St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-12-28
Our Washington Letter.
DECEMRER. %. 1883.

week to miscellaneous interests. A
number of rather unimpOrtant bills
were introduced, but among them were
some deserving mention, namely, three
shipping bills by Senator Hale of
Maine, for promoting the efficiency of
the Navy, and one by Senator HOar of
Mass, reported back from the commit
tee on elections to provide for a meet
ing of electors of President and Vice
President. The new senate officers
were duly elected and installed by the
republican majority, since which the
new rules have been the chief subject
of consideration. SO far, the rule pro-
hibiting the admission to the cloak
room of senators friends, prOvokes the
most discussion.
After IA brief session Monday the
House adjourned until Wednesday
through respect TO the memory of the
late Mr.. Haskell of Kansas, IA promi
nent protectionist republican, and the
leading representative from his own
state, who died in this city Sunday.
The zest of speculation III regard to
Speaker Carlisles committee selections
does not diminish as the day draws
near for their announcement, Repub-
licans think it will be difficult to fill
adequately the vacancy Mr.. Haskell
leaves on the Ways and Means COM
mittee; but at the same time, seem to
expect fairness i'll Mr.. Carlisle's lists,
and that he will give representation to
all, as far as possible, with a majority,
of course, in favor of reformed tariff.
1t Is said the pressure upon the Speak
er for places upon the committee of
The members from the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts, and those districts
through which rivers flow that are
navigable, or can be made so, are said
to cast longing eyes upon the fifteen
chairs around the table in the room of
this committee, with the hope that it
would, as heretofore, report the river
and harbOr Improvement bill. Should
il select committee on rivers and har-
bors he established however, the ap-
preparation would be at once turned III
that direction, and the commerce com
mittee would be stripped of much of
its power.
Another bill introduced in the Sen
ate Tuesday was for the protection of
children in the district. and provides
that after its passage the association
| for the ''Prevention of Cruelty to Ami
mails" in the District shall be known
as the "Washington Humane Society"
and shall extend its operation to the
protection of children as well as ami
mails, from cruelty and abuse.
There is good time coming also for
the poor children of the city next
week. 1t happens in this wise, CHAIR
| ty is fashionable in Washington, and
many people in the higher social cir
cles, have zealOuslY embraced "A plan
| through which the hungry, ragged
children may have all the Christmas
turkey they can eat, besides Christmas
trees and Kris Kringles. The Presi-
dents little daughter has been effect
| lively placed forward in the scheme,
and the daughter of Chief Justice
Waite, and of Commissioner West are
active workers. The organization man
aging this charity is known as the
| Children's Christmas Club. A general
committee has been appointed, and
! local clubs formed to insure ii uniform
/ - in fril
and that as nearly as possible every
poor child in the city may be remem-
bered. The enterprise is daily gather
ing strength, contributions are crowd
ing upon the committees, and many
children with happy homes, abundant
cheer and Kris Kringles, prOprose to
share their presents with the hundreds
less fortunate, to whom Christmas
toys, candies, cakes and other childish
delights of the holiday season, have
been known only as fairy tales. The
prompt response with which the re-
quest for assistance and united action
! in this scheme was met shows that be
Meath the crust of modern cyniciSm
and wOrldliness there is yet deep
! fountain of human sympathy ready to
flow in answer to any genuine appeal.
Another bill recently introduced in
the House will interest the mOralst.
This was by Mr.. Robinson of New
York, granting pension to the widow
ed grand daughter of Thomas Jetfer-
son. The committee on pensions re-
ported unanimously in her favor last
season, but at so late II date it fell
through. The irony of fate and the
Inconsistencies of fortune are strikingly
illustrated in this woman's life. She is
seventy years old, has long lived in
| this District, and is now suffering from
disease, poverty, and absolute need,
while tens of thousands of dollars are
being spent for the erection of impOs-
ing monuments to her grandfather.
OBSERVER.
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