The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-02-24
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 10. 1886.

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 19, 1886.
All sorts of people with all sorts OF
tempers are encountered in the corri-
dors of the Capitol. Many of them
are transient sight-seers, but most OF
them are the Congressmen's callers.
The Maryland Senators and Represen-
tatives are most in demand because
their constituencies are near at hand
and the Congressional delegation from
the Pacific Coast are freest from this
kind Of persecution. But even they,
in common with all other Congress
men, think they have hard time in
this respect.
The eastern door Of the House Of
Representatives is one of the busiest
places in the capitol. It keeps two
men running constantly to carry in
cards to members from the anxious
people outside. 1t is interesting to
stand in the corridor and hear the de-
mands of importunate visitors. and
watch the faces of the people standing
around there.
A young man from the way-back
district comes in. He wants to see
his member about clerkship, but he
is modest and stands back lingering
his card, and hesitating whether to
push into the crowd or not Then a
veteran ofice-seeker steps up to the
door-keeper in business like way
and says, Smith, Rhode Island"
The ladies waiting room is always
crowded. There is a woman from
the South with her little claim against
the Government for cotton destroyed.
Another wants to have her little son
appointed page in the House, and
she is waiting to see the Sergeant-at-
arms. There are young women and
old women who are trying to get plac-
es in the Departments and female
lobbyists who are to get so many hun
dred dollars for pushing such and
such a bill through. Then, just out
side in the corridor again are scores
of men who want Office. Some OF
them came here last March expecting
to get consulship, who would now be
thankful for nine hundred dollar
clerkship.
Be thankful dear reader, that you
are not dependent on the government
for support. There has just been a
competitive examination here fer
Post Office Inspectorships. There
were only twenty-five vacancies to be
filed, and eight hundred candidates,
yearning for the places, presented
themselves, Several hundred who
passed had no possible chance OF get
ting appointments, SO really those
who passed were not much better off
than those who failed in the examine
ton.
AL the week, so far, the Senate has
been upholding aud criticizing again
the Educational bill that passed that
body last session, and the House of
Representatives has been defending
and denouncing Fitz John Porter as
it has done biennially in every Con-
gress for twenty years. The same old
evidence and arguments are being re-
peated in both Houses over each
measure Nothing seems to have oc-
CURED in the interim to change the
views of the friends of either question
or to modify the objections of oppo-
nents. As to the Educational bill, it
cannot be said that the Southern Sen
ators are disposed to give their Sec
ton the benefit of the doubt on the
question. The strongest opposition
to the measure comes from that sec
ton notably, from Senator Morgan, of
Ala, although the South would re-
ceive the bulk of the proposed appro-
priation of s77,0OO,O0O.
The Woman sufragists are here
again holding their convention. The
representation is fully as large as at
any former gathering. In their
speeches they tell the same old story.
They rant of their wnongs, demand
their rights, and declare they will get
them yet. They dwell with elation on
what they call their victories of the
past year, and one OF their ablest
champions, Mrs. Merriweather, pro-
poses to make an address in reply to
Senator Vests letter stating that he is
an "uncompromising opponent" The
women say this fair orator is going to
annihilate this Senator from Mo.
Apropos of this convention which
is being held IN Al Souls Church, the
pastor preached sermon on woman
suffrage He said the question had
narrowed down to a single issue, the
right to the ballot. He was still in
doubt, but it was hard not to favor it
when the appeal came from women.
He had drawn near the fence, and was
looking over, but this fence was one
that thoughtful people could not clear
at bound. It was at least six rail
fence. Speaking of women in Con-
gress, he said.the morals of Congress
men were much better when they
brought their wives to Washington
with them than when they left them
at home. stIf good women should be
elected to Conrress" he adds. sit Is