Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-01-11
WARRINGTON LETTER.
tFron Our Regular correrpondent.l


tFrcn Our Regular Correrpondent.l
WARRINGTON, Jan. 2, 1884.
The National Capital has rarely seen
duller holiday season than that just closed.
Coupled with wretchediy dissgrerable
weather was the almost deserted condition
Of the large hotels and the general appear.
ance that nearly everybody had gone away
somewhere 10 enjoy their coed dinners and
good cheer. But we shall doubtless make
up for il when Congress gets down 10 work
| again. There are unmistakable indications
Of more than ordinary interest on all sides
in various matters Of legislation to he ia
ken in hand this winter. At present the
chief topic Of discussion in political cir
eles is the committees and the probable
action Of the majority on the tariff and
kindred questions. II seems TO be settled
that Mr.. Cox will not accept the chair
manship Of the Naval Committee, unless,
like Springer, his friends persuade him in
the Interest Of peace and harmony to do
40 upon his return here. These two appear
to be the only embarrassing mistakes made
by Speaker Carlisle in organizing the
committees. II would seem that under all
the circumstances, in view OF his long SER
vice and great abilities Mr.. Cox was en-
titled to the chairmanship OF the Foreign
Affairs Committee II lie preferred it, the
aspirations Of yhung Mr.. Belmont to the
contrary notwithstanding. And the same
may lie said regarding Mr.. Springer, who
certainly had reason 10 expect higher con.
sideration than lie received. But he has
opportunities before him for q ten.strike
in the matter of reputation il he accepts
the situation and puts all his ability into
one or two investigations which his little
committee is urged 10 undertake.
A local paper has lately been publish
ing list Of tie wealthy mer. or heavy
, taxpayers, of Washington. There are nol
many Vsnderbil,s among them, but the
number of those who manage to grub along
on few hundred thousands is quite re-
spectacle. The ri, h at man in the Dis
trict OF Columbia is probably the veners
be w. w. Corcoran. His great start as .
capitalist was made during the Mexican
war, when he bought Government bond,
when they were far below par and held
v them till they were redeemed ut their face
value. Since this fortunat speculation ht
: has spent his business life in banking anc
in the care Of his property, which ia re
y ported to be worth S3,500,O 900. or lat,
U years, however, the active management O
:. his affairs has been in the hands of al
{; agent, blmself an aged and wealthy man
d while Mr.. Corcoran has iddulged his tastt
for art and fondness fer public charities
. II would be difficult to 6nd two men NOR
unlike in disposition and habits than Mr.
g Corcoran and the man who is sup posed I,
= he his rival in wealth, Joseph A. Willard
). Mr.. Willard alone knows how much he il
worth. The conjeclures of well-informet
citizens vary by millions. Some guess h
is not worth million; others believe he j
y anywhere from FIVE to ten millions. "Joe
Willard is an odd character. He lives al
il alone in a plain old fashioned hou.e il
18th street near F street, which is Away
kept closed. He has no friends and II,
haunts, takes part in no public or bushes
n enterprises which involve social relations
indniges in no sports or social engngemen 6
never goes to church, has no family, ex
cent one son who lives away from home
never speaks with his two brothers, Henr,
and Caleb, with whom he quarreled lon,
years ago, and, in short meets the worlt
at rs few points of contact "a possible. Hi
sole aim apparently, is to accumulate mon
=" ey, and in this he has been marvelouSI,
sncce -ful HI owns one-halfof Willard
4 hotel and large quantity of real-rsta,e il
n the DistricI. ANA is the largest holder o
l. Government bonds in Washington. Few
rs residents of Washington have ever seel
n this odd millionaire, for one Of his eccen
ID ,rictIes is TO rarely leave his house In tn
e daytime. After nghtfall, however, 1t j
1, mis- custom to sally forth and walk abou
town to inspect his property, and Mr..
r, Grundy observes that he always goes bac
n into ms house by the basement door an
ID then bolts everything carefully up for tn,
I'd night. He attends to his rents himsel
to bank or the Treasury and buys Gov
n. ernmeni bonds.
|: 1t is noticeable what, y number OF Con
gre-smen go TO housekeeping of late year
m instead Of living IN the hotels and board
a ing houses. B-fore the war there wer
about twenty tive Senators aid Represent
D.: a,ives, generally from the South, who hire
houses here and entertained hOspitabl
II during the session. OCCASIONALLY u wealth
.d Bostonian or New Yorker would kee
m house, but they generally resided with lhei
Of families at hotel. Altogether there WEI
\; not nifty Senators and Representatives aS
10 companied by their wives, aad not over
ii dozen l,rrughltheir daughters. Now ther
III ia a different state of affairs. OF the sever
r. iy.siS Senators, twenty one are acoonpar
= led by their wives, seventeen have each
wife and daughter, one has a daughter all
one motlier-in law. OF the $50 Repr,
sentaiives and Delegates, nipeiy-6ve Al
40 accompanied by their wives, fiy lhre
70 have each wife and daughter, and min
~ have only their daughters. In short, thel
are 10S agreeable ladies' in the C,ngre,
! -ional sci, and after Congress reassembl,
there will DO al least five aud twenty NOR
A number 81 the C"norp-.".n live in the
own hous Q, otLers hire elegant residence
paying M re than their salaries Tor Il
'e rent. The presence Of these ladies' has II
IN excellent ehcci un ~ al Congres
n men generally, and il il n notable fact thi
"a there Is not now an open gambling HON
ne In this city where there used TO he
ID many. Dom PEDRO.
re
D. In reply 10 an address by a deputatiu
NJ of Cardinals, the Pope complained Of "tl
es infamous Italian press," which he declare
err had used the "cenienaIy oil that impiol