Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-03-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
[From Our Regular oorrespopdept.l
WASHINGTON, March 8, 1884

WASHINGTON, March 8, 1884.
The thirteenth week OF the session finds
Congress considerably behind hand in its
business, only just enteriag, in fact, upon
serious work. Only one of the regular ap.
preparation bills, the comparatively nnim.
portant military academy bill, has been
acted on by the House, and none by the
Senate. There is much compl, lint among
Democrats outside of Congress, that the
majority in that body IL not making salts.
factory progress-that too much time has
been fritlered away in discussing matters
of little importance. Mr.. Randall is get
ting n good deal of blame from members of
his own party, because he has not shown
any inclination to furnish The House occu
patton in til, consideration OF The appro.
priation bills; and they charge that he is
ready TO sacrifice everything in the inter
esl of his protectionist friends, II has been
said, and Indignantly denied, that Mr.
Randall's plan il to hold back the nppro
priation bills until the tariff bill is reported
so ns to have them on hand 10 ant,goniz-
that measure by calling them mp Mt such
times as will suit the purpose. II Mr..
Randall desires to retain his hold upon His
old admirers outside of Pennsy vnnia he
will have 10 do something pretty soon
Congress il rapidly approaching the time
when the heais of Washington became
more influential than the public Interests
/ in eifecling legislation.
Among the notable visitors in Washing
ton recently no one has attracted more Gu
rioslty and attention than "MiRe' McDon-
aid, the king of the Chicago gamblers, and
the political boss of his city. 1t was a
strange Thing to see tine open aud nvowed
head Of The gamblers Of Chicago here in
Washington AZ the personal and intimate
friend OF the Chicago Mayor, and appar-
emily upon equal social terms with the
milionaires, brokers aud eminent LAWYERS
VINO make up the Chicago delegation here,
and who so triumphanlly carried off tn !.
location Of the convention. Mike McDon.
aid il cOnfessedly the most powerful poll
ii, ian in Chicago. He has an army OF
voters who obey hls will. Men who desire
to run for Congress, the Legislature or the
municipal council, have to see Mcdonald
and make terms with him. lie is worth
u least half million of dollars. He owns
outright the principal gambling establish
ment in Chicago and controls every one of
the lesser establishments Mcdonald il of
Scotch lIish descent. He was torn and
brought up in the village OF Niagara Falls
HIS parents, who are very quiet, respect
able people, are still living in the village.
Mcdonald IL As years OF age, and has been
n resident of Chicago for the last 80 years.
Although he il the king of gamblers he
never plays himself; but he is always
ready TO stake money on any event, and
while here won 81 900 on hets that the con-
vention would be held in Chicago. He
drinks very little, aud smokes only The
mi.lesl of cigars. His face shows that he
lives a careful, we'll regulated physical
life
II is just now a question what is to be-
come Of Uncle Sans tea farm, established
by lie Due when he foarished as Commits.
sioner of Agriculture. Instead of selecting
a good piece OF land, he preferred leasing
100 acres from the old Middleton estate in
South Carolina, which was entirely worn
out and grown up with underbrush. Ex.
pecing that considerable sums would he
spent on this. the owners rented Il for 20
years for n silver dollar. During the first
year same $4,000 were expended, u large
portion OF it in the salaries OF snperin-
tendent and in building a road. Some tea
plants were rel out and good many of the
nuts were planted. When DIR. Loring
became Commissioner, he sent the veteran
William Saunders down 10 examine the tea