The Portland daily press., 1884-01-12

anOtn0r curious lt6m OF u IOr au lCo plCkb
hatchet and towels. The cost of properly
conducted funeral, including the sashes,
gloves, meals lunches, railroad fare, Apolli-
naris, ice picks aud "miscell neoue," seems TO
have been trifie over 5000. or say $25, 900
for the members of the last Congress who died
during their term OF ofice.
There are some other queer items OF expense.
Take for instance the "folding ROOM" where
the members manufacture political capital by
having tons Of their speeches sent out broad
cast over ths country. The coat for paste
alone with which TO have the wrappers sealed
about these and other documents was over a
Thousand dollars year. A dollar Q bucket
was the round price paid. and there were over
thousand buckets OF it.
In the stationery room there was the usual
queer collection of articles which the members
might draw and have charged as "ststion cry, Z"
the cost to come out of the annual allowance
OF $125 to each for stationery. Among the ar
titles thus furnished we're lot Of photograph
eIal "court-plaster cases," probably Intended
for use after personal encounters on the floor
OF the House during heated debates; number
of 'belts," whether for pr ze-6ghters or base
ball players is not noted; several dozen "pocket
necessaries," fans, opera glasses, papett ries,
pocket knives. bound volumes OF Shakespear,
''Scisnce Of Politics." "Wslker's Political
Economy" etc. Yet, with all this tempting
array, some OF the members scorned the sta
t,onery room. The Hon. Mr.. Hewitt on
ly drew six dollars worth of stuff from it in the
md fhn Hna u. i
about The same sum from the treasures of this
storshouse. On the other hand, Trsnquiiine
Luna, the delegate from New Mexico, tran
quiliy drew Sl24.18 worth of his SIPS allow
ance, aud several others ran pretty close to
the margin.
1t may be interesting to add that the salaries
ef the members of Congress now amount to
over two million dollars year.
THE SUPREME COURT DOCKET.
The Supreme Court, as it settles down to
work for the long term which follows the holi-
days, finds very heavy docket ahead of it.
The number of cases is three times as great as
it has ever been able to get through with in
year, and of course it will not get through
with half OF them this year.
"What is to be done about it?'' your CORES
pondent inquired of one Of the members OF
the Judiciary Committee of the House, as he
was talking of the overbnrdened condition of
the docket, and the apparent hopelessness of
the task of attempting to catch up.
I'VE expect to frame some sort OF bill in
the Judiciary Committee to help them OUT"
he answered.
.>"What will it be9"
PROBABLY DILL fixing closer limit upon
the class of cssestRst may be taken up to the
Supreme Court o0 oosdaipary cases the deci-
sion of the Circuit Court ought to ouesSnal. L
am in favor of fixiog such a limit as to c1t-So Cd
at least half of the cases that are taken up to
the Supreme Court, making the decision of the
Circuit Court fnal. That would relieve the
Supreme Court so much that it could keep up
with It's work. 1t is the only practical way.
Ii we were to enlarge the number of judges
and divide the court up iuto sections it would
not help the case much, as they would want
to appeal everything to the full bench. We
shall prepare bill, cutting down the class OF
cases that can be appealed ons half, and see IL
We cannot aid the court in catching mp
and keeping up with its work.
THE TARIFF.
'Do You really think we are going to get any
tariff law at this session." your correspondent
asked of one of the members of the ways and
means committee, as be shvered down Penn
sylvsnia avenue little while ago.
Nav" he answered, with look OF disgust,
as he drew his overcoat more tightly about
him and buried his hands deeper in the Lock-
els. 81 don't expect to see any tariff law OF
any importance enacted this session. OF course
there will be bill, and it will be talked about,
aud maybe it will get through the House, but
that will be all. No bill that we are likely
to frame can get past the Senate, to say moth
ing of the White House,
"Wbat about the Randall wing of the party;
will it vote with you?"
THAT will depend" he answered, as he
hurried in at the door of the National Hotel,
that will depend on how strong 1t is. We
have got to be very careful in making up our
BILL"
JEFFERsoN's GRANDCHILD.
Mr.. Orlando B. Potter OF New York has sent
Mrs. Ssptimis Randolph Meikeham, OF thi
CIT, check for S245. She is the sole surviv
ing grandchid of Thomas Jefferson. For
years bill has been before Congress to gram
sum of money for her use during life, bot it
has never passed. Mr.. Robinson, of New
York, the celebrated tail twister OF the House,
has taken gre at interest in the bill, and thinks
now that the country has given ten thousand
dollars for monument to Jefferson it should
not permit his favorite grandchild to die 10 the
shadow of the capitol from want. And be
seems to be pretty nearly right Ystit is not
likely that the bill will get through. Mr. Pot
ter announces his intention, in case 1t does
not, of seeing that the old lady does not want
during her life time, which cannot be many
years, as she Is now in her list year, and very
feeble.
SOME CABINET TOILETS.
Perhaps it may be of interest to your lady
readers to know how the Cabinet ladies were
dressed at their reception this week. II 1t is
not interesting to the ladies it will be to the
gentlemen, SO here it is,
Mrs FreliughLysen; trained dress of black
brocade and ottoman silk, with head.dress OF
poirt lace and purple liacs.
Miss Lucy Frelinghuysen, who assisted, wore
q ruby velvet Dress The elder Miss Fr,llnk-
huysen, who presided at the tta-tabe, wore
black silk, wrought with steel beads, in tapes
tried designs.
Mrs. Lincoln, who received for the first time
since the death of her husbands mother, was
dressed in black silk and lace dress, covered
with jet beads, while Miss McCulloch, who
assisted her, wore an almond-tinted cashmere,
with blue brocade.
Mrs. Chandler wore black silk and lace, with
diamond ornaments. Mrs. Kinsley, her sister,
who assisted her, wore toilet Of claret-colored
velvet and ottoman silk.
Mrs. Brewster was dressed In black velvet,
with broad hands Of passementerie. She was