The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-11-10
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent

" AShlNOIONs " C.s NON. D, 1000
The capital is already becoming |
lively and interesting. An atmos-
phere of preparation and cheerfulness
pervades the city to a degree quite
unusual so early in the season. The |
Congressional halls have been made |
ready to receive an increased volume
of legislative wisdom, and the white |
house has been put in prime apple-pie
order for the winter campaign. Board
lighthouses have been rejuvenated,
the old carpets turned and shaken
and the old furniture vanished oyer,
while the expectant landladies, ar
rayed in their best gowns, anxiousIy
await the bridegroom's coming. The
advance guard of Congressman and
politicians are turning up and in few
days the Speakership campaign and
the scramble incident to reorganiza-
tion of Congress will be raging in
earnest. 1t is expected that the DEM
ocratic House will turn out the pres
ent officials of that body and the Re.
publicans may also reorganize the
working force of the Senate. This
expectation will draw hither great
many outsiders of both parties, but
it seems hardly possible that there
will be such a violent tussle for the
House offices as there was eight years
ago when the Democrats first obtain
ed control of that body. There were
then over 5000 hungry Democrats
here fighting like wolves for the
hundred or so positions to be filed.
They had been out in the cold long
time and the aroma of the fiesh-pots
sharpened their appetites.
Although a very gay winter social
ly is predicted for Washington, the
society people will not look to the
cabinet families for their entertain
ment. In fact Secretary Frelinghuy-
sens seems to be about the only one
of the cabinet houses where any social
festivities may be looked for. Secre-
tary Folger's house is presided over
by his daughter, who is too much of
an invalid to devote herself to society
to any extent. Last winter she was
obliged to pass in Florida on account
of her health. Mrs. Lincoln, the wife
of the War Secretary, is another in
valid, and for the last year the Lin
coins have been in mourning for Mrs.
Abraham Lincoln, so their house is
closed for everything except very
quiet entertainments. This winter
the house of Secretary Chandler will
be closed, as the family are in mourn
ing. Postmaster General Gresham
and Secretary Teller both live in
small houses in a very quiet way. and
aside from the regular Wednesday
afternoon receptions will entertain but
little. The Brewsters, who live in the
large house on Connecticut avenue
formerly occupied by the French Legal
ton. are very ambitious, socially as
well as politically. They will no
doubt entertain the most prominent
political and diplomatic people and
those members of the common herd
whose fortunes can be reckoned by
millions.
Your correspondent recently had an
interview with Hon. Thomas Burt,
member of the British Parliament for
Morpeth, in the north of England.
Mr.. Burt was elected as working.
mems candidate, and one of the chief
objects of his visit to this country was
to observe the condition of labor here,
more especially the class of labOrers
to which his own constituents largely
belong, namely, the coal miners. In
pursuit of this object Mr.. Burt visited
the coal mining region around Pitts
burg, Pa; that of the Hooking Val
ley, Ohio; the Coal Creek district,
Indiana, and the district lying around
Streator. Illinois. At this time, when
the labor question is attracting so
much attention in this country, Mr..
Burt's observations may be of inter-
est. He finds that wages are consid-
erably higher in this country than in
England, but on the other hand en-
ployment is much less steady, and
taking the year through the coal
miner in America does not earn near
ly as much more than his brother in
Great Britain, as the difference in
rates of pay would lead one to expect.
Moreover, when employed he has to
work more hours per day in the west
ern mines, but he partly makes up
for this by taking his work more
easily.
The British miner has some advan-
faces over the nneripan in tho SDend.