Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-04-05
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular CorrespOndent.l


 March 18th, 1884
 Both branches of Congress have dis cussed important questions during the week, bat few important bills have passed The Senate has had under consideration, pension claims, cattle diseases, the bill for fixing the salaries of United Ststes district judges at $500 year, and the educational bill. Senator Blair, who has charge of the latter. has had hard time, SO far, in furnishing national aid to the free | schools of the States. One day his measure was displaced by the foot and mouth disease resolution. Next day, when 1t came up, in regular order, move was made to lay 1t aside for the Pleuro-pneumonia bll. By call of the yeas and nays knowledge triumphed over disease, but its victory had scarcely been announced, when a Senator arose and said as the school bill appropriated a large amount of money and involved serious considerations, he hoped it would be postponed. This was too
 
 feelings n a remark that calves, cattle, aud all sorts of things were allowed to run over the children of this country.
 The House of Representatives passed the Postotfice Appropriation bill and worked through a number of private measures but its principal talk was about whisky.
 4 preliminary canvass of the House on Saturday at one o'clock led the friends of the bill to fear dozen votes would be wanting tO pass it. During the whisky debate Mir. Cox of New York made a tariff reform speech, stating apUlOgetically that he was relevant, as hIS subject was al bound up with whisky. IL was all about the tariff, however, its Inconsistencies and indigni- ties, and the necessity for reduction. When he finished Mr. Horr of Michigan, asked him which side of the whisky question be was on. He replied that he would express his opinion by a vote.
 During the week a convention was held m tuls cIty by cOlOTod journalists. rep re>eating all the prominent eolored newspapers ol the country, and per mauent organization of national news bureau was effected by the election of officers and committees. Enthusiastic
 
 resolution for the purpose of consolidat- ing the colOred press Tn favor of a prom inent Republican candidate for the presidency. They refused tO commit themselves by specifying in advance any particular candidate.
 The Democratic caucus has been ca led tO meet in the Hall of the House of Representatives on Tuesday evening Every member of the Democratic party Ol the II use is invited to attend. Be side the signature of the Chairman of the caucus, Hon. $. $. Cox, names of dozen or more representatives are at td,hed tO the request. The names are not significant, however, the signers be- ing those Democrats who happened to do nearest tO MT. Morrison when he was the paper.
 Every indication now points to un- p-Ecedeutei activity in this city during the building season. The plans for a large number of handsome private dwellings are iu the hands of the archi- tects. Beside the public improvements already in course of construction, the new Pension ofiice, which Is now all up m the second story, the west wing of the new State Department building, the re- cun-tIucled model room of the Patent office and other works, several new ones -4~ r-r riect "a. These are q new city nnstoitice, Q Con gressiOnaI library, an L--N'1 o. L-fr ..f --~.-1 uess houses and other private enter prises are under wa that will add much to the architectural attractiveness of the city.
 Another proposed improvement IS department telephone system, SO that two Cabinet officers can hold private without leaving their of- f,es. The wires are to be laid under Q-ound. and all the executive depart rents will be cOnnected-the White House, government printing office, and probably the capitol If the Secretary O. tho Navy should want to talk with the Secretary of the Treasury an lndl- e ator in the Navy department would an- sTer his ring and the telegraph opera tor. learning what was wanted through the telephone would at once connect with the Secretary of the Treasury. An indicator has already been erected m the Navy department, and thirteen new tel euhones have been ordered for use In the State, War and Navy department buildings.