The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1884-02-09
FROM WASHINGTON
,gular to The CARpoN ApvooArE,

WASHINGTON, d. O., Feb. 2. 'S3.
Quite scene occurred in the Hous
yesterday, just before adjournment, wi hel
the Speaker laid before that body a mes
sage from the President transmitting, il
response TO resolutions, a report of th,
Secretary of State, with accompanying
papers, relative to restriction of th,
importation of American hog products
into Germany and France. Immediately
a clash of jurisdiction arose as to which
committee was. entitled to the report o.
Secretary Of State, Mr.. Townshend, oi
Illinois, favoring the Committee on Com,
merce, Mr.. Hatch of Missouri, the Com.
mittee of Agriculture, and Mr.. Curtin, OF
Pennsylvania, the Committee on Foreign
Affairs. Finally matters were compro.
missed to the mutual satisfaction of all
parties, by ordering the message printed
and laying it on the table.
Senator Mcpherson introduced in the
Senate yesterday JOINT resolution to ap-
propriate and make available immediate
ly $500 900 to carry into effect the pro.
visions of the joint resolution to provide
for an expedition for the relief of Lieut..
Greedy and party, and to limit the ex-
penditure under that resolution to the
sum named.
The winter season of gayety reached
its height the past week and society now
begins to tread the dow L ward path whose
termination is the beginning of the peni-
tential season. Not alone the nights but
the days have been filled with gayety,
and wearied forms and faces at the vari-
Gus gatherings have attested only too
plainly that the physical strain upon the
membeIs of tue gay world is becoming
seriously felt. Already there are many
worn-out deserters from the ranks, ana
more and more familiar forms aud faces
are missed AT each succeeding event,
Every evening of the week has brought
ball or party, and receptions. dinners,
teas. and theatre parties have been as the
sands of tue sea III number.
Besides retaining several forfeited
land grants by this Congress, important
legislation is called for on the indebted
ness TO the United States by the Pacific
railroads, which have received subsidies
amounting, on the first day of July last,
to Sl02. .37G,3l2. Under the provisions
of what is known as the Thurman act,
twenty-five per cent. of the net earnings
of each road is applied to the payment
of its debt. This will leavc the eight
principal companies indebted to the
United States, when these bonds become
due, at least SIS, 900 600; and attempts
will be made to force the railroads this
winter to accept scheme for the pay
ment of this debt, or for giving security
that it will be paid. Senator Edmunds
has taken the matter in hand, and, al
though the railroad companies virtually
own good many men hes in Washing
ton, they cannot escape his relentless de-
termination. Tue insolence of these
corporations is nmaz ng. They DEFY the
acts Of Congress aud the whole power of
the q vernment, setting their own pleas
ure as the full measure of their liability;
bu' there are signs that all this sort of
thing will lave to end before long. The
lobby maintained by them here is very
strong, but is gradually losing its grip.
One of these lobbyists has all attractive
daughter, who goes into society and ex.
tends civIlities to the wives aud daugh-
ters of members, while be gives them
lunches and good liquor. Another first
class lobbyist is renowned as a poker
player. aud never hesitates about losing
a few hundred dollars when he desires to
ingratiate himself with the winner.
Ex-Governor Ben Butler will doubtless
pocket some handsome retainers by act
ing as counsel for some of those who are
TO be overhauleG by the investigating
committees. The General has already
several irons in the fire. Que is prop
ositlon to make the United States pay
largely fer the Potomac water now III
use under an old manufacturing priyi-
lege located at the Great Falls, in which
General Cushing secured controlling
interest. Another project is to sell Cas-
lie Butler to the United States for COM
miItee rooms. One.third of the building
has always been leased to the United
States for the Coast Survey. The other
Two tenements, originally designed for
Senator Butler, Of Massachusetts,, and
his son-in-law, Senator Ames of Mlssis-
sippl, are now vacant, ,Grneral Butler not
having reached the Senate chamber,
while Senator Ames wisely concluded to
vaeate his chair there, So it is now pro-
posed 10 lease or sell the whole estab-
lishment to the general Government 10
be used ss committee rooms. They
would be very inconvenient for this pur.
pose, as during the closing hours of the
session members are often summoned
from their committee rooms to vote,
Special to the CARBON ADVOCATE,
WASHINGTON, Feb 6, 1884.
The last week in t. t National Capitol
has been one of considerable sensation.
though rather subdued in tone and lack
ing that intensity which is necessary to
create in mans countenance an ''ain't-
it-awful' look. The most prominent
'heme OF conversation has been
THE KEIFER ,BoYNToN IIBRoG14o,
aud the ex-Speaker from Ohio is certain
ly the "worsted" man IN the fracas. Col.
Boynton, the Washington correspondent
of the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette,
whom MIR K.,I-r ..I.aru., ,.;.h k.u.-z.