Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-02
WASHINGTON.
THE FLOWERS THAT BLOCK IN TIL
SPRING FROSTED.
The Eight-Heur' System in the National
Capitalize Edmunds Bill
Personal Items.
From Our Regular Correspondent

| WASHINGTON, May 1.-The FASH
ionable flowers that bloom in the spring
have been nipped in the bud this year
"for fact" The early part Of the
week the galleries Of the House and
Senate were enlivened with youth and
beauty decked out in the prismatic-
hued bat of the yesterday and the
spring and summer mantle of A. ID.
1856. They have withered beneath the
assaults of biting atmosphere, and the
sombre hues Of the Lenten season have
returned to protect the lady inspectors
of legislative foibles from the cold win.
try weather. OF the scene that meets
the eye on the floor, it may be
said the conditions exist to-day as
they were summed up by Speaker
years ago, who had been called on to
preserve the dignity Of the House, in
the few words, 81 don't SEQ any to
preserved" 1t has been claimed that
the present House exceeds its prede-
cessors for many years in point OF
ability. II this be true, the men of
power evidently seek security in silence.
The proceedings have been peculiarly
humdrum in their character. The
only breaks in this condition seem to
be due to Mr.. Wise, Of Virginia, when
he pounded Mr.. Boutelle, of Maine,
into imbecility, or, in prize-ring par
lance, "knocksd him silly" with the
Norfolk navy-yard resolutions. and
Elwood, of Georgia, in his contest with
the Iowa Henderson on the widows
pension bill.
A CONSEQUENTIAL DARKY.
The two colored congressman
O'Hara, of North Carolina, and Smalls,
of South Carolina-are objects Of Curl
osity and interest. They have thus far
made no impress on legislation for the
benefit of their colored brethren. Both
men have confined their powers of
speech to the answering Of the roll
calls. O'Hara will in all probability
relieve bis pent-up feelings on the sub
iect of Jim.Crow cars in Georgia when
the interstate commerce bill comes up
for discussion. In visiting the New
Orleans Exposition O'Hara had his con-
gressional dignity squashed into jim
Crow car while crossing the State of
Georgia, and has never forgotten or for
given the effront. lie is blue-blooded
aristocrat among the blacks, and will
not associate with them if he can
avoid it. Even Congressman Smalls's
foot is too fiat for O'Hara's high instep,
and they are never seen in sweet COM
panship on the floor of the House or
about the Capitol. OF the two, Smalls
is the better man to represent the col
ored people. What he lacks in intel
lect he makes up in tact, and by de-
| ferring to the wishes Of others accom-
plishes what he desires. lie is often
seen in consultation with southern
Democrats of the most pronounced type,
through whom be works out his pro-
blems for the benefit of his constituency.
O'Hara. on the other hand, is the cats
paw of cold-blooded political schemers
of the Reed Boutelle stripe, who keep
him coached for an emergency the same
now as in the Forty-eighth Congress,
when his amendments to the Reagan
bill furnished peg upon which to hang
enough southern-outrages oratory to
surfeit the impending political canvass
in the North.
THE EIGHT-H0UR SYSTEM.
The workingmen Of this city will
proceed next Monday to put in practice
their demand for eight hours work for
ten hours pay. Their leaders claim to
be prepared for the emergency Of a
general lockout. The workmen have
organized in "groups," each group
containing q full complement Of skilled
artisans sufficient and varied enough to
contract for and complete ready for &C.
cupancy any size or style Of building that
may be desired. Ofcourse in a city of the
character Of Washington, in which
neither commerce nor manufactures
hold any considerable part, building is
the leading feature. One man from
each "group" has been assigned to
make contracts, for the fulfilment of
which the men say they are prepared
to give bonds to the full amount re-
ouired. They say they can, under CO.
operative system, underbid the bosses
on every point and drive them out of
business unless they accede to their
demands.
The street-cars and herdics are gaily
decorated with flags to-day, the COM
panies having reduced the hours Of the
drivers and conductors from sixteen to
twelve per day without change Of pay.
The three-cent cars have been taken of
Pennsylvania avenue, and the business
will be done by putting on additional
two-horse cars with conductors.
THE EDMUNDS BILL.
Mr.. fuckers committee has for seve-
raj days been investigating the Utah
question, especially the Edmunds bill.
Both Gentle and Mormon women and
men have appeared and given their tes-
timony. The hearing .was concluded
to-day. From the sentiments dropped
by members of the committee it would
not be surprise if their report should
favor direct legislation on the subject
in place of the undermining system en-
bodied in. the Edmunds bill-a direct
assault in which justice will be tenn
pered with mercy.
sHIP-RAILwAY SCHEME.
There is strong probability that
the Eads ship-railway scheme will meet
with success in the present Congress.
The gallant captain and his compatriots
have reduced their demand for Govern
ment guarantees from some s35, 100000
to s7,000,000 The Senate Committee
on Commerce will probably make a
favorable report.
PERSONAL.
Mrs. j. r. Tucker left for New York
to-day on visit to her daughter, Mrs.
John L. Logan.
Captain Henry Heaton, Of Leesburg,
is in the city.
The National Republican this morn
ing published picture of Congressman
Brady. The Democratic Committee
will probably use the portrait in the
next campaign against him.
Il