Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1885-12-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. IA, 1886.

Il
however, will soon get down to hard
work. Over 200 bills have already
been introduced in the Senate, and a
flood Of them is expected in the House
to-day. AS a rule Members are hard
worked, although neither House
meets till II o'clock and both adjourn
at 5. The hours before II are occu-
pied in Committee meetings and the
preparation ofreports on claims refer
red to individual Members for exam
ination. The Members are often
obliged to devote hours at night to
the examination and digesting of the
vouminous papers usually submitted
in support of the claims. They can
not skim over the evidence because
they have TO submit clear statement
of il to the Committee before the lat
ter agrees on the report, and then
they must be prepared to answer all
questions that may bepropounded by
the 800 and more Members when the
claim comes up for final action in the
House. The duties and labors of a
Member are anything but few and
light when Congress is sitting. Be-
sides the duties imposed upon him
by the House, he has numerous let
tiers of all sorts and kinds to answer
not only from his own constituents,
but even from other citizens of his
own State, and at times even from
other States. This correspondence is
so large that Congress found it neces-
sary TO allow each henderson, a ses-
sion for writing paper and postage.
Then again a great deal oftime is con.
sumed in visiting the various Depart
ments looking after the claims or
some business of constituents requir-
ing action by the. Department. For
that reason the corridors of the De-
partment buildings are alive with dis
tinguished servants of the great Re-
public from the time that their doors
are opened until the last minute of
grace to reach the Capitol 10 look at
ter business there. Truly, the path
of Member is rough and rugged
one and not strewn with roses.
The florists here are already renew
ing their well grounded complaints
against the injustice done by the Gov
eminent in keeping up four immense
propdgating gardens and green-hous-
es to supply flowers and plants gra.
tnitously to the society people TO the
injury of private enterprises, Thou.
sands Of dollars are appropriated ev'
cry session of Congress to keep NJ
,, these Government greenhouses tC
| no purpose other than to supply
high officials and their friends will
{. flowers aud plants 10 adorl
G their private parlors when giving tn
G customary afternoon and evening re
ceptions. This of course Injuries hon
est trade, and should be stopped. Tn
! American people do not object t
their money being expended in wha
contributes to the welfare of all am
advances science, but they do Objec
| 10 crushing out private enterprise
by using public funds to benell
| class individuals. Let there be
: reform in this all important matter
l Washington has been the city o
conventions the past week. First il
importance was the Republics con
: vention-Congress second, the SAM
tary convention, and third, but by
no means the least, the knights o.
Labor convention.
The Sanitary convention is largely
: attended, and its daily sessions art
interesting in the papers read and
discussions following on subjects af'
fecting the hygiene and sanitary con
dition of the whole country. Man!
distinguished sanitists are here, and
the printed report of the conventions
proceedings will be received by thu
people of all sections as an import
S ant and useful acquisition to santa
f ry science. 1t is a subject in which
Q every large city and town in th,
: country is deeply interested, as tn
/. health of whole communities is de
pendent upon it. Some of the sub
jects discussed are the health of fac
e tory operatives, the question of mar
: thine quarantine, and commission
: to study yellow fever.
: The labor convention has bee
: holding daily sessions, and discussin
subjects affecting the welfare of al
laboring classes. Among the mos
important subjects are "boycotting
. and eight hours for days worl
a Both subjects .haye received I'll
>, hearty endorsement of the CONVEX
=, ton. 1t is believed that the meetin
70 at this time will induce congressiol
=, al action OH labor questions. III
!, convention is large and composed
an intelligent body of men, who a
calm in their deliberations and y
j. firm in insisting on, as part of Il
~ common law of the land, what TIN
believe to be for the interest of Il
I'd laboring classes and just to their Ell
IL ployers. Last Thursday night tn,
rs had d torch-light procession, whit
H. was a mile in length and the me
h. orderly ever seen here. The men
", line were both young and gri
an haired, and their appearance al
y, bearing would command respect
or any time and in any place. Amor
u the transparencies were some bea
Ct ing such inscriptions as "Aboli
ed Convict Labor" arbitration fir
ial and strikes as last resort" "Orga
ng lied labor is the bulwark Of the i
.he public" "Abolish the GovernmC
r. contract SYSTEM" etc. A mass me
of ing was held after the processit
isit and stirring addresses made by 60
.iss speakers. Congress cannot help
ri ing deeply and favorably impress
ZEN with the demonstration.
TIL On Thursday morning requi
ew mass was held at st. Matthe'
IAN Church for the repose of the soul
rah King Alfonso, and was a very i'm
ply sing ceremony. The President,
by companied by his Secretaries
81 State and War, walked over TO
% church from the White House, a
,st- were assigned seats in front pr
All of the Foreign Legations at
Capital attended, and the gorge'
uniforms of the ministers and al
ches added to the brlliancy of
scene.
one The Senate Committee on Pri
ur- ing will probably soon offer a re
ex- luton regulating the number of C
les of bills to be printed. AT pr
the ent an equal number of all bills
mol ,,r;,tad and as cOugpQun