The news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1882-1891, 1886-11-30
Washington Letter
From our Regular Correspondent

positive tnat VINE was harmless
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, d. O., Nov. 10, 1886,
The week has been very quiet one
here. So thoroughly engrossed is the
President in the preparation of his
message, that he cannot endure the
slightest interruption. He sees only
those persons who come to the White
House at his request, those whom he
wishes to consult on important bust
ness. The approaches to him are
carefully guarded. and he is left in
seclusion with Col. Lamont.
The Capitol presents busy scene Of
preparation for the approaching
session. 1t is an immense work to
renovate this great marble structure,
inside and out, even once year. In
Guiding the recent extension at its
base, the marble terrace which sur.
rounds the north, west, and south sides
OF the Capitol, replacing the grassy
earth work previously there, the
building covers about five acres, and
one will have to walk half mile to
go around it. This improvement adds
much to the height of the building
and gives it much better proportion.
Formerly, when seen from a distance.
it looked too low for its great length
and width.
An optimistic Senator says the APP
preaching session will be one of unu-
sual activity. He thinks the House
will be in condition for harmonious,
energetic action. The defeated MEM
bers are free from restraint and at
liberty to do what they think right,
and the reelected members have the
re-assuring knowledge that they have
two years in which to heal over any
trouble they may make for themselves
now among their constituents. He
draws the inference that the Presi-
dents recommendation will carry
more weight and meet more ready
response than they did year ago, and
that the second session of the Forty
Ninth Congress will accomplish more
than the first in one half the time.
Many novelties are wandering about
through the sphere of political econ
omy now, and bills of new character
will be introduced in Congress this
winter. Questions relating to the
wage winners of the world over
shadow other things. Labor has
caught the ear of mankind at last, and
the greatest and mightiest have paus-
ed and listened respectfully to what it
has to say. Among the new schemes
being earnestly pressed by political
economists whose aim is to relieve the,
sad features in the life of the toilers,
i5oEc providing that helpless)0id peo-
PIE be cared for by the state after
reaching the age of sixty-two.
To raise the requisite fund for this
plan, it is proposed that youth be
compelled to look out for old age in
the following manner: For each
child born the parents are to deposit
ten dollars with the government,
which is to be placed to the credit of
the institution at fair rate of inter-
est, and the deposits of those who die
are to be transferred to the credit of
the surviving members of the same
class or year.
Forty dollars is the minimum sum
with which person can sustain life
for one year, but in order to give old
age that assistance which would re-
lieye it from care, it is proposed to
give the sum of 800 yearly to needy
persons after they have passed their
seventy second year. At seventy
three most persons are incapable of
manual labor, but from sixty two to
seventy three many are able to earn
and therefore the pension
can be graded in those years, increas-
ing each succeeding year until it
reaches 800, and this amount is to be
continued until death.
This is of course, is merely one of
the many plans that are suggested
in behalf of the poor man, but it is
one that will appeal to his heart.
To feel that absolute want will not
overtake him in the evening of life
would greatly relieve the hardships of
and the trying conditions
of the present could be faced with
greater courage.
There is little doubt that the curious
question will be Juggling theoretically
at the heart strings of this nation be.
fore a great while, and that Congress
will have to deal with it or something
similar. Evidently nothing can be
done at the approaching short session
but the leaders of the labor movement
are credited with an intention of urg-
ing the President to call an extra sess-
ion of the Flftieth Congress as soon as
the present one adjourns, for the pur-
pose of considering legislation in the
interest of the workingmen.
Men and Women who E,ntarAd