Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-01-01
WASHINGTON LETTER.

| WASHINGTON, ID. ", dec, rs, 1859.
TO THE SoUTH KENTUCKIAN:
Congress was so anxious 10 adjourn
last Monday that the minute the
hands of the clock pointed to the hour
fixed on, the call of the States for the
introduction Of bills was stopped,
and the holiday recess declared. Al
the time OF adjournment Maine had
been reached in the call, and up 10
that time one thousand bills had
been introduced. 1t will be months
before many of them are reported
back.
But comparatively few Congress
men have left to spend their Christ
mas at home. This is contrary to
past experience, and doubtless due TO
the fact that the Committees have
not yet been completed by the Speak
er. The Members are as active il
looking after their own interests as
after The interests of their constitu-
EMS, and consequently have not cared
to leave the ground. when by their
presence they may be able to secure
an appointment 10 good Commit
tee.
This week ends with lots of pres
ents and good things at home, but
little money in pocket, except in the
pockets of the merchants, and they
have made enough to pay off all debts
and have handsome "pile" lett,
The mild, spring-like weather of the
five days preceding Xmas tempted
out the whole population Of the Dis
trict, and everybody spent all the
money Ire had. Everything except
the absence of snow and cold weather
combined to make a merry, old time
Christmas. The number of packages
mailed from the Post Office was un-
precedentcd. On Thursday alone
nine thousand were mailed, which
was twice the amount mailed the
corresponding day of last year. The
force at the Post Office had to be
doubled. The Express Companies
had more than they could attend to-,
and were delivering until midnight.
From Thursday night till II o'clock
Friday the Adams Express Company
had received 1900 packages for de-
livery in the city.
The "John Bull" the first railroad
locomotive introduced into America,
and built by George Stephenson in
England in 1885, has been placed on
exhibition in the Historical Hall of
the National Museum. 1t is present
to the Museum by the Pennsylvania
railroad.
The ladies visiting the White
House have been much annoyed by
the clouds of tobacco smoke i'll the
vestibule or entrance hall, and the
fact coming to the knowledge of Miss
Cleveland she had an order issued
forbdding smoking in the Mansion.
Hereafter smokers will have TO throw
their Havanas away before they will
be permitted to cross the threshold of
the sanctum.
The sculptor, c. D. Palmer, who
carved the original New York Stone
in 1850 for the Washington Monu-
ment, has just contracted, for $500,
to carve the new memorial stone TO
replace the old one. This is necessi-
taied by the change in the Coat Of
Arms of the State.
AT the last Cabinet meeting il was
decided TO close the Departmental
buildings at II o'clock day before
Christmas and New Years until the
day after. In some ofthe Depart
ments where the work is up, the
clerks will be allowed to leave at Il
o'clock every day during the week
1t used to be the general custom
some years ago to pay the clerks fol
the full month the day before Christ
mas and close the buildings every
day at noon from Christmas till the
day after New Years. At that time
ii was also the custom to make pres
ent of a gold pen and holder and {
-bladed knife of the best Rodgers Of
Wostcnholm make to each employe
The cost was charged to the station
cry account, and the stationery con
tractors used 10 reap rich harvest
| The custom was stopped, however
some few years ago, aud since then
the clerk has missed his present from
Uncle Sam, and has not been as hap
py since.
Secretary Lamar has gone to hi
home in Mississippi for the first tim,
in year. He will return about til,
9th of January. The election of tw,
United States Senators from Missis
sippi will occur next month, but Sec
retarv Lamars visit at this time I,
his State has no significance in con
lnction with the election, Senate
Warhall, the Secretary's successo
. to the sonate by appointment of tn
|; Governor, vas the Secretary's choice
4 and he will new be elected, and Sen
3 ator Gibson reelected. Secretar.
. Lamar, however, can come back t
e the Senate at any time he pleases, h
: has such strong hold OH the afiec
s tons of the people of his State.
: The officials at the Pension Offic
: who ought to know, deny the trut
of the rumor that there is to be
wholesale discharge of 400 clerks O
the LIST of January. The force is non
!, too large now to the dispatch of til
= business of the Office, as every appli
cant for pension knows to his sol
. row. The present force however /
! being changed in classification wit
= the view of expcditing the bushes
= and the rumor no doubt found il
origin in that fact.
: The poor people of the District al
. being more kindly remembered thi
. Xmas than in any previous year. FC
!, a week past large number of ladit
y have been energeticallly at wor
: making provision for a dinner to /
: given the poor children of the cit
I to-day. In addition to that, most a
of the churches had contributions i
clothes and groceries sent to the
g places Of worship, where they wei
taken charge of by committees al
pointed for the purpose, and distr
l. hutton ma1p anOuU tlo unn1v In III