Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-03-27
WASHINGTON Letter.


Both branches of Congress have dis
cussed important questions during the
week, but few important bills have
passed. The Senate has had under
consideration pension claims, cattle dis
eases, the bill for fixing the salaries OF
United States district judges at $4,000
a year, and the educational bill. Sen
ator Blair, who has. charge of the latter,
has had hard time so far in furnish
ing national aid to the free schools OF
the States One day his measure was
displaced by the foot and mouth dis
ease resolution next day when it came
up in regular order a move was made
to lay it aside for the pleuro-pneumonla
bill. By Il call Of the yeas and nays
knowledge triumphed over disease, but
itsvictory had scarcely been announced
when Senator arose and said as the
school billappropriatcd a large amount
of money and involved serious consd-
erations, he hoped it would be post
roned. This was too much for Mr..
Blair, who gave way to his feelings in
remark that calves, cattle, and all
sorts of things were allowed to run over
the children Of this country.
The House of Representatives passed
the Post Office appropriation bill and
worked through a number of private
measures, but its principal talk was
about whisky.
A preliminary canvass Of tne House
on Saturday at l o'clock let the f.iends
of the bill to fear dozen votes would
be wanting to pass it. Dup'nS the
whisky debate Mr.. Cox, of New York,
lnade a tariff reform speech, stating
apologctically that he was relevant az
his subject was all bound up with whis.
XIV. 1t was all about the tariff how
ever, its inconsistencies and indignitles,
and the necessity for reduction When
he finished Mr.. Horr, Of Michigan,
asked him which side Of the whisky
question he was on. He replied that
he would express his opinion by vote.
During the week a convention was
held in this city by colored journalists,
representing all the prominent colored
newspapers of the county, and perm
anent organization Of national news
bureau was effected by the election of
officers and committees. Enthusiastic
speeches We're made against adopting a
resolution for the purpose Of consoll-
dating the colorcd press in favor of a
prominent republican candidate for the
Presidency. They refused to commit
themselves by specifying in advance
any particular candidate.
The Democratic caucus has been
called to meet in the Hall of the House
of Representatives on Tuesday even
ing. Every member of the Democratic
party of the House is invited to attend
Beside the signature of the chairman
of the caucus, Hon. S. S. Cox, names
Of dozen or more representatives are
attached to the request. The names
are not significant, however, the sign
ers being those Democrats who hap
pened to be nearest to Mr.. Morrison
when he was preparing the paper.
Ivory indication now points to I'm
precedented activity in this city during
the building season. The plans for a
large number of handsome private
dwellings, are in the hands of the arch
fleets. Beside the public improvements
already in course of construction, the
new pension office, which is now well
up in the second story the west wing
of the new State Department building,
the reconstructed model room of the
Patent Office and other works, several
new ones are projected. These are q
new city post-ofice,a Congressional Ii
brary, an observatory, and hall Of re-
cords. Some school buildings arc to 90
up, number of fine business houses,
and other private enterprises are under
way that will add much to the archi-
tectural attractivcress of the city.
Another proposed improvement is II
Department telephone system, SO that
two Cabinet officers can hold private
conversations without leaving their Of
fees. The wires are to be laid under
ground, and all the Executive Depart
ments will be connected the White
House, Government Printing Office, and
probably the Capitol. If the Secretary
of the Navy should want to talk with
the Secretary of the Treasury, an indi-
Gator in the Navy Department would
answer his ring and the telegraph ope.
rator, learning what was wanted through
the telephone, would at once connect
with the Secretary of the Treasury.
An indicator has already been erected
in the Navy Department, and thirteen
new telephones have been ordered for
use in the State, War, and Navy De-
partment buildings.