Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-01-17
FROM WASHINGTON.
5y,oae oar regular corr,.poassnt.l
wAsnIxerox, d. q, Jam. u. 1ss4.


WASHINGTON, ID. C., Jan. II, 1854.
Anal Of business pervades the Capi.
tai now. and since the recess the tenn.
per OF fCongressmen seems 10 be in the
direction Of attention to duty. IL pro-
fessions are any index of attentions the
present Congress will be long remem-
bered for its virtues and its good works
There Is talk of Hobbies and lobbyists
and no doubt they are here, consider.
ing the various schemes and interests
which need their aid, but the present
indications are they will find hard pick.
ing II their returns depends upon sue
cess. IL looks like cold winter fol
the lobbyist who works for contin-
gent fee. Concerning tariff legisla-
ton, there is good deal of talk about
an alliance between the Republicans
and high tariff Democrats to prevent
the passage of any bill; and no doubt
there are those on both sides who would
like to see such and alliance made, but
those who understand the situation
know that there is the same diversity
of opinion among the Republicans on
this question as prevails among the
Democrats. y debate would develop
this fact, and for that reason the Re
publican leaders are anxious to keen
the subject out of sight at present.
Speaking of lobbyists and the meth
ods efsecuring legislation, reminds me
that there are some queer things. For
instance, year after year the Sundry
Civil Appropriation bill has contained
a clause preventing competition in con-
tracts for photo-lithogrnphic work to
be done for the Patent Office. a Mr..
Peters, who has an establishment for
doing that kind of work here, makes a
profit of from 900 to 100000 a wear
on work done for the Government. I'm
der the terms Of the law the work must
pc awarded to Washington bidder if
he Is as low III his proposals as an out
side bidder. The way the Department
of the Interior interprets this Is as fol-
lows: They advertise for proposals. If
any foreign establishment is lower than
Peters, he is asked if he will do it at the
figures Of the lowest bidder, and
he, of course, says he will. The
contract is then made with HIM for
a certain amount of work of certain
kind. For all other kinds of work and
for all work Of the specified kind over
and above what his contract calls for
he charges his own price-result, big
profits. He keeps yacht, and enter
tainsCongressmen handsomely, makes
expensive presents to their wives and
daughters, Vd always has friends on
the Appropriations Committee of both
Houses. .a.,4 a...-
DIR. Joseph NJ. Toner, of this city
known by his generous gift of books tC
the Library Of Congress, has turned his
attention toa compilation which seems
to be novel that of the biographies
and obituaries published by the daily
press of the death of noted characters
These are often full and valuable, an(
it takes some time for them to fine
their way into Observation-Disclosures
nor 81 liar ulseEss with the assistaIn.l
of friendsand clerks, DR.. Toner, whose
tastes are strongly in the direction o
facts and statistics, is just making al
extensive collection, arranged on slip
lin alphabetical order, ready to b
bound into volumes. At the end of ;
few years he expects to place these il
the Government Library, for genera
reference. His example might b.
initiated in other cities, with advantage
to literary men and historians.
i7 PHoNo.