Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-04-15
Correspondence of the Beacon. J.

WASHINGTON, April IL, 1886.
Messrs. Editors An excursion
party from Boston, numbering about
Ave hundred persons, has been spend
ing the week in viewing the various
points of interest at the National Cap
ital. Among other features which
the enterprisiDg tourists manager had
guaranteed for fred price was a
shake from the Presidents hand, and
in compliance with this condition of
the contract the entire party was
escorted to the White House on Thurs
day, where they were afforded cor.
dial reception by the President.
The bill providing for the erection
Of fre.proof building for the accom-
mediation of the library of Congress
has been passed by both Houses, and
now awaits only the signature of the
President to become law. The build
ing will, when completed have cost
about 100000. 1t will be erected
upon the square between lst and ID
streets, directly east of the Capitol.
The bill is the same that has passed
the Senate several times, and has been
reported favorably to the House in
every Congress. Mr.. Singleton has
been very energetic in his efforts to
secure the passage of the bill.
Public interest has been awakened
upon the subject of the proposed
national exposition to be held in Wash.
ington in commemoration Of the dis
covery Of the new world and the foun-
dalton of its great Tepublic. The
project has at last got before Congress
in shape for simultaneous consideration
hE both Houses, and scertainly worthy
Of Ne IEsorahle attention Of every
member It 10 argued that il the gov
efh1aent can appropriate liberal sums
for ihe representation Of our interests
at faseigu worlds fairs, that there can
be no reason why it should not give a
like impulse to purely domestic en-
terprise, Az to the proper place in
which TO hold The exposition there
can be 20 doubt. Washington as the
Capital Of the Nation is the city which
every traveller. American or foreign,
feels that he must visit. During re.
cent years II has gathered within it's
borders the cream Of American socie-
tY, political, financial, artistic and lit
erary, and no other place could with
equal fitness be selected for such ma.
tional display as has been proposed.
Nothing that has been published
since Mr. Cleveland became President
has given him 80 much annoyance as
the story d his having had serious
difference Of opinion with Mr.. Man
ming, just before the latter was strick-
en- down. As a matter Of fact there
has been no such disagreement. The
President believes, in spite of the doc
tors opinions to the contrary, that
after short period Of rest Mr.. Man
ming will again be able to assist him
in his councils. and he has not for a
moment entertained the idea that he
is to lose him from bis Cabinet.
The great social event Of the after
lent season il 70 be grand charity
ball, 70 be given at the Chinese Lega-
ton on the Goth Of this month. The
object Of the ball is to raise money for
the Garfield Hospital. The Chinese
Minister has placed the entire Stewart
Cas- attAe disposal Of the lady man
ayers Mrs. Gsn. Ricketts,, Mrs. Gen.
Logan and other prominent society
ladies' are interested in the success of
the affair.
On Wednesday last no little excite
ment was occasioned by the circula.
tion Of a story to the effect that the
Washington Monument had cracked.
People collected from all parts of the
city, and hundreds of opera glasses
were pointed in the direction of three
long dark streaks, which divided the
white surface Of the monument about
forty feet from the top. The matter
was, however, soon explained by Col.
Casey, the engineer in charge, who
stated that the joints in the nonu-
ment had become filed with dust,
which had been washed out by the
rain and thus gave the appearance Of
oracks, while IN fact the monument
was as solid as ever.
The House on Monday last, by
vote of l52 to 6s, passed the bill
granting pensions to soldiers and
sailors of the Mexican war. The bill /
provides a pension of So month I'll
all honorably discharged survivorsof
the war, and to surviving widows of
deceased soldiers Should .Ae bill