The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-02-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.

| VIII, hoWleStef; Il. =. Huntington, WIN
nebago City; L. M. Emory, Lake City
WASHINGTON LETTER.
(From our regular Correspondent.I
WASHINGTON, February 0, 1884.
The toilers on Capitol hill have
been wrestling with the intricacies OF
Mexican land grant titles during the
week, and talking about copyright
the suppression Of Pleuro-P Pneumonia
among cattle; the erection of Con
gressional library building and re.
mOval of the naval monument OH
Pennsylvania Avenue at the west en-
trance of the Capitol grounds, TO a
more suitable locality. AS usual on
bill day, a number of new and old
measures were presented, in the
House. and the introduction of the
long expected Morrison tariff bill
marked the week in that branch Of
Congress. 1t came under the title of
IAN Act to Reduce Import Duties
and War Tariff Taxes" and makes
a twenty per cent. reduction on num-
erOus articles. while in a few cases
the reduction is greater or less than
this rate.
While OH the Avenue the other day
my attention was called to men wear.
ing conspicuous blue badges. The
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
tie opening proceedings. The scene
in the auditorium was striking. Pla-
cards bearing the name of States di
vidcd the hall into sections, and the
delegates were ranged according TO
tleir States. They represented a
population Of t0enty:eight millions.
the area of country between st. Paul
and New Orleans, Pittsburg and Den
yer. and that finer, more substantial
looking body of men than in session
on Capitol hiH. In the rear of the
stage was stretched large canvas
bearing a record of the-amOuns of
tonnage carried by Mississippi river
steamer, followed by the words "If
you tell this to Congress be 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 Or
leans, called the meeting to order.
The secretary read the call of the
convention, Il chairman was selected.
Commissioner West, of the District
of Columbia, welcomed the delegates
in 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
ArmOry. was in every way a brilliant
affair. 1t was characterized by an
unusual flow of soul, and beautiful
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 prominent.
ly in making addresses and eulOgiZing
their State in general and the press
of that State in particular, were the
Illinois Senators, Logan and Cullom,
and Secretary Lincoln.
President Arthur's first levee or
public reception Of the winter, held
at the White House. drew three thou
sand people 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, number of policemen
were on duty, and the Marine band
dispensed music IN the entrance hall
that drowned the buzz of voices. One
Of the most interesting features Of
the evening was the presence of six
Flathead Indians. in charge Of Dele.
gate Maginnis, of Montana. They
wore full native costume, of gaudily
striped blankets, bear claw, and shell
moccasins and other head
I'd accoutrements. They stood for
'ome time in line, against the wall of
he Blue Room, facing the President
md the receiving party of richly
lressed ladies, presenting the antithe
is of barbarism and civilization quite
lividing the attention OF visitors.
They were then conducted into the
Cast room, where they held an i'm.
reception, many of the
.uests Rowling around them and
baking their hands. The original
ords of the forest looked good-natur.
d, but bored with these democratic
complained that it was
cry hot, famed themselves with
heir feather trimmed hats, and wiped
heir brows with their hands. One
f them. Charles. was the Chieftan
gho faced Senator Vest in contrOver-
y when he visited the reservation
,st Summer. The crowd was thought /
0 be the finest representative gather. &.
ng of the people seen in the White
louise for several years. Nearly all t
f the delegates to the Mississippi I
liver convention were present, and
lany members of the Illinois Press b
.ssociation. a
Raukrunf Stuck v