Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-01-25
Washington Gossip.
From our Regular Correspondent
WAsuINGToN. Jan. %

w ASHiNGTDN, Jan. Y.
CoNGREs.
The Committees of Congress. have settled
down to work, but nothing tangible has been
accom- li.heed during the past week, with a
single exception. That is the passage of the
act regarding permissible writing and print
ing on second, third, and fourth class mail
matter. | do not think that act would have
been hurried through so rapidly if it had not
been for the detention of some books sent to
members of Congress, which books were held
for letter postage because the card of the pub
Usher, was printed on the wrappers.
NATIONAL HOMES FOR DISABLED NoLuN-
TIERS.
A recent report to the House of Represen-
tativcs in regard to the condition of the Ma
tional Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.
shows that the average number of inmates
during the past year was about 10000 The
number of deaths during this period was 81
per cent. more than the death rate among
men of the same ages in ordinary health,
which indicates that the old soldier will not
apply for admission until he is completely
broken down in health. These homes are
crowded now To their utmost capacity, and
they contain, Of course, only a 1.-THE of the
disabled and dependent veterans throughout
the country.
WANTS THE GovERSMENT TO TAKE CARE OF
THE E1-CoNFEpEKArEs.
Mr.. Enloe. Member of Congress from Ten
nessee introduced a bill into the House on
Wednesday last, appropriating $3.50 900. for
the erection of 4 soldiers home in Tennessee
to accommodate certain honorably discharged
soldiers and sailors. including ''all honorahlv
discharged or paroed soldiers and sailors who
served in the army or the navy of the late So
called Confederate States. who are disabled
by disease. wounds. or otherwise, and who
have no adequate means of support, and by
reason of said disability are incapable of
earning their living
WEATHER PREDICTIONS FOR MEMBERS OF
THE HoUsE.
In the lobby of the corridor of the House
of Representatives. hanging upon the wall,
is q huge signal-service map of the United
States. That members do not forget their
homes in the midst OF political excitement
is evidenced by the large number who take
a look at the map every morning as regularly
as they eat their break fasts. At a glance
they may see how the mercury stands at
home; in what direction and how fast the
wind blows; what kind of weather is prevail
ing etc. The map, from Maine to the Pacific
coast. is covered with little brass hooks, set n
short distance apart. On each of these hooks
is little disc or tag of pasteboard, of color
and number to indicate the change of the
weather. The color indicates whether it is
clear or cloudy. showing or raining, and the
number indicates the temperature. A num-
Der with the plus sign in front of it, or just
the number with no sign, shows that it is
that much above zero, and it is quite cheer
ing these days to a man from the cold regions
of the north. Promptly every morning before
the House convenes, man from the Signal
Service office appears and changes the paste
board tag according to the changed condition
of the barometer. thermometer, etc. Some
DAYS nearly all the little discs are blue. then
again they will be red, then red and white.
Another day they may be all white. or again
black and white, or all black Another time
they will be blue and white, or they may be
blue all along the coast, and white or blue,
and white up in the western regions. Each
change indicates change in the weather
that interests the members When the
weather man arrives number of them will
gather about him to ask questions and TO
note the changes he makes on the map. He
has the little cardboards in drawer, and con-
sulting his chart, he picks them out one by
one and hangs them on the hooks. Where the
mercury showed 30 Yesterday, he may today
put up a tag indicating rise to zero, or vice
versa With his discs he pictures great
storm travelling eastward. while racing after
ii may be seen the minus marks indicative
of a frigid wave, A member of Congress
is great man in Washington, and no one
knows it so well as he; but he can't lord it
over the weather man. He can make laws,
but the Signal Service makes the weather,
regardless of Congre ssmen. Some of the
Members scrutinize the maps carefully and
have become quite expert in making predic-
tons. When their fore casts prove correct |
they are as well pleased as a boy with new
jack-knife, and they hasten to tell their |
friends.
SYcoPHANTs AND DEMAGoGUEs.
This city is the birth place and breed |
ing ground of a class of sycophants and |
fawners, the counterpart of which can only |
be found in European Courts. 1t is COM
posed of place hunters. who .'crook the |
pregnant hinges of the knee" of place |
holders, who fawn upon their superiors; of |
time servers, who serve with JUNCTION the
powers that be; of hopeful or of disappointed |
politicians, who play the lick spittle, cring-
ing with sickening servility before those
whom they fear; of newspapers which crowd
their columns with fulsome adulation of high