to the public through the NEWS, the Senate Ju-
dietary Committee, which had the nomination
under consideration, stood four for and four
against a favorable report with Senator Ed
munds absent Senator Logan, upon whom it
was depended to put Atkins through the SEN
ate. was lukewarm. The influence of Justice
Woods, Of the Supreme Court. prevented Ed
munds coming here to vote in committee for
Atkins. Three Republican Senators who had
promised at the outset to vote for his confirm
alton went back on A kins in telling him that
they could not vote in the affirmative. The
Democrats who promised Atkins their support
remained true TO their promise Senator
Brown worked against Atkins as he only can
work. The committee, owing to the tie exist
ing among its members in the matter
made no report to the Senate. Atkins got
tired of it all and went to the President and re-
Quested that his name be withdrawn and
somebody else's sent in, The President refer
red him to the Attorney General. Atkins went
there. The Attorney General said why be
in such hurry, Mr., AtkinS2 II the nomination
is not acted on at this session you can be re-
nominated the next and doubtless confirmed. Z"
Atkins said that he was tired Of the whole
business and wanted to get out of 1t Brews-
ster then said that he would take over to the
President any name that Atkins would suggest
for the place. If Bigby had not gone back on
Atkins in the matter he would have named
him. Brewster then went to the Presi-
dent and told him that if the matter was
at the next session The President said Il
do not want to wait, l will withdraw Atkins
name and win nominate McCay," and he aid,
and McCay was confirmed. That's how IL
came about.
PLEDGER's PLAoH.
Pledger, of Atlanta, had better be looking
around. He is not exactly secure in the place
he holds under The government. Complaints
have been made here about his conduct during
the recent so-called Republican convention at
atlanta. Pledger first gave one of the sections
of that so called convention permission to hold
its session in the custom house, and then riot
ously entered the building, and, backed by fol-
lowers, broke up or attempted to break up the
meeting by his authority as custodian OF the
government shebang. That's the way, at least,
that the case has been reported to the Treasu-
ry Department here. and the further state
ment has been made to that department that
such course 'disgraceful course believe
the words ere-warrants, yea eve demands,
the removal OF Pledger, who cannot, although
there is ALTERATION in the coupling, be said to
be peaceful Pledger had better keep his
weasher eye on this squall, which seems to be
bearing down upon him.
MR.. STEPHENS
Mr.. Stephens will leave next Tues
day for Georgia, and will imme-
diateIV enter upon his campaign He is
prepared to make some very good speeches
He is in excellent trim for his work. OF course
this statement must, as is always the case, be
qualified by saying that he is in excellent
health for a man who is never in what Is usu-
ally known as good health. Mr. Stephens has
recently done good deal of work, not the
least part Of which has been the dictation of
answers to the Innumerable letters which have
poured in upon him from all parts Of the State
since he was nominated for Governor.
AN INSTANCE OF ACCOMMODATION.
The President was in the room set apart for
him at the capitol with his Cabinet when Con.
gress adjourned From there he sent mess ages
to either House and facilitated adjournment.
The House adjourned promptly at the hour
fixed upon. Action of the President on GER
tain minor bills did not get there in message
form until about half minute after the gavel
fell. There was a hurried talk between Keifer
and the clerks in front of him. Amid the noise
which followed the fall of the gavel, Keifer
directed that the message be duly received and
closed. This is said to be the first time on
record Of any such thing having been done.
THE YELLOW FEVER.
The appearance and spread of the yellow
fever in Texas and in t1e border towns of
Mexico, just across the Rio drande, has induced
the National Board OF Health to send down
three special agents on tour of inspection. It
can always be noted that the National Board
Of Health is the last to publicly concede tae
prevalence Of an epidemic. Thess agents have
sent In preliminary reports that while the fever
exists in a very serious way down there and
has been spreading, they think that now the
proper agencies are at work that it, in all
probability, will be kept in limited bounds.
THE TREASURY HAUL.
Many things went through the House, the
cost Of which cannot be told until the bills are
settled. There were very many of this ilk.
The Treasury Department officers have, how
ever, worked on tangible subjects and discover
that the increase Of appropriations over the
las fiscal year is over seventy seven millions
and half Increase Of pensions and increase
of the force on pensions made over S49, ,000, 600
OF this increase. About 81, 4,20O,0 600 of the net
increase is Of the river and harbor
steal. The Post Office Department in
crease is nearly 81 O0O 900 Legislative, executive
and Judicial expenses are increased about
81, ,40O, 900; the Sunday civil bill is quarter IF
a million bigger this year. $23, 100000 larger are
the miscellaneous appropriations /; and
there are $4,500,000 more appropriated this
year under the head Of deficiencies. The
country must have grown remarkably to war
rant the defense of the Republican leaders that
such growth demanded these increases Those
gentlemen must have made census Of the
country privately. Certainly che official census
does not bear record of any such growth
as that put forward by the able defenders of
Republican plunderers led by that skilled and
practiced buccaneer. George M. Rooeson, of