The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-02-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
[ From Our Regular Correspondent ]

I WASHINGTON, D. c. Feb. l. 1888
Since my last letter the event eliciting
most talk and interest here were the visits
of the Marquis of Lorne and Governor
Buffers The latter Circulated about Wash
ingson III lively style. visiting the White
House, the supreme court, the departments
and congress. He talked on all subjects
except his supposed presidential candidacy.
but was MS dumb as an oyster when an in
terviewer came ground. When he called
| on the president, General Grant, who was
| there at the same time, said to him that the
| White House was very pleasant place to
| live in, and the president asked him if he.
| did not think the new furniture and dec.
orations of the executive mansion were
elegant and esthetic enough to meet the
| highly cultivated taste of Boston and Mas
| sachusetts. The governor winked, but did
not reply. On leaving the white house he
went over to the department of Justice,
where the courtly attorney general saluted
him with-a most profound bow and said:
Hail to the Governor who is to be Presi-
| dent" The General winked once more and
in addition smiled, but still said nothing. ]
Wherefore the inference here is that if he
has the presidency ~ on the brain
he jntends to make b sfiH hunt forH, as
he did IN his canvass for g0ver-
nor Of Massachusetts,. The reception of
the governor general of Canada at the
British legation here was one of the most
brilliant affairs of the season. Twenty-Five /
great foreign powers were represented by |
THAR mi ha and fhai ~
ladies, the wealthy party giving citizens of j
the West-end and sojourners of note, were
among the fortunate 400" who received
invitations Punch and ices were served ]
during the evening, and the dining-room
was opened at midnight. The Marquis 4
and few others. to the number of twenty, /
were seated at a special table. The re |
manning guests were served standing from |
a long table, which held oysters, salads, |
was l O'Clock when the prominent figures /
in the ball dispersed. Many of the ladies |
carried baskets of flowers, and the toilets |
were gorgeous in the extreme.
There are many cases of public men /
serving the government on small salaries /
becoming very rich, and wonder is often |
expressed at 1t. How can a member of /
congress on $1,000 year or an officer of /
the governments with aeven less both of /
whom live in style involving annual /
expenditure fully equal 10 their supposed |
incenne, accumulate large fortunes ira few
gears. 1t is generally assumed that they
cannot do it honestly. and they can't, as |
rule, at least. Star route Brady, when his
large gains could no longer be concealed, |
said he had been fortunate in telephone
stock, yet it was shown afterwards that ne
never owned any such stock. But it is true |
that public men make money in
stock speculation-men who cannot
honestly or properly deal in such
things. can AL always tell
when anything has been done IN COM
mittee which is liable to effect stocks.a
said well known broker at Wizards last |
evening. THE orders to buy or sell come
streaming in on US from the capitol from
senators, members, committee clerks, and
lobbyists who have been let in on the
floor. We have accounts on our books
with persons whose names our confiden-
tial clerks do not know, as the slightest
hint regarding their Identify would mean
political ruin and disgrace in many in
stances. Orders are given and received
under cover; and if our books should BY
any chance be brou giKt before q court or an
investigating committee, It would be dis
covered that we did business with Good
Luck Fair Weather. Silver Lining
Gotham. and other individuals equally I
distinguished. If these mysterious per-
sonages are chairmen of congressional
committees high department officials, SEN
ators or congressman. nobody will ever be |
the wiser. The moment action on any
railway bill, or any matter which may in {
duence mining stocks, or the va1ue of any
inc OF merchantable property is taken, the
orders begin to pour IN and although that
action may not be publicly known for days /
DR. weeks, am conscious that something |
mas happened, and it does t take me |
ong to find out what it is. You would be /
sstonished beyond measure TO know who |
iabbles In stocks Men you would think
IRE as innocent of knowledge of the WAYS i I
Of speculation as unborn babes give orders
hat would make your eyes bulge with
surprise. They are awfully sly, and will !
never be found out. I see many queer
hings. and have learned to distrust the
aonesty of the generality of statesmen of
svery degree. / would not trust the god
less of liberty, If thought she could feel1 !
her way to an honest dollar. by a CLEVER !
urn on Wall street"
The fate of all proposed tariff legisla-
Ion is still in doubt though the prospect :.