The Republican journal., 1884-12-25
LETTER from WashinDtnn.
NEWS AND GOSSIP FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Correspondence of the Journal

NEWS AND GOSSIP FROM THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Correspondence of the journal.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 20, 1884. The weather
is so cold here and is reported much colder at the
north that many New England and Western men,
bers have been discouraged from going home to
spend the holidays. OF the Maine delegation only
Mr.. Boutelle and possibly Mr.. Miken, who have
not their families with them, will go home.
The democrats have got into an embarrassing
position en- the Reagan intersta Commerce bill.
1t was introduced with great flourish of trlIm-
pets as ameasure to protect the people against the
elections of the robber baron railroad managers,
but Mr.. OHara, the colored member from North
Carolina, very bright, intelligent man, offered an
amendment to give to persons of all classes and
color who purchased the kind of tickets equal
rights upon railroads. This fell like bomb into
the ranks OF the democrats 1t meant that colored
people who buy first class tickets should not be
driven out of their seats into smoking cars as
is now done in some of the Southern States. The
southern bourbonS at once took fire at it, but some
of the northern democrats, seeing that it would
force only what the Constitution guarantees,
afraid TO vote against it and it passed. But at
once they began to offer other amendments which
would destroy its force. Many of these were
defeated, but one passed allowing the railroads to
classify passengers; or, as Mr.. Reed of Maine
said salcastically, "dssot them and place the
different assortments into different of equal
comfort and convenience" What will be the fate
Of the Regan bill is quite uncertain. While the
republicans and some OF the democrats agree that
IT is desirable to place all railroads under some
control the Reagan bill has very Objectionable
features and its efficacy for any good is quite
doubtful.
During the Barker investigation before a sub
committee of the Springer committee, Mr. Miliken
drew ont the fact that three heads of divisions and
AT least six clerks holding important places in the
First Comptrolers and First Auditors offices were
Democrats who had been appointed from 1912 to
ls31 inclusive, and had been Kept in office continu-
ously by the Republican party during all its wears
Of power, and it is said that nearly one-t -third Of the
places i'll the departments now filled by Demo
Gratis. This very clearly proves that the Republi-
can party has been practically pretty good Civil
Service party notwithstanding all the fault which
has been fonnd with ii ON this score by the hide
pcndents. Whether the next Administration will
rcciprocale tile generosity of its predecessors in
th9 respect is question which makes many a
mind anxious in Washington these days 1t is GER
tainly very important question to a large number
$1,000 government employees here have been by
their long public service and dependence upon sal.
aries, untitled to fight the battle of life in private
pursuits is unquesionably trnc. and not all Of them
would if turned ont of their places get past the
doors OF the poorhousc.
The senate refuses to adjourn over the holidays
until the naval appropriation bill can be agreed up
ON by both branches of Congress, hut the House
escapes the provision of the constitution providing
that it shall not adjourn for more than three days
without the concurrence Of the Senate by adjourn
ing from Saturday to Wednesday anu then letting
"A rev members who remain here meet and adjourn
from day to day till the 9th of January.
This is clearly an evasion of the plain provision
of Che constitution and think should not have been
d0ne. Indeed, believe that at short sessions when
much business is before Congress, with so little
time to do it in there should be adjournment eX-
crpt for TIE two holidays themselves. But my opin-
ion upon this subject while shared by AT least a ma
iority If not all Of the members from Mane is not
am sorry to be obliged to say, that of majority
Of Congress.
The outside of the Washington monument is fin.
shed Its height is 55j feet, which is greater than
that Of any other structure on earth. AS showing
ihc different kinds of courage which different men
POSSESS il i, stated that civilian who never smelt
the smoke Of war, and brave Old general whose
gallant conduct on many a battlefield is notorious
went up the elevator to the top of the monument
together, and that while the civ iiian climbed up TO
the top and holding on to arope stood upon the very
pinnacle of the monument, the old hero of scores of
bloody fights could hardly he induced to put his
face over the edge OF one of the windows.