Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1882-01-25
From our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, Jan 81, 1851,


that his attempt to not only usurp tho
leadership of the Republican side OF tho
House, but 10 boss the whole concern,
was q much bigger job than he aulicl-
patcd, That Robson started out with
Just these objects in view there Is now
little doubt, II was largely by his
adrol management that the least expo
ricnccd aud poorest qualified of all tho
candidates secured the Spcakcrship
and after kiclcr was elected no again
had Robcson's valuable assistance in
fixing up the committees. There can
be no question that in this last work
the notorious navy jobbcr had his own
way, and that he paid all the pledges
made for tho Speaker in the canvas
and all his own grudgcs besides. Not
only were many able aud experienced
men assigned to unimporIant commit
tees, but the most important ones
those that control the greatest disbursc-
mcnts Of money-werc found to contain
the names Of men chiefly notorious in
previous Congresses for their addition
to jobbing; while on the Appropriation
Committee, the Naval Committc, the
Committee on Rules and Expenditures,
the Navy Department, the rotund
mariner himself appeared, as evidence
that he had not neglected his own OPP
portunitcs.
OF the wide spread dissatisfaction
which followed, and which time seems
only to intensity, enough has already
been written. The attempt Of Mr..
Robson and the Speaker to smooth
things over by adding from three to
five members to some of the Com
mittces, in the hope thus to placate
gentle men previously sighted, raised
Il storm more disastrous than the
schemers could have contemplated.
The great DR.. Newman, who was
high priest and father confcssor of the
State church during the reign ofUlys-
SEES the l, and who took tour to Eu-
rope at Government expense under the
thin pretex of being a diplomatic agent,
has fallen from grace and left the
Methodist church. He has gone over,
soul and body, to the Congregational
lists, and General Grant they say, has
gone with him. The Methodists of
Washington, where the DR.. was re-
garded almost God, are very much
chagrined and incenscd at his action.
A good story is told Of the stout,
good-naturcd and wealthy Democratic
Senator from Nevada. The bonanza
Senator recently called upon Il widow
who formerly resided on the Pacific
coast and who has bright little girl
five or six years of age. Senator Fair
during his visit got on such friendly
terms with this young Miss that she
insisted upon showing him her doll. 1t
was a very common rag doll, but the
little girl of course thought it beauty,
and the senator left without being
aware that the rag doll was in his
coat pocket where the child had put it.
He discovered it the next day, how
ever. and instead of returning it to the
juvenile owner, sent her lox contain
ing number of very handsome dolls.
Upon his next visit to the house, off,
course the little girl and her mother
thanked him for his present. 1t chanc-
ed that there were several persons in
the parlor on the OCCASION. Looking
into the Senator's face the child said I:
my mamma said you could have sent
her a thousand dollars instead of those
dolls aud never missed it; you're so
rich.
The anxiety that is shown to hurry
through the bill to retire Justice Hunt
of the Supreme Court-a very proper
measure under the circumstances has
revived the report that Secretary Fol-
ger is to be appointed to the Supreme
bench, and his place at the head of the
Treasury filled by Mr.. Conkling. l
can not say that this is true, but some
such plan may account for the delay in
making certain other appointments.