National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-02
ON TIE AYENuls.
Small Talk ABOUT sren and s,cosu

AHh@ NAeh ana NlcnSuTtN
Talk about prohibition in the district
said old Statistics, chow do the temperance
| people expect to do anything in that diroc-
ton rs long as congressman spend on an
average six months Of each year in this
city. DO they suppose that they are going tn
board in Alexandria and Baltimore, and run
over daily to attend to their legislative du-
tics2 Not much. The whisky trade in this
town now overshadows every other business.
and it's located just where there is tho most
demand for II. Take Pennsylvania
avenue from the capitol to Eff.
teenth street, and you will find over
100 bar-rooms, or say an average of six to
each square. Now the patrons of the cock
tail factories are not made up exclusively of
Washington people by jug full, and they
run full time, and their owners all appear to
be making money. The records Of the gov
ornment show that there is this city some-
where in the neighborhood of 5000 licensed
drinking establishments, and think $40
day would be low estimate of the daily cash
receipts of each. Thirty thousand dollars a
day for rum, how does that strike YOU, to
say nothing of the headaches2 What'u you
| irrigate with 2"
| ga
~ wonder" said the Illinois statesman, "if
Chairman Springer don't have sort Of twingc
when he undertakes to make howl over the
big fees that he claims were paid in the star
route cases. l tell you William had a very
liberal estimate of the value of his legal
services upon one occasion. He drew the bill
appropriating money for the aid of the CEN
tennial celebration at Philadelphia. When
the thing wound up and the profits were to
DO divided the government put in claim for
its share, but IL was then discovered
that the bill was SO loosely drawn
and so blunderingly worded that Uncle
Sam could not claim dollar. Springer was
much set back ct this and insisted that legal
steps should be taken to recover the govern
ments share Of the proceeds, and rendered
his services to assist the attorney general in
prosecuting the claim. The result was that
the centennial commission licked the gov
eminent clear out Of its boots; and, would
you believe IL, after ALL Mr.. Chairman
Springer had the sublime gall to ask that he
be paid fee of $4,000 for his very valuable
legal services. A fellow feeling should make
him go slow on tho big fee question.
a@@
| "estern congressman, from country ais
tricts, are at present receiving printed circu-
lars, which have been sent out by Cincin-
natl firm of patent inside" publishers to
editors Of country newspapers, and by the
latter Endorsed and forwarded TO their con-
gressmen. The following is q copy of the
body Of the circular, and explains why tho
country editors are anxious:
"DBAI SIR: We understand from undoubted
ropolitan press is now in Washington engaged in
| lobbying 10 secure the passage of law by con-
hours sf,er publication The Intention evidently
is 70 legalize gigantic monopoly of news, and 10
make 1t unlawful for the minor newspapers aud
country press to reproduce current news during
the period when 1t has much value. You will
readily see that the projected law would injure
and almost destroy the weaker newspapers OF the
country, aud put them at the mercy OF the great
overGrown newspapers of the large cities This Is
a matter In which you and we aud the general
public have deep interest. Under tho circum.
stances we feel free to urge you TO write imme-
diately TO your member of congress, and to any
friends you may have either in the house or sen.
ate, acquainting them with the scope of the pro.
posed egi,laton' and urging them 70 oppose H.
mine the fate Of the bill"
Most of the congressman to whom the ir-
culsr came had never heard of any such pro.
{ was found who knew of the project 81
don't know" said he, "of any lobby from
the metropolitan press being here to work
such bill through, and don't believe there
is one, but l am sure that such bill will be
introduced. don't know who will father
1t. Whoever 1t is it is to be hoped for his
sake that he has no country newspapers in
his district. If 1 should vote
for such copyright bill as that
should never see Washington
again as congressman. think the owners
OF the Chicago and Cincinnati dailies and
those of other western cities have a fine gall
to complain that the country papers appro-
pirate their news, when every one of them
keeps man in New York for no other DUR
| pose than to crib from the New York papers
news which they can telegraph west early
enough, on account of the difference in time.
to be printed in their home papers. l don't
believe that simple record of current events
can be copyrighted, and am very sure that
no such bill will ever pass the house until the
| big cities furnish majority of the congress-
men,"
When President Harris and Attorney GRAY.
of the Northern Pacific railroad, had finished
their arguments before the house committee
on public lands, Mr.. Anderson, of Kansas,
who is member Of the committee, was asked
what he thought ought to be done with the
Northern Pacific land grant. az think"
said he, that it ought to be declared for.
feited. It's just this way If make con-
tract with an Indian to ferry me across the
river in his boat, and agree to nav
him certain sum for the service.
l shall not pay him if he don't
take me across at all, but simply brings me
paddle Whom I buy meal of meat and
potatoes and stipulate that they must be we'll
seasoned with pepper, the landlord isn't
carrying out his part of the contract if he
just brings me the pepper and nothing else.
That's the way the Northern Pacific com.
pany fulfilled its contract. The grant ought
to be forfeited. But that man Gray is a keen
one. He's sharp man, and he made great
argument for his side of the case"
--S----
Recommendations OF the House Naval
Committee.
The house committee on naval affairs yes-
terday recommended that the committee on
appropriations embody in the naval appro.
priation bill recommendations to reduce the
number of chief engineers from sixty-nine
to fifty; to reduce tho number of pay direc- |