The Portland daily press., 1884-01-23
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON.
Rival Champions of the Whiskey Interest
Society Doings-The New Spanish
Minister-The Presidents DiEatOriOus.
Special to the Press.)


WASHINGTON, Jan. 81, 1884,
Mr.. Willis does not agree with those who are
saying that the bill extending the bonded peri
cd on whiskey now in bond is dead The fact
is, though probably neither of those gentlemen
would own it, there is just bit OF Jealousy, or
something that might be called by that name,
between Willis and Phil Thompson of Ken
lucky, about the whiskey bill. Thompson has
bin extending the bonded period on all whis
key indefinitely, while Wills's bill only ex-
tends it on that now in bond term oi TWO
years. Thompson thinks his bill might pass II
Willis's bill was out of the way, because there
ara many who oppose the Willis bill as "spe-
cial legislation" for the benefit of few hold
ers of bourbon whiskey. If his general bill
was substituted for this he thinks it would get
that class of votes. OF course Thompson
would like to see his own bill pass, for who
does not prefer the welfare Of his own child to
that of his neighbor, however much he may
regard his neighbor's and it is not to be Won
dered at that he thinks that there is not much
/ hope Tor the Willis BILL On the other hand,
Mr.. Willis thinks that his bill really stands
good show for passage, though this seems lit
tie doubtful.
Speaking of the little feeling that seems to
have grown up between these two gentlemen,
it is not inappropriate to remark that this sort
of thing is not unusual il Congress. 1t often
takes much more vigorous form than in the
case of Thompson and Willis, for it is not to
be understood that there is any quarrel or even
ill-feeling between them, except that each nat
urally espoused the cause of his own bill, and
in ain rnAo ha
chances of the other. But in many cases there
are actual hosiilities, and in still more, hearI-
burnings, which occasionally show themselves
in words.
Social salad.
The President will give his season of enter
tainments at the White House, in few days.
Mrs. McElroy, who has been here several days,
Is still seen little in society. The seas on will,
perforce, be busy one, if the President gives
as many entertainments at the Executive
Mansion this year, as usnal, for only little
over month remains before the advent OF
Lent.
Capitol Hill is the busy portion of the city
today, Socially, and street will be as busy to-
morrow. The society people have taken wis
dom in their extremity, and lhave agreed upon
a system by which the city is divided into So
cial Circuits" over which the fair circuit rid
ers roll in comparative comfort. On Monday,
all the society ladies Capitol Hill, including
the wife of the one Supreme Court Justice
residing there, receive, although Tuesday is
counted the "supreme Court day in society
generally. The ladies have found the city SO
large and their lists so long that to make all
he calls they desire in week is impossible,
except by systematizing the work. So Mon
day is the day given to Capitol Hill, Tuesday
to the Supreme Court Justices and the street
people, Wednesday to the Cabinet ladies' and
so on, winding up the week with Connecticut
avenue on Saturday.
The Spanish Minister.
Senior Valera, who is at the Arlington, is to
live there this winter. He Is writer of
good deal Of note and being asked recently if
he expected to write book en- America, as
everybody else does, replied with smile th at
he presumed he should il he found what TO
him seemed interesting matter for q book
Senior Valera will be the rage in society here
this winter. He is a rather handsome man
with short iron gray moustache, and speaks
English very correctly, though not very fluent
IL. His literary record, combined with the
curiosity naturally attaching to the successor
of man who had such tragic taking off as
had poor Barca, will attract good deal Of at
tention to him.
A Slow President.
President Arthur is very queer about some
of his duties. He allows them TO drive him,
rather than drive them himself. He appears
to follow, in this respect, the course of his
most illustrious predecessor since Washington
Abraham Lincoln. Wherever there is a
difference of public sentiment on any import
ant matter regarding which he must act, he
quietly lays the matter aside and waits for
public sentiment to direct his course. The
condition of the st. Louis and Boston post Of
fees just now is a striking illustration Of this
fact. The term of Postmaster Hayes of St.
Louis expired almost year ago, and vet there
seems no more probability of nomination to-
day or this week than there did year ago to-
day or a year ago this week. Meantime ev-
erybody has become exhausted, except the
indefatigable Filley, and almost any appoint
ment would be hailed with delight as settle
ment of the question. The Boston Office is
another instance of this sort, though the term
of the postmaster there has more recently ex-
pired. Yet it would not be surprising to see
the contest ia either or both of these cases run
oh for months yet. Perhaps the President
has an idea that in advance OF the choice OF
delegates to the Chicago convention 1t will be
wise to make no enemies in either of these
places.