Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1884-12-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent. :.
Washington, Dec. 9, 1884


The first week in Congress was
passed without event of particular
note. The well broken Legislators
took to their work very kindly, and
the start was made without balk
The tariff question, which it has beer
predicted would sleep through the
present Congress, was sufficiently
awake to spring up on the first day.
Something must be done with the
hundred millions of dollars that are
pouring into the U S. Treasury each
year, bursting its granite walls and
creating a disgraceful and dishonest
scramble among the old boys that
the people send here to play at the
game of government.
Mr.. Blaine arrived during the
week he was met at the station by
his son Walker, and Hon. VIM. Wal
ter Phelps of New Jersey, and TAX
ing the arm of the latter he walked
through the room where he had wit
messed the Garfield tragedy to
Phelps carriage, and the three were
driven to Mr.. Blalne's new home on
Massachusetts, avenue, whore he has
rented the house of Ex-senator Win
dom. Invitations to dine have been
pouring in upon the ex-candidate
from prominent Republicans, and he
will dine consecutively with Mr..
Phelps, Judge Grey of the Supreme
court, and Senator Hoar Mr.. Blaine's
stumping and hippedFeming have
evidently improved his health, and
since the monstrous falsehoods he
has told have not stuck in his throat,
there is reason to fear that satan
proposes to use him for future mls-
chief, and there eaa be ne doubt that
his political friends like Phelps,
Hoar, a1d others are in accord with
the purposes of satan.
The Washington monument is fin
ished. ] see from my window the
national flag boating higher than any
flag ever aoated before, fifty feet
above the $40 feet elevation of the
monument The cap-stcne was laid
on the 9th inst, in a driving rain
storm, and the completed wonder
now awaits the dedlcating ceremony
on the 22nd. of February or rather
on the 23rd, for the 22nd tbs year
comes on Sunday. Very imposing
ceremonies haYe been planned for
the dedication of the monument. 1t
is expected that the city will be over
crowded, for already has nearly all
the available room at the principal
hotels been engaged for the dediea-
ton of the monument and the lnaqg.
uration of the president,
It IS quite evident that Mr.. Gieve-
Iand's wish to have plain and quiet
induction to office win be thwarted
by an overwhelming majority The
loyal democrats here and elsewhere
will not forgo their celebration, and
while there may not be IS much style
as has been displayed in recent re-
publican inaugurations, there will be
larger and more respectable gath
ering of people than has appeared in
Washington for years.
The social world is all at sea. The
Government clerks, those who dance.
lest SO much money In bets on the
election that they cannot buy fash,
ionable raiment. Their tailors viii
not trust them because they do moi
expect them to draw salaries after
the 4th of March. Society is making
an effort to pull itself together, bu
the Republican defeat has disorgan
lied and demoralized it. 1t will re
form again, dut on different lines
and with different personel, aftei
/ the fourth of March. Washington
Twill continue to be the social centr'
of the country, and those who thlnl
there will be even momentary hia
tus in the growth and Identification
of the capital of the United State
know nothing of the external ant
internal forces that enterprise AMI
patriotism are bringing to bear on
city which will now cease to be
mere gambling and junketlng plt:c
for eastern miIllonaires, and western
parvenues, and become the capital o
the whole country.
Three measures of Importance vii
probably come up this week in tn
Senate, viz: the House bill to de
clare the fofeiture of certain lam
grants to aid the construction OF
railroad in Oregon; 2nd the admis
sion of Southern Dakota as stat
which will doubtless arouse politics
discussion, and Sd, the inter stat
commerce bill.
In the House Representative Rea
gan intends to press the inter-stat
commerce bill, discussion Of whic
was begun last week. It is though
that a vote will be taken on this meas
ure by Thursday. Mr.. Hewitt WI
endeavor to bring up the Mexica
reciprocity bill this week, and Mi
Payson VIII urge bis bill restoring 1
the public domain all lands with
indemnity limits for railroad an
wagon-road companies. He says th