The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-02-11
From Washingto
From our Regular Correspondent

FroW our Regular Correspondent
FEBRUARY :, 1885.
1t has been little bit dull at the
Capitol this week, and will probably be
dull until the 22I of February, when
the monument will be dedicated, and
then for two weeks, or until the 4th of
March, the city will be as lively as
crowds and great expectations can make
it.
Congress has resolved not to do much
more than pass appropriation bills. The
Executive Departments are moving
along in a despairing way with their
routine work. The Sad-eved government
clerk awaits with fear and trembling
the day Of political judgment, hoping
that Cleveland may overlook all his sins
Of omission and commission and retain
him in the trust he has so long abused
Democratic politicians have gone in
large numbers to meet the President
elect in New York. Republican poll
ticians without leader or cause are
doing nothing.
Society, dear, simpering, mealy- mouth-
ed society, continues TO smile, and smile
and be a william. Indeed, it must be
chronicled that society has smiled too
much and too often this winter The
punch has been too heady, and there
have been some rows and orgies in high
life. These things do not get into the
papers, they are personal matters, and
not of sufficient Importance to be
spread before the world, but the result
of certain disgraceful episodes at dan
cling parties and receptions is that the
punch will be breNed milder in certain
West End houses in the future.
Mr.. Beecher was here during the
week as a lecturer and there is no doubt
that he was cut by his old Republican
admirers. 1t is true that the Democrats
helped TO fill the breach, but the Demo-
Gratis are not numerous or rich yet. The
hall was not much more than half full,
and for the first time in years the great
orator saw many vacant seats before
him. If he will come again next year
he will have a better house; ne is an
entertaining lecturer, and, as Il prophet,
is superior to the Editor of the New
York sun.
Mr.. Cleveland has sent invitations to
large number of Democrats to meet
him in New York, and so far as heard
from none have sent their regrets There
was almost quorum of Congress in
New York on Friday. \ Virginia dele
CATION has gone to urge the appointment
of Mr. Barbour as Postmaster-Genera
Mr.. Barbour is well fitted for the place
and his appointment would mean the
utter extinction of the pestilent little
Malone.
The Democratic statesmen who have
returned from New York seem to be
one and all impressed with the honesty
of purpose, and good common sense of
Mr. Cleveland. 1t is observed also that
they have caught from Mr.. Cleveland
the contagion OF holding their tongues.
They persistently refuse to disclose any
private conversations held between
Presi5ent-elect Cleveland, and his party
associates. The Republicans are look
ing and praying for fractional fights
and political blunders in the now adj
ministration Many Democratic leaders
| have been to see Mr.. Cleveland in the
last six weeks, and they have all come
away pleased with the coming Presi-
/ dent and determined to do all in their
power to make his administration sue
cesSful.
There is a prospect of still further
reduction of postage, by increasing the
weight of first class mail matter that
may be carried for two cents, from
half ounce two to ouLces. The Commit
tee appointed by the publishers of
the West and North West to urge upon
Congress the propriety and justice of re-
ducing the postage on newspapers, re-
port progress which is encouraging
| The House Committee on Post-offices
is in favor of reducing the postage
from two cents pound TO one cent.
The present tax of postage on newspa-
pers is very heavy one, amounting to
little less than two million dollars per
annum. The was put on about ten
years ago by certain men in Congress
who took this method of revenge for
harsh criticism received from the press
One of them was Mr. Hamilton of Maine
who thought that the large city pa
pers would be the chief suffers, but
| the result was that the tax was felt most
heavily by the weekly papers. The
large daily papers avoided some of the
expense by employing Express Com
panies at cheaper rates. 1t is thought
that a uniform postage of one cent per
pound will result in giving the govern
ment all the business, with only slight
decrease in the present revenue.
C. A. s.