The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1886-04-30
Our WASH ngton Letter
From Our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, April

Washington, April 26, 1886
On Capitol Hill the event Of the
week that attracted most attention was
the strike investigation, conducted by
the Congressional Committee. The
great interest taken in it WAS due chief
D.. " to the fact that Jay Gould and Grand
Master Workman Powderly were pres
ent as witnesses
So great was the crowd about the
room where the committee was taking
testimony, that it finally became nee
essary to admit only Members of Con-
gress, witnesses. and members of the
press. The great financier, in telling
the story of the strike from the capital
lists standpoint. cha ged MIR. Powderly
with distorting facts and placing him
/ in a wrong light. He is in favor of
arbitration but it must be between
employer and employed and not after
I the men have left work. He does not
recognize the knights of Labor as
such.
Jay Gould was five foursin giving
his testimony. He was a little bad
tempered and nervous when describ-
ing his alleged wrongs. His voice vi
brated to high key and became trem-
ulous with emotion, at which the
crowd around him Uttered audibly.
He was quiet and cool when he scored
a point in his own favor, evasive when
closely pressed, good humored some
times, and astute always. Mr.. Powd-
erly was hearl first on presentation
of the Labor side of the case He at
tracted much curious observation, and
it was remarked that he was rather
better dressed than the Railroad King.
Speaking of labor troubles, the All
tation alb ut the eight hour. question
has brought about a complete paraliZa-
ton of the building interests in this
city. Contractors are unwilling to
undertake the erection of any buildings
until they are able to have some sub
stanial basis upon which to make
their estimates while persons waning
houses built are frightened away by
the differences existing between the
employers and emp Dyed.
The promot' rs o the Washington
Exposition of 1889 80 hold weekly
sessions to discuss the subject. AT the
last meeting much enthusiasm was dis
played and it adjourned with the feel
ing that the project was making rapid
strides toward success. The Governors
of the forty six states and Territories
principal boards of trade throughout
the United States. and the mayors of
all cities containing a population of 25,-
600 and upwards have been appointed
eX-officio members of the Exposition
Board
The plans will have to be pushed
forward viz orously as the time is very
short in which to fleet the necessary
Congressional legislation There are
plenty of energetic business men in
the District ofCoiumba. however. who
are willing and anxious to do whatev-
.er necessary to urge upon Congress the
establishment of the great enterprise.
Our laWmakerf in 10th ends of the
Capitol have been recklesslv eXtrava-
CANT during the week with the peoples
money on one day the Senate passed
about four hundred private pension
bills, which was at the rate of one q
minute for several hours. In rare in
stances we're these bills even read, and
Senators knew little or nothing about
their merits or lack Of merit For this
usually slow and cautious body the
procedure was unheard of. The house
has had before it the great River and
HarhOr bill, that notorious grab bag"
through which many members buy
themselves votes with Government
money. Many an obscure. useless little
river or creek throughout the country
got an appropriation to which 1t had
not the shadow of right
In society the week has been barren.
But the wall of Misereres stealing
through church doors the signing of
chanted litanies, and the Lent acts of
penitence and devotion closed by the
calendar at midnight on Saturday.
Society went into seclusion at the Cap
ital on Ash Wednesday, whether from
religious fervor or from utter exhaust
ion onsequent upon the gay season.
The President and his private secre-
tary are still keeping bachelors hall
at the White House. Miss Cleveland
has not returned and COL Lamont's
family is health seeking at Fortress
Monroe. A woman has asked Mr..
Cleveland the fateful question. wheth-
err or not the rumors concerning his
marriage were true. In substance his
answer was that one woman might
respect the name of another to that de
gree as not to willingly parade her in
q matter of public e. ssip, and the
world is no wiser than it was before as
to the ALLEGED White House nuptials.