The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-04-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our Regular Correspondent

WASHINGTON. ID. u, April IL, 1856.
1t is to be hoped the creditable work
done by Congress during the week is
an earnest of what is to follow for the
next three months. When the Senate
voted to erect a building for the Ii
brary of Congress without one dissent
ing voice, the Senators were so much
gratified that many of them were seen
to smile.
Thirteen Democratic Senators voted
against the admission of Washington
Territory as a State, after paying the
female voters out there a good deal of
attention. Senator Eustis feared that
when the women became U. 5. Senators
they would tell all the secrets connect
ed with executive sessions. Senator
Beck held that the women would never
be old enough to come within the con-
stitutional limitations as to age
The newly appointed Senator from
California, Mr.. Hearst, was escorted to
the Capitol by his millionaire colleague,
Stanford. After being sworn in, he
took his seat on the Democratic side,
and cast his tirso vote against the ad-
mission of Washington Territory. MIR.
Hearst makes another addition to the
already long list of rich men in the
Senate. His daily income is said to be
about 200. He has been represent
ed by his enemies as simply man of
money, though there are probably few
men who depend less on wealth and
position than he. He sunk a good deal
of his money in order to give the Dem
ocrats of his state the San Francisco
.E:raminer, daily paper in sympathy
with their views. His only son has
chosen journalism for his profession.
After familiarizing himself with its de-
tails by beginning at the bottom of the
ladder, he expects to take charge of his
fathers paper.
The House of Representatives also
voted for the Congressional Library,
voted to pension the Mexican veterans,
all that is left of them, and besides
passing half dozen bills of more or
less Importance, defeated the Bland
bill for the unlimited coinage of silver
That probably settles the silver agita-
ton for the remainder of the session,
leaving the question where it was at
the beginning of the winter.
An employee of the Government
Printing Office surprised me by saying
the demand for speeches on the silver
question for campaign purposes was
greater than for those on political sub
jects. The largest order received this
. session by the Public Printer was for
William L. Scott's speech in support of
a compromise on the silver question.
Mr.. Scott is from Pennsylvania, he is a
Democrat, is the wealthiest man in the
Lower House, and has been mentioned
as a possible successor 10 the sick Sec
retary of the Treasury. The next
largest order was for Senator Beck's
notable speech on silver, which has
been called for by members of both
parties.
Despite the fact that the President
has been warned by physicians since
Secretary Manning was stricken down,
he takes no more rest, recreation, or
exercise than before, but keeps bard at
work. His habits of labor seem to be
so fixed as to admit of no change, and
he tells his friends he knows what he
can do, and that there is no use talking
to him.
More strangers have visited Wash
ington during the present season than
any previous one. They came in crowds
to the White House daily, and Mr..
Cleveland's hand shaking receptions,
which occur every other day, are at
tended by hundreds. Miss Cleveland's
receptions throughout the season were
very largely attended. Some of them
were such crushes that the crowd was,
at times, admitted three or four abreast
and extra guards were employed to
keep the people in order.
Curious incidents have occurred on
some of these occasions. For intance,
q White House usher was assaulted by
two women because he would not ad-
NIT them fast enough. They were
tall, muscular women, and they bruised
the man badly. 1t was the intention
to arrest the offenders, and they were
pointed out to policeman, but on
second thought the matter was allow
ed to pass.
Miss Cleveland bore her part during
the last social season with great deal
of credit to herself. She showed much
good sense and kind-heartedness AT
her last reception, after she lad been
shaking hands with thousands, and
was necessarily very tired, the publish
ed hour for closing the house arrived
There was still a long line of people
waiting to pay their respects. The
guards started to close the doors, bu
she ordered them left open until al