Catoctin clarion., 1888-02-02
WASHINGTON Letter
FRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.

o'Ni'' ON''')
Both branches of Congress took day
off last week. Neither the Senate nor
the house of representatives were in ses'
sion on Saturday. This act was not
necessarily the result Of laziness how
ever. The real work of Congress is done
in the committee rooms you know, and
the Congressional Committees are al
ways at work, whether Congress is in
session or taking holiday.
| will give you resume of what has
been done during the week by mention
ing The subjects of bills which the Com
mittees have had under consideration.
They include the bill approprlating
money for the relief of the Union Ma
tional Bank of Louisiana; the Senate
bill for bridge over the same river at
st. Charles, and the House bill over
the Jefferson City the Dunn Free Ship
bill Indian bills; ; Pacific Railroad
matters, the bill to repair the ship Hart
ford by an appropriation OF S175, 900;
the bill accepting the invitation from
the French Republic to participate in
the Paris celebration, deficiency bill
bill in behalf of the signal service re-
folm suggetaions, and last because
most important, the long expected tar
iti' measure.
When the tariff bill gets to the House
the fun Of the session will begin. The
action of the President on the subject
and the position taken by the tariff for
revenue,only element fthc Democratic
party, reused all the pugnacity that ex-
lists in the souls of the Republicans.
From all indications there is to be war
to the knife between the two parties,
and each will gain every point it can
between now and the nominating con.
ventions.
The Republicans opened pretentious
headquarters here, and they pay about
$500 month for their rooms. They
took the house formerly occupied by
the Chinese legation and they have
plastered its walls with photographs
and portraits of their most noted lead
ers. The Democrats are doing no less
work ,andtn wires We're long since laid
which reach to tie uttermost parts Of
the United States.
1t is understood now that the Senate
District Committee will report the bill
for prohibition in this District. At
first It WAS supposed that the bill would
be allowed to remain unacted upon.
but owing to the recent agitation it has
been deemed best to give the Senate an
opportunity to act on the question, al
though a majority Of the Committee is
adverse to such legislation.
President cleveland has now been in
Wash ngton nearly three years, and
during all that time, 80 far as is known
he has taken but one walk on the street
"a stroll, in company with Secretary
Fairchild, one evening last week, from
the White House to West Washington
las old Georgetown is now called)lnd
return. This event, from it's rareness
was Of so much Importance, that the
city press gave it conspicuous mention.
Presidents Grant, Hayes, Garfield and
Arthur were pedestrians, and often
walked the principal streets Of the Cap.
ltal, their figures being familiar to the
public, but President Cleveland, with
the above solitary exception, has not
been seen outside Of the White House
grounds except i'll his carriage. Wheth-
er this seclusion on the part of the
Chief Magistrate Of sixty million Amer
lCduS Is uttc W a ucSll w LfOlu CUnltCl
with the common people, or whether
it is for some personal reason. your cor.
respondent is unable to tell.
The present House Of representatives
Is very much given to flibustering, it
already having been resorted to on three
uccasions-the last time under the lead
of Mr.. Randall, who consumed the time
of that body in frivolous motions to
prevent the passage of a resolution re-
ported by the Chairman of the Com
on public buildings and grounds, to set
apart day for the introduction Of bills
Of his committee. In the House there
lppears to be general desire to make
ibcrsl appropriations of the country.
ter an interesting discussion, the bill
irg the widow of General John A.
s'n pcnslon Of $4,000 a year pass