The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-02-09
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
Eoh G

/ lew uayS dnu Ilfciy elh
generally about the Capital. Con-
yress, too, is finally doing something
in the way of business. The three
per cent. bond measure, which has
been under discussion in the Senate,
now stands a fair chance of defeat
The Democratic Senators are, With
two or three exceptions against it.
So, also, are Senators Plumb, Win
dom, and one or two others on the
Republican side. The Democrats IA
vor a three per cent. bond with the
provisions of the Vest amendment,
but the Sherman bill does not reach
the banks and is a measure of little
consequence. The House is very
slow in getting at the new apportion-
ment, but it is apparent that the
membership of that body will,be IN
creased. The majority of the Cen
sus Committee favor $40 as the num-
Der of members, and on this basis
the representation of twenty.one
States will be increased and that OF
five States decreased. The present
number of Representatives is 293
and it is very much to be regretted
that 10 plan for a reduction finds ia
vor among the members. Outsiders
who know anything about it all agree
that the best interests of the country
would be served by a decrease. The
House as 10Y constituted is often lit
tie better than a mob. To add 81
members is to add to the inefficiency,
confusion, and non-productiveness
of the body which holds the purse
strings of the Nation. Nobody knows
this better than the members them
selves, but they are 10th to decrease
their own chances of reelection by
reducing the number Of districts
in their States. They hope rather
to increase them by adding on q dis
trict u two.
Pension matters have attracted
some attention lately. The Presi-
dent sent to Congress this week a
communication for the Commission
Ell relative to the amount of appro-
priation required annually for the
next twenty five years. Upon the
basis assumed, Mr. Dudley estimates
the amount for that period, ending
with 1906, at 81, 347, 651 ,593, the an
nual appropriation growing gradu-
ally less, from $50, 600, 900 this year
TO $23, 100000 at the end ofthe TWEEN.
ty-fve year. Congressman Farwell,
of Illinois, proposes a plan for the
detection of frauds upon the Pension
Bureau which consists OF publishing
the names of pensioners and posting
them in some conspicuous place in
each district. The Commissioner OF
Pensions proposes for 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 thr-e years, and sci
them to work investigating into the
history of each pensioner. 1t is pos.
sible that Congress may adobt this
suggestion. 1t possesses the grea'
merit of calling for a big appropria
tion of $500, 900 per year, and of pro
viding places for a good many more
POLITICAL fayorites. Mr.. FarUslPs
method, however, is cheaper and bet
ter in every way. The bogus pen
sioners are pretty certain to be de
tected as soon as their names arr
printed. Publications would have
the effect of enlisting every %citizer
in the service of the Government a
a detective to ascertain who ar
drawing money illegally from thu
Treasury.
One of the largest enterprises ask
ing the attention Of Congress is Capt
; Eads inter oceanic ship railway
across the Isthmus. l have not ex
amined into the merits of his plal
but if it is practicable it would pos
sess n advantage owe the DeLes
seps' scheme in that it contemplate!
pacing the enterprise wholly unde,
American control. Speaking abou
big things; l saw yesterday one o
the brass medals gotten up for tn,
famous 306 who stood by Grant a
Chicago. It weighs. about a pound
They have just been distributed anl
if Mr.. David Monat, of Philadelphia
gets his he will be the first man OF
record who had the s'honor'' of be
ing decorated with an order and a
the same occupying q cell in a peni
Tertiary. 1t is understood that wher
a man with n of the 3O6 gew gaw.
dangling at his bosom presents him
self at the White House, he will b.
promptly taken to the back kitchen
and given a sip from MIR. Arthur.
private bottle Of cherrybounce.
: Strangers in the city who com.
!, here to enjoy themselves and see thu
sights complain of the dizziness O
society chiefly because there ha!
been nothing going on at the White
House; but among the habitutes O
a select social circle; there has beer
, no end of enjoyment since the in
auguration of the gay season, Janu
airy l. Dinners are the principal at
fractions and George Gorham, sour
ed and dyspeptic as he is politically
r says that this is an era of good eat
!, ing. There never were so many ella
borate dinners as have been .givel
> in the month just closed. The fash
ionable uptown restaurants hav
: each frequently had two and thre
! large private dinner parties in on
evening, where everything was con
:, Quoted on the most elaborate scale
i These were mostly where privat
residences were insufficient to &C
commodate the company. At a dir
) ner given by q Senator a few night
since there were twelve differen
kinds of wine served, and this wa
not considered anything unusual
Engagements to dinner are so CON
mon that in the last week sewers
prominent gentlemen were compel
q ed to invite their friends to break
fast as the only way to get them tc
gether. A distinguished member {
J the bar to day said to an eminen