Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-01
WASHINGTON.
A VERY DAMP DAY FOR TIE DEcoRA.
TON opsERvAnCEs.
Business Not suspended-T 0leomarga-
rine Bill-Pe1sion Points-A Book
Agents Luck-Personal Notes.
IFrom our ReguIar Correspondent. /

Agents Luck-Personal Notes.
From Our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May 3l.--so far az the
wheels OF Government are concerned there
has been q cessation Of activities. and the
Department clerks have devoted the day 70
decorating soldiers graves. The merchants
and businessmen, however, have kept their
institutions open, and aside from a be-
draggled procession at noon, headed by two
regiments OF regular artillery, nothing
traDspiIed in the city TO Distinguish the
day from any OF ITS immediate predeces-
sors. The morning sky was overcast,
fore hoding the disagreeable, cold rain that
set In OF noon and has continued all day.
The display made by the old vets in line
as q consequence was hidden from view by
q forest OF umbrellas. while the regulars
entered into the spirit OF tie occasion with
about the same gusto with which hod.
carrier eleyates his load 10 the seventh
story Of building IN course OF
construction. II may. On the whole,
he set down in history that decora-
tiOn-day, 1856, has been a total failure. The
fires OF patriotism that have burned 50
brightly during a week past were extin-
guished by the rain, 30 that OF the usual
pilgrimage TO Arlington, less than 1,j)9
mustered courage 10 cross the aqueduct
bridge forihat purpose. The orators were
ss eloquent, the music as thrilling, but the
ardor OF the people could not Withstand the
Eeitng rain.
BOGUS BITTER.
In the House tomorrow an attempt will
he made 10 displace tue oleomarglrlne bii
IL. L.. fnurn nd
judicial appropriation bill. There Is.
however. no likelihood OF its being
successful. II looked at the hour Of
adjournment last Saturday as II the
Phil. Armour crowd. OF Chicago, would
stapd 6rm in their attempt to defeat the
bopus-butter measure by flibustsriug
until the other side gave in. However,
lion. J. Wharton Green, OF North Caro-
lire, q member Of the Agricultural Com.
mittce. and 4 most jealous worker for the
extern ination % ele0margarne, inform,
me to-day that he thinks iinIl vote on the
passage Of tie bill will be reached t0-mo'-
row afternoon. While he does not give
any reasons for the faith that in him IA, he
feels confident in making the assertion,
With The additional opinion that the bill
viii pass by very large If not a
twc.th;rds majority. ! am also in
formed that there will be no modific1-
ton Of the provisions Of the bill In any
particular. although some members OF the
committee would vote for a reduction OF
the tax 10 Eve or even two cents per pound.
These men are not 20 a,erse to o'cOm1rSa-
fine manufacture "a an industry a. they
are 20 Us being palmed of on the public *
butter. and their object for the tax at all i
for the purpose Of liking stamp upon the
packages by which il can be distinguished.
PENSION P0IS1s.
4 clerk IN The Pen,iCn-Olicc told me o. a
case that he has lately been engaged on
which shows some OF the peculiar points
involved IN the pension laws as they exist.
A soldier. il seems, served through the ate
war, was discharged, returned home, and
in course Of time married a wife. He dis
covered that under the law be- was entitled
10 a pension, and made application. Before
his case was acted upon ne died and his
widow married again, her husband
being man who rcyer WIS wiihin
hundred mites OF battlefield.
After the lapse of few years the
woman d, aud The husband pat in a
claim against the Government Tor expenses
incurred IN her support, sickness. and
death. An examination OF the record oi
the soldier husband showed that be was
entitled 20 4 pension at the time Of bis
death. and undCr TIE construction OF the
law at the Pension-OiHte the citizen hus-
band No. , was paid upwards OF 81 800
for the care Of his wife. her sickness, and
funeral expenses. | an told that many
similar cases have been settled in the same
Way.
A BOOE-AGES1's LICK.
General Daniel l.. Sicsles visited the
Pension Office last week and found mn
pnddiing books about the building and
earning a precariOus living who during the
war belonged TO battery under the Gene
RATS command. This wont do" said
Sickes. when the man introduced himself
and told his story. ave must do some
thing better for YOU" The next day the
book-peddlcr received an appointment
signed by Secretary Lamar a. head OF one
Of the divisions in the Pension'Ohice. 1t
detracts somewhat from the merits OF This
incident, however, 20 be informed that the
recipicnt Of this favor CT the hands OF Sickles
and Lamar Is an uncompromisIng Republic
can OF the most bitter parts n variety.
captain Thomas III. smith. Of Norfolk,
has been promo ed from ash 900 tOa Sl,40J
clerkship in the Treasury Department. In
this case the promotion came before Mr..
smith bad served the probationary period
required by the ciyil-scrylce rules.
Nj. i. K. Tucker returned rom Middle
burg to-day.
William il. Barclay, post-oiiico inspector,
has lust returned from tour TO the upper
Valley, and reports the po7t-oilice At Lex
inglon. under Postmaster Warner, the best
Kept Office be mas seen. William i. Burke
has the pO>t-Oilice nj stauDtOn also in first
class condition
CouerI ,man ITigg Is expected beck to-
day.
Major Daniel has gone 10 hi, home IN
Lynchburg Tor a weeks visit.
W. Il. Blackwell. Of Durham. \. c. ; r.
+. Johnston, Z. II. Ftzhugh and wife, and
/. 4. Francisco, OF Richmond, are regis
tered at the Metropolitan.
\ large wreath Of roses and other ilow-
Crs was sent IRON the White House to
Mount Vernon to-day, to be laid on the
tomb Of Washington.