Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-12
WAsHISeTos, ID. c., Dec. 10, 's3.


The President has left his retreat at the
Soldiers Home and has taken up his quarters
in the White House. His sister, Mrs. Nc
Elroy, will be with him before the holidays,
and will remain during the winter. The no.
tables from the President down, are making
preparations to out-do any former efforts in
the way of social entertainments, and it will
be . very gay winter in society circles, and
malaria will be prevalent during the latter
part Of the season.
Senator Frye and Representatives Boutelle
and Milliken have rooms at the Hamilton
House. Governor Dingley occupies the rooms
he had last winter, a few doors below the
Hamilton. The Maine delegation are look.
ing well and appear to be in good condition
to do battle for their party and their State
during the winter.
Senator and Mrs. Hale gave dinner party
to gentlemen last week, at their residence on
Fifteenth street. The guests were Senators
Logan. Cameron. Sawyer. Miller Of New
York, Palmer. Sherman, Plumb, Harrison,
Edmunds and Miller of California.
1t 10 said that among those wbo lost heavily
in the recent tumble in Northern Pacific rail-
road stocks was ex-senator Roscoe Conkling
He 10 reported to be in debt to his brokers
OK, 900. Mr.. Conkling's friend, A. b. John
son of Utica, having lost his own property
and that Of his sister in the same way, and
then shot himself. Wall street doubtless
causes many a suicide.
A vigorous war is being prosecuted in this
District by the various temperance organiza-
tons against the arch enemy. the rumsellers,
by demanding a rigid enforcement of the law
and by active work among the incorporate
to persuade them to give up the habit, and
the members Of the National Woman's Chris
tian Union are now going from house to
house getting signatures to petition to Con-
gress for law prohibiting the sale of liquor
in this District as beverage. This petition
10 receivinga great many signatures, but of
course there is very little hope of democrat
ic House of Representatives stultifying them
selves by passing such law. The American
people have the right to petition Congress,
and If it be kept up it may ultimately result
in victory for the temperance element in
the District of Columbia.
Rum0r says some of the Western con.
gressmen who are here for their first term
have agreed to conform to Washington ETH
quette in all but one item. They vow they
will not eat pie with a fork.
The House of Representatives was unable
to organize fully on the first day of the ses-
sion owing to the anxiety of some of the
democratic members to decide the contested
election case of Chalmers VS.. Manning of
Miss., in favor of Manning. The following
extract from Mannings reply to Chalmers
notice Of contest will show how unjust such
. decision would be:
admit that the inspectors and clerks Of the sew.
era election precincts did certify TO he county com
missiouers Of election In their respective counties
that you received majority of the votes cast aud
further admit that the las votes which the com.
mssioners Of Tate county returned cast for J. r.
Chambliss were. In fact, CAST FOR and that the
1CAL ERROR INSTEAD OF YOUR NAME. And in this
connection state that because said error TO your
prejudice will not take seat In said Congress.
ASK the clerk to enroll my name as member thereof
until have been vindicated, aud the House shall
have affirmed my right thereto.
Senator J. J. Ingalls, introduced a bill the
second dav Of the session, removing the linn
itation to the arrears of pensions act which
gives all soldiers who are entitled to pen
sions at all. pension from the date of their
discharge and the same bill provides that all
soldiers on whose account pension is claimed
shall be presumed to have been sound and
free from disease upon entering the service
A bill was introduced by Senator Edmunds
to provide for the further protection of citi-
gems Of the United States against violation
Of certain rights secured to them bv the Con-
stitution. The bill undertakes, Mr.. Ed
munds said. to provide security for the pro-
lection of the colorsd citizen of the United
States against inhuman, wicked and unholy
distinctions that in some of the States are
still made against them in respect To
their civil rights and to protect them consis-
tently with the late decision Of the Supreme
Court. Also another bill dealing in general
with the rights of colored citizens, especially
with the view of securing them free vote
and fair count of all the votes. Senator
Blair introduced bill to fix and regulate the
hnss ,r lab ~xxf
In the employ Of the United States limiting
the number Of hours to constitute a day's
work to eight, and providing that whenever
Il shall be found necessary to substitute labor
BY the hour for labor by the day, such labor
shall be paid for at the rate of one-eighth of
days pay for each hour. Also a bill pro-
viding for an amendment to the constitution,
prohibiting the manufacture, sale and impor-
tation Of intoxicating liquors, except for me
dicinal, mechanical and scientific purposes
1t also provides that if the amendment is not
ratified by the legislatures of two.thirds of
the States by 1890. it shall after 10 years be-
come Law BY Congressional enactment
Senator Logan presented q bill to provide
for pensioning soldiers who were confined in
Confederate prisons during the late war,
also bill giving bounty land to soldiers, 40
acres to those who served one year. so acres
for two years service and l60 for three year,
service. Unlike the old Law giving bounty
land TO soldiers they can acquire a title to
this land without going west to locate and
live upon the same for = term of years.
An unueually large number of bills have
been introduced ~ republican Senators at
this session, the character of which show very
plainly that the best interests of the country (
are in safe hands, while the republicans con-
troll the Affairs Of government. The actions
Of The democratic party in regard to seating
members eleceed BY fraud thus indorsing the
shot gun policy of the South, free trade, free
run, etc. are not calculated to inspire conf
dencs in that party among the best citizens of
our country. ALIAs.