The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-02-20
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. Feb. Is, 1SS-
From Ou Regular Correspondent.

From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. Feb. Is, 1884.
The toilers on Capitol hill have
been wrestling with the intricacies
of Mexican land grant titles during
the week, and talking about copy
right, the suppression Of pleuro-
pneumonia among cattle, the cree
ton of a Congressional library
building, and a removal of the naval
monument on Pennsylvania avenue
at the west entrance of the Capitol
grounds. to a more suitable locality.
As usual, on bill day, a number OF
new and old measures were present
ed in the House, and the introduc-
ton of the long expected Morrison
tariff bill. marked the week in that
branch Of Congress. 1t came under
the title of An Act TO Reduce I'm
port Duties and War Tariff Taxes,
and makes a twenty per cent. re-
duction on numerous articles, while
in few cases the reduction Is great
er or less than this rate.
While on the avenue the other
day my attention was called to men
wearing conspicuous blue badges.
Close scrutiny of their gilt lettering
proved that the wearers were dele
gates to the long-heralded Mississip-
pi River Convention, and | set out
for Lincoln Hall, arriving in time to
see the opening proceedings. The
scene in the auditorium was strik-
ing. Placards bearing the name of
States divided the hall into sections,
and the delegates were ranged &C
cording to their States. They rep
resented population of 2S,000,OOO,
the area ofcountry between st. Paul
and New Orleans, Pittsburgh and
Denver, and were a finer, more sub
stantial looking body of men than
that in session on Capitol hill. In
the rear of the stage was stretched a
large canvas bearing a record of the
amount of tonnage carried by a
Mississippi river steamer, followed
by the words " 1t YOU tell this to
Congress he sure to add that with
an improved channel this record of
work could be increased forty per
cent. without increase of expense
This means benefit to the producer. "
Mr.. Ford of New Orleans, called the
meeting to order. The Secretary
read the call of the convention, a
chairman was selected, Commits
sioner West of the District OF Colum-
bia welcomed the delegates in a brief
address. and the convention then
proceeded to business.
The reception rendered the Illinois
editorial party by the Illinois State
Association of this city at the Rifles
ArmoIy, was in every way a bril-
liant affair. 1t was characterized by
an unusual flow of soul, and beau
tiful feature of the decorations of the
hall was a bird cage suspended from
each gas bracket projecting from the
walls, the birds joining their voices
TO the many others of welcome.
Among those who figured promi-
nently in making addresses and
eulogizing their State in general and
the press of that State ia particular,
were the Illinois Senators, Logan
and Cullom, and Secretary Lin.
coin.
President Arthur's first levee OF
public reception of the winter, held
at the White House, drew 5000 peo.
pie to that building between the
hours of eight and ten Tuesday
evening. The usual arrangements
had been made for the reception
The parlors were decorated with
plants, the conservatory was lighted
and open, a number of policemen
were on duty, and the Marine band
dispensed music in the entrance nal
that drowned the buzz of voices
One of the most interesting features
of the evening was the presence Of
six Flathead Indians in charge o
Delegate Maginnis, of Montana
They wore full native costume o
gaudily striped blankets, bear claw
and shell necklaces, moccasins anc
ether beaded accoutrements. They
stood for come time in line against
the wall of the Blue Room. facing
the President and the receiving
party of richly dressed ladies, pre-
senting the antithesis of barbarisn
and civilization, quite dividing tn,
attention of visitors. They wert
then conducted into the East room
where they held am impromptu re
ception, many of the guests crowd
ing around them and shaking theil
hands. The original lords of tn,
forest looked good-natured, bu
bored with these democratic atten
tions, complained that it was yer,
hot, famed themselves with thei
feather-trimmed hats. and wiped
their brcws with their hands. On,
of them, Charles, was.the Chieftair
who faced Senator Vest in contro
versy when he visited the reserva
tion last summer. The crowd wa
thought to be the finest representa-
tive gathering OF the people seen il
the White House for several wears
Nearly all the delegates TO Missis
sippi River convention were pres
ent, and many members of tn
Illinois Press Association.
Just after the Sunday School ex
srcises in Trinity Church; Mobile
recently, the sexton began to rin