Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-11-27
Washington Letter.


WAsHINGTOS D. q. Nov, u, Sc.
The week has been 8 very quiet one
here. SO thoroughly eugrossed is the
President il the preparation OF mis- mes
SAGE, that he cannot endure the slight
est interruption. he sees only those
persons w ho come ty the White House
at his request. those whom he wishes
10 consult on important business. The
approaches TO him are carefully guard
ed, and he is lett in seciusiCn with
Col. Lamont.
The Capitol presents a busy scene
of preparation Tor the approaching ses-
SION. Its an immense work to reno
yate this great marble structure inside
and out, even once year including
the recent extension at its bae, the
marble terrace which surrounds the
North, West and South sides of the Cap
i.al, replacing the grassy earth WORK
previously there, the building covers
about five acres and one VIII have
to walk about half q mile 10 90 around
IL. This improvement adds much to
the heighth Of the building and gives it
a much better proportion. Formerly
when seen from a distance, 10 looked
TOO low for its length and wIdta.
An optimistic Senator says the ap-
preaching session viii be one Of unus-
ual activity. lie thinks the House Will
be in condition for harmonious euerge5-
ic seton The defeated members are
free from restraint and at liberty to do
y hat they think right, aud the re-elecJ-
ed have the re-assuring knowledge that
they have TWO years in which TO heal
os er any trouble they may make for
themselves now among their cOnsJiLu-
euls. He draws the inference that the
Presidents recommendations viii car
ny lnOse weight and meet q more ready
response than they did q year ago, and
that the second session Of the forty
ninth Congress viii accomplish more
than he first in half of the time
Many novelties are wandering around
through the sphere of political ecOnO-
my now, and bills OF new character
viii be introduced in Congress this win
ter. Questions relating to the wage
winners of the world OVershadOw
other things. Labor has caught the
ear of mankind at last, and the greatest
and mig htiesJ have paused and listened
respectfully TO what it has to say.
Among the new schemes being earnest
" pressed by political economists whose
aim is 10 relieve the sad features in the
life of the lOilers, is one providing that
helpless old people be cared Tor by the
state after reaching the age Of sixty
two
To raise the requisite fund for this
plan, It is pro- Osed That youth be COM
PEELED To look out for old age in the fol
lowing manner; For each chIld born
the parents are 10 deposit ten dollars
with the government, which is TO be
placed 10 the credit of the Institution
al d fair rate of interest, and the depos-
81 a H.Ns. q
/ the credit of the surviving members of
/ the same class of years.
/ Forty dollars is the minimum SUN
/ with which life can be sustained for
/ one year, bat in order to give old age
/ that assistance that would relieve il
/ from care, it proposed to give the sum
/ Of $50 yearly to needy persons aftel
| they have passed their seYenty-secOuC
/ year. At seventy-thCee most persons
/ are incapable of manual labor, bu
from sixty-twO TO seyenty-three many
are able to earn something, and there
fore the pension can be graded in those
years, increasing each year until /
reaches $50, and this amount IS 10 bt
continued until death,
This is OF course, merely one Of tht
many plans that are suggested IN be
half Of the poor man, but it is one tina
will appeal to his heart. To feel tina
absolute want Will oVertake him in the
evening OF life would greatly relieve tn,
hard hips of manhood, ami the tryinz
/ conditions OF the present could be face,
vita greater courage.
There Is little doubt that the curiOu
question viii be tugging theoretically
at the heartstrings OF this nation belOr
a great while, and that Congress wi
have TO deal with it or something SINH
lar. Evidently nothing can be done q
the approaching short session, but tn
leaders of the labor movement ar
credited with an intention OF urging th
President to call an extra session Of th
! Eitieth Congress as soon as the preseI
one adjOunrs, Tor the purpose OF cOusiC
ering legislation ia the interest Of I'd
, WOrkmeu