The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-01-26
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. G., Jan. 23, 1888

WASHINGTON, ~. ", Jan. 70, 1888.
Great concern prevailed here about
Speaker Carlisle's illness; and although
be is convalescent, it will be some time
before he can resume his duties regularly
as Speaker. 1t is nothing less than q
case of nervous prostration, brought on
by overwork. The Speaker com mmenced
his arduous duties long before Congress
assembled, and continued them iuces-
sanity up to the time he was attacked
with the nervous chill. His constitution,
however, being strong, he was able to
stand the strain for long time, but he
will now be compelled to refrain from
doing more work than under the laws of
nature one man should perform.
Congressman Mills, Chairman of the
Ways and Means Committee, is rapidly
recovering from his severe indisposition.
This is another case of nervous prostra-
ton from too much work and anxiety of
mind concerning the result of legislation,
to be acted on by Congress. The Chair.
man has been hard at work, day and
night, perfecting the tariff bill, which
will soon be brought before his Commit.
tee for report to the House, and his close
attention to the subject, so much fatigued
both his body and mind, that be was COM
PEELED to absent himself not only from
the House for some days, but also from
the Committee meetings during the week.
At the last meeting of the Committee,
an effort was made to have the bill for
the reduction of the tobacco tax reported,
but it was voted down by a strict party
vote, showing that the Democrats are
determined to have the general bill for
the reduction of the tariff submitted and
considered by the House before eny
other bill. The policy of the Committee
will be that of the President in his mes
sage, which is to present only one sub
ject, and that the tariff question for con-
sideration, which will neccssitato final
disposition of the subject before any
other can be considered.
The House Committee on Appropria.
tions has agreed to recommend an ap.
preparation of $50, ,275 800 for pensions,
being an increase of S4,OO0,O0O over the
estimates. The increase was necessitated
by the Mexican War Pensions, which
were not included in the estimates for.
merly submitted.
There is q strong likelihood of Mr..
O'Donnell, of Michigan, getting his bill
through for the reduction of postage on
drop letters to one cent. instead of two
cents as now. Itappears that there are
lS9 free delivery Offices in the country,
employing $50 carriers, and that the
cost of:the service last year was $4,61S,-
6s2, while the revenue derived from
local matter was s2,O72,56l in excess of
the cost. Why may not the people have
the benefit of that difference in the way
of reduced postage?
The second State dinner-this time to
the Diplomats-was givea by the Presi-
dent the past week. Every Diplomat at
the seat Of Government was present, and
many other guests besides, but there was
such.an excess Of men that they had to
be seated SO as to bring two men between
every two ladies. Under such provision
each lady had to entertain two gentle.
men with her conversation. They were
all equal to The occasion, however, and if
necessary could heve entertained more.
Arrangements have been made for
holding an international council of
women here, from the 25th of March to
the lst of April. The object is to dis.
cuss the movement for the improvement
of women's position in the State, the
Church and the Home. Among the
delegates will be many women, celebra-
ted in literature and in educational pur.
suits. There will be representatives
from many foreign countries, and in
intelligence, influences and results to
follow, it will be the most important
gathering of the kind known to history.
II.