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


Messrs. Editors An excursion
party from Boston, numbering about
Eve 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 enterprising tourists manager had
guaranteed for g fixed 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 a fre-proof building for the accom-
mediation Of the llbiary 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 S3,O0O,O00. 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
coyery Of the new world and the foun-
dation of its great republic. The
project has at last got before Congress
in shape for simultaneous consideration
by both Houses, and is certainly worthy
o. the favorable attention of every
member. 1t is argued that if the gov
ernment can appropriate liberal sums
for the representation Of our interests
at foreign worlds fairs, that there can
DE no reason why it should not give q
like impulse to purely domestic en-
terprise. AS to the proper place in
, which to hold the exposition there
can be no doubt. Washington as the
Capital of the Nation is the city which
every traveller, American or foreign
feels that he must visit. During re
8 ty, political, financial, artistic and lit
erary, and no other place could will
equal fitness be selected for such ma
uonal display as has been proposed.
Nothing that has been published
since Mr.. Cleveland became Presiden
has given him so much annoyance a.
the story OF his having had seriou.
difference of opinion with Mr.. Man
ming, Just before the latter was strick.
Ell down. AS a matter of fact there
has been no such disagreement. The
President belle les, in spite of the doc.
tors opinions to the contrary, that
after short period of rest Mr.. Man
nIng will again be able to assist him
IN his councils. and he has not for q
moment entertained the idea that he
Is to lose him from his Cabinet.
The great social event o: the after
lent season is to be a grand charity
ball, to 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
Castle at the disposal OF the lady man.
ayers. Mrs. Gen. Ricketts,, Mrs. Gen.
Logan and other prominent society
la1les are interested in the success of
the affair.
On Wednesday last no little excite
ment was occasioned by the circula-
ton 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 monu- |
ment had become filled with dust
which had been washed out BY the
rain and thus gave the appearance of
cracks, while in fact the monument
was as solid as ever.
The House on Monday last. by a
vote of l52 to 6s, passed the bill
granting pensions to soldiers and
sailors Of the Mexican war. The bill
provides a pension OF IS month TO
al hOn0rably discharged survivors Of
the war, and to surviving widows of
deceased soldiers. Should the bill
pass the Senate in Its present form. it ,
Will call for an annual expenditure Of !
3, O00. 900.