The Washington critic., 1886-04-22
TOPICS OF THE DAY.


Governor Dingley of Maine informs
"Carp" of the Cleveland Ledder that
Blaine is very happy in his Maine
home. He has completed his work
and Is now resting. When Governor
Dingley visited him in January he was
looking over the last of the proof sheets
of his last volume, and at this time II
was his habit to rise early, take light
breakfast, and spend the morning and
until 9 in the afternoon In his literary
labors At 2 he lunched with the
family, then took some exercise, and
spent the remainder of the day In social
enjoyment. "Blaine's life at his home
now" says Governor Dingley, 'is a
strictly private one. Whether he will
be a candidate for the Presidency In
1888 l canrot say / know that he is
not candidate In the working sense
to-day. He Is running no literary
bureau, nor is he asking his friends to
do anything for him in this line. In
case he should be candidate, he
would naturally have the support OF
Maine. / consider him strong posi-.
bility to-day, but 1t Is impossible to tell
what will be the political atmosphere
in 1885,"
The same correspondent says: 1t is
estimated that the cost Of Senator Mill.
er's funeral will be more than s15..
900. A committee of Congressman had
to be sent West with the remains. The
ceremonies at the Capitol cost great
deal of money, and If many more Con.
gressional deaths occur there will be no
trouble in finding what to do with the
surplus in the Treasury. There is no
doubt that great extravaganza has ex-
listed for years in this matter of Con-
gressional funerals. 1t is delicate
subject to handle, butit Is one, 1t seems
to me, of which the people should
know. When Congressman dies at
Washington he is buried in the richest
style. The pall-bearers and other dig .
nitaries connected with the ceremonies
must each wear silk scarfs which cost
80 and more apiece, and though a
dozen funerals should occur during the
same session, you will never hear of
the same scarf being used more than
once. They must have $3.50 gloves,
and the undertaker's bill seldom runs
at less than $500. The casket in which
the dead Congressman's corpse reposes
Is an expense to the Government of at
least $400, and sometimes more. So
that there are few funerals of Con-
gressmep ,hich cost Uncle Sam less
than = 30, while many run up high
tow such bills as that of Senator
,er.
= wv
In some remarks upon the California
Congressional delegation, G. Z. X. of
the Louisville Times has this to say of
one of them: j. A. Loutitt of the Sec
ond California district, occupies just
two lines in the Congressional Dlrec-
tory. The brief biography states that
he is of Stockton, and was elected to
the Forty ninth Congress as Repub'
lic4n, receiving 1897 votes against
1s,2OS votes for Sumner, Democrat,
and 55S votes for Webster, Prohibi
ZIONIST. The reason that Mr.. Loutitt Is
cut so short in the sketches of our So
Ions is a little singular. The compiler
of the directory went to him for the
pOints VI uis HIc. Sun give ~ "
q you very quick" replied Loutltt
Born in stable; brought up in q
blacksmith shop; educated in the com
mon schools" The compiler looked
at him in amazement Loutitt quietly
The compiler got the features of hi
election to Congress and pub
lished them as given above, bu
would not put in what thu
Congressman related of his former life
Mr.. Loutitt explains by saying that h,
was born in house in New Orleans
that had been formerly stable, ant
that he served his apprenticeship at th'
hammer and anvil. He got fai
English" education mt the common
schools, and studied law. He has
large practice in and about Stockton
He has partner and three clerks. II
is of medium stature, but powerful.
built The muscles of his arms stan(
out in great cords, and are as firm as
club. He sits in his room with his Goa
off the coolest days. He says he ha
never been cold since he came to Wash
ington. His complexion is ruddy, ant
cordial smile plays on his frank face
He wears heavy brown mustache, ant
smokes necessarily He gained Dem
ocratic vote in peculiar way during
his race for Congress. There was Dem
ocratic blacksmith in the upper part o
the district who sneered at the ide
of the lawyer candidate for Congress
having Served at the trade" II
thought 1t was political trick. Whel
Loutitt got to the blacksmith's tow
he walked down to the shop and with
INn ,,tll lnI off t,s
coat, rolled up his sleeves and went t
work with the big .hammer. Th
blacksmith had heard the candidat
was coming. but stood back an
watched the performance in astonish
some of his chest licks," the black
smith walked over and felt of his pow
erful arm. Fully satisfied, he Wake
back to the forge, saying: "Irs a
right; that gets my vote"
~
The "Curbstone Crayon" writer G
the Inter. Ocean tells q good story th
week of fastidious officer at sprin
of water, and goes on THAT remint
me-" said an ex-surgeon, "of stor
of Buell.. On one occasion, near CAY
City, he ordered the men kept ava
from fine spring, but the guard WI
overrun by thirsty men, and Bue
rode with his stern, official dignity
the spring to stand guard himself. i
wore at the time little straw hat an
his fatigue uniform. A large, energet
man came up very thirsty and impatiel
to fill his canteen. He rubbed again
Buell. as he passed and stepped wit