Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1884-02-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.


WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 14th "a.
The business of Congress is now
assuming something like tangible
shape. Nearly 5000 bills, many of
them of private nature, have been
introduced in the House during the
session, so far, and of this number
less than 200 have been considered
by the committees and reported back
for action. But matters have reach
ed that point where it is possible to
tell what is coming next. The bill
to prevent the spread of contagious
diseases among cattle will occupy
some attention this week, and the
Ways and Means Committee will
continue to hear arguments of bus
mess men concerning prospective
tariff legislation. 1t is not thought
that Mr.. Morrison's bill will be le-
ported for two or three weeks at
least. The subject of forfeited land
grants will continue to occupy the
attention of the Public Lands Com
mittee for some time, and the bus
mess of the other important COM
mittees is in such shape that there is
no reason to expect anything like a
legislative earthquake for week or
two. Washington has not been so
full of strangers since Inauguration
day as it was all last week. The
hotels were crowded to over flowing.
and many were turned away for lack
of rooms in which to put them.
The Presidents one reception of
last season was given after my letter
of last week had been mailed, and it
was brilliant occasion. The entire
lower floor of the White House was
thrown open to the public. A tenn
porary entrance was constructed in
the rear of the Diplomatic Corps,
and an exit was made by bridging
| the area in front of the house. The
rooms were decorated with pro-
fusion Of exOtics from the green
house, aud brilliantly lighted, while
music was furnished by the Marine
Band, which was stationed in full
| uniform in the outer corridor. A
leap year assembly is to be given dur
ing the present month, by 100 young
ladies', and it is proposed that they
| wear dress coats, made of silk, satin,
velvet or broadcloth, while the gen
tlemen wear waists of some fashion
able material, with low neck and
short sleeves Many of th,. young
men object to this nondescript cos
tune, while others who have hand
some arms advocate it strongly.
The late marriage of Fred. Doug
lass seems to have brought him no
end Of trouble. Besides the reproach-
es of his own race, it has brought on
a good deal Of agitati ion OH all sides.
Penetrating to Maryland, it has
caus.d mt mber of the Legislature
To Introduce bill to prohibit mar
riages between whites and blacks in
that State, similar 10 the law i'm
Virginia and the bill introduced in
Congress for this District. And fol-
loMii,g all this are family troubles
i h- r+bellious feeling of his children
and Il suit by his old house keeper
f,i several years wages. which she
| had never before thought to claim.
Mr. Douglass certainly has reason to
recall that famous old canticie:
Needles and pins Needles and pins |!
| When man mariies his trouble begins.
One awful report I have seen is
that the present Mrs. Douglass was
dismissed from her position as school
teachers ION account of her violent
temper" After that l think Mr..
Douglass worst enemy might be con-
tent to retire without comment and
leave him to his fate.
1t has been suggested that the best
way to solve the Utah problem would
be the appointment of Benjamin f.
Butler as Governor of that Territory,
with such subordinate officers as he
might select. While the General was
VIGOROUSLY firm in the punishment
of secession during the war, his
kindness to women and children was
proverbial; and, while he would
doubtless stamp out pOlygamy, he
would do it in such a manner as to
make it endurable for the misguided
women and children of Utah. At
the same time, the General would
not tolerate action of the Gentiles;
whose object in endeavoring to have
the Mormons punished is to obtain
possession Of their valuable lands.
Dom PEDRO.