The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-03-20
of the Democratic Advocate.


Correspondence of the Democratic Advocate.
WASHINGTON, March II, 1886.
On Sunday, March 18th, the first telephone
communication was held between this city
and New York. The distance is 22S miles.
A telephone with the multiple transmitter
was used This transmitter is an invention
of Mr.. w. C. Turnbull, of Baltimore. The
conversation was between newspaper men at
Williard's hotel this city, and a room at 1877
Broadway, New York. The experiment was
entirely satisfactory, and the World announces
that it will soon have direct communication
by telephone from its editorial room to Wash
ington city. A number of messages were
interchanged, and it was the opinion that the
sounds received were louder than those usu-
ally heard on local lines. The transmitter is
so constructed that the number of electrodes
can be changed at pleasure, increasing or
diminishing the volume of sound. 1t is not
even necessary for the person sending a mes
sage to stand Immediately in front of the
telephone, as various sounds were heard on
Sunday which perhaps were not intended to
be transmitted.
Senator Ingalls, yesterday submitted a joint
resolution changing the day for inaugurating
the President of the United States from the
4th of March to April Both, and proposing
that the following article be recommended to
the Legislatures of the several States as an
amendment to the Constitution of the United
States. In view of the Importance OF the
resolution, it is herewith given in full:
''Whereas the first President of the United
States was not inaugurated until the Both day
of April, in the year 1889; and
"Whereas the day which was chosen by the
Continental Congress for the installation OF
h. than ahlIchpd nv the
constitution, the 4th day of March, does now
cause public inconvenience in unduly curtail-
ing and limiting the second session of every
Congress; and
"Whereas it is fitting that the one hun
dredth anniversary of the Inauguration OF
George Washington as the first President OF
the United States be commemorated by the
Inauguration of his successor in 1889 upon
the same day, and that this should be the day
hereafter for the beginning of successive ad-
minstrations of the government: Therefore
be it
"ResoLred, &C., That the following article
be proposed to the Legislatures of the several
States as an amendment to the Constitution
of the United States, as part of the constitu-
ton, namely:
"Article XVI. That the term of Office OF
the President and the second session OF the
Fiftieth Congress shall continue until the Both
day of April in the year 1889, and the 30th
of April shall thereafter be substituted for the
4th of March as the commencement OF the
official term of the successive Presidents and
Vice Presidents and Congresses of the United
States.''
The speech of Senator Kenna, of West
Virginia, on the subject of the confirmation
of Executive appointments, and sustaining
the action of the President in refusing to de-
liver certain papers for the inspection OF the
Senate was the first that gentleman has made
since he was elected to that body some two
years ago. 1t has attracted wide spread at
tention and favorable comment. As several
dailies have said sit places him in front as a
Democratic leader" 1t showed the glaring
Inconsistencies of the Republican members
of the Senate, and proved from the files OF
the Senate that, although the Republicans
were clamoring about removals from othce,
Cleveland had only made $40 changes IN
eight months, while Grant made $50 in eight
lceekS This first term, and during SIX weeks
of this time the tenure of Office act was IN
force. The speech was full of argument and
authority on the subject under consideration,
and abounded in singing replies to Senator
Edmunds argument on the Republican side
of the chamber. Senator Kenna is the young
est member of the Senate, he being but ~
years of age. He served in the 45th, 10th
and 47th Congresses, and showed marked
ability as Representative, both as parlla-
mentarian and leader.
The people of Washington are not pleased
with the nomination of Matthews, colored, of
Albany, to succeed Frederick Douglass as
Recorder of Deeds for the District of Column
bia, and meetings have been held with a view
of opposing his confirmation. The Senate
Committee has notified the different delega-
tons that both the friends of Matthews and
those opposing him will be heard. The op-
position doesn't seem to arise because OF his
color, but from the fact that he is not from
the District of Columbia, they holding that
it is local office, and should be filled by a
| District man.
DR.. Shaw, from the Committee of Claims,
has reported favorably bill for the relief OF
Jas. H. Ayres, of Baltimore. Ayres claims
$945 for failure of contract for dredging at
Lynnhayen Bay in 1862, Faulty wording OF
the contract caused loss TO him to the ex,
tent claimed. Also bill for the relief OF
Samuel Flemming, of North Carolina, for
carrying the mail while being at the same
time postmaster.
| On April 18th next the term of the present
Public Printer will expire-that is, he will
have held the Office four years. Many rumors
as to his successor have been afoat. Many
think he will not be removed at all. What
the President will do in the matter is not
known to any one apparently. Meanwhile
the applicants increase. The law requires
that the Public Printer shall be practical
printer and binder.
St. Patrick's day, beautiful and spring like,
is being appropriately observed by the sons Of
Ireland. But st. Patrick was not an Irish
man, nor did he die on March 18th. What
| do they eelebrate-his birth, death, or the
| Punishment of the snakes?